Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Tanzania

Tanzania: Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care was 45.9% in 2019. ▼ Falling

Latest (2019)
45.9%
Change on year
up 5.3%
World rank
30th
of 134 countries
All-time high
87.7%
in 2003
All-time low
43.6%
in 2018
Years of data
17
2003–2019

Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Tanzania, 2003–2019

0204060802003201120192003: 87.7 % of people at risk2004: 85.5 % of people at risk2005: 78.9 % of people at risk2006: 63.9 % of people at risk2007: 65.8 % of people at risk2008: 73.5 % of people at risk2009: 77.1 % of people at risk2010: 68.6 % of people at risk2011: 57.4 % of people at risk2012: 52.7 % of people at risk2013: 50.6 % of people at risk2014: 54.8 % of people at risk2015: 53 % of people at risk2016: 45.7 % of people at risk2017: 44 % of people at risk2018: 43.6 % of people at risk2019: 45.9 % of people at risk

Source: Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School. Measured in % of people at risk.

Analysis

Tanzania recorded 45.9% for risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in 2019.

The figure is up 5.3% on the previous year and down 40.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Tanzania peaked at 87.7% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 43.6%, in 2018.

That places Tanzania 30th out of 134 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.

Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Tanzania, year by year

Annual values for Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care (% of people at risk) in Tanzania, 2003 to 2019.
Year % of people at risk Change
2003 87.7%
2004 85.5% -2.5%
2005 78.9% -7.7%
2006 63.9% -19.0%
2007 65.8% +3.0%
2008 73.5% +11.7%
2009 77.1% +4.9%
2010 68.6% -11.0%
2011 57.4% -16.3%
2012 52.7% -8.2%
2013 50.6% -4.0%
2014 54.8% +8.3%
2015 53.0% -3.3%
2016 45.7% -13.8%
2017 44.0% -3.7%
2018 43.6% -0.9%
2019 45.9% +5.3%

Tanzania compared with similar countries

  • Tanzania's 45.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 29.2%, 1.6× the median. (36 countries reporting)
  • Tanzania's 45.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 51.7%, 89% of the median. (36 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 76.1% 63.9% 87.7% 7
2010s 51.6% 43.6% 68.6% 10

Countries ranked near Tanzania

  1. 27 Comoros 47.8% compare
  2. 28 Benin 47.4% compare
  3. 29 Mali 46.6% compare
  4. 31 Honduras 45.8% compare
  5. 32 Guatemala 44.1% compare
  6. 33 Iran 43.7% compare

See the full ranking of 173 places →

More health data for Tanzania

All data for Tanzania →

Frequently asked questions

What is risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Tanzania?
Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Tanzania was 45.9% in 2019, according to Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School.
What is the highest risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care recorded in Tanzania?
The highest recorded value was 87.7% in 2003.
What is the lowest risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care recorded in Tanzania?
The lowest recorded value was 43.6% in 2018.
How does Tanzania rank for risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care?
Tanzania ranks 30th out of 134 countries with data for 2019.
Is risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care rising or falling in Tanzania?
Over the last ten years it is down 40.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Tanzania data come from?
The figures come from Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School, published as part of Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care (% of people at risk). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in Tanzania. Statizoid, drawing on Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/risk-of-catastrophic-expenditure-for-surgical-care-percent-of-people-at-risk/tanzania/

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About this data

Indicator
Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care (% of people at risk)
Unit
% of people at risk
Source
Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
173 places, 3,065 data points, 2003–2022
Last refreshed

The proportion of population at risk of catastrophic expenditure when surgical care is required. Catastrophic expenditure is defined as direct out of pocket payments for surgical and anaesthesia care exceeding 10% of total income.