Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in World

World: Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care was 17.7% in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
17.7%
Change on year
up 4.3%
Rank
21st
of 39 groups
All-time high
52.3%
in 2003
All-time low
16.9%
in 2021
Years of data
20
2003–2022

Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in World, 2003–2022

203040502003201220222003: 52.3 % of people at risk2004: 50.5 % of people at risk2005: 49 % of people at risk2006: 45.6 % of people at risk2007: 42.5 % of people at risk2008: 39.7 % of people at risk2009: 37.9 % of people at risk2010: 35 % of people at risk2011: 32.4 % of people at risk2012: 30.8 % of people at risk2013: 29.4 % of people at risk2014: 26.8 % of people at risk2015: 25 % of people at risk2016: 23.8 % of people at risk2017: 21.7 % of people at risk2018: 19.9 % of people at risk2019: 18.1 % of people at risk2020: 18.4 % of people at risk2021: 16.9 % of people at risk2022: 17.7 % of people at risk

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

Analysis

World recorded 17.7% for risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and down 42.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in World peaked at 52.3% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 16.9%, in 2021.

World ranks 21st of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care (% of people at risk) in World, 2003 to 2022.
Year % of people at risk Change
2003 52.3%
2004 50.5% -3.5%
2005 49.0% -2.9%
2006 45.6% -6.9%
2007 42.5% -6.9%
2008 39.7% -6.6%
2009 37.9% -4.5%
2010 35.0% -7.5%
2011 32.4% -7.5%
2012 30.8% -5.1%
2013 29.4% -4.5%
2014 26.8% -8.9%
2015 25.0% -6.5%
2016 23.8% -4.9%
2017 21.7% -9.1%
2018 19.9% -8.1%
2019 18.1% -8.9%
2020 18.4% +1.5%
2021 16.9% -8.0%
2022 17.7% +4.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 45.3% 37.9% 52.3% 7
2010s 26.3% 18.1% 35.0% 10
2020s 17.7% 16.9% 18.4% 3

Countries ranked near World

  1. 18 Sudan 63.3% compare
  2. 19 Madagascar 59.0% compare
  3. 20 Nepal 58.2% compare
  4. 21 Guinea 57.5% compare
  5. 22 Burkina Faso 56.2% compare
  6. 23 Cameroon 54.3% compare
  7. 24 Angola 51.7% compare

See the full ranking of 173 places →

More health data for World

All data for World →

Frequently asked questions

What is risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in World?
Risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care in World was 17.7% in 2022, 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 World?
The highest recorded value was 52.3% in 2003.
What is the lowest risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care recorded in World?
The lowest recorded value was 16.9% in 2021.
How does World rank for risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care?
World ranks 21st out of 39 groups with data for 2022.
Is risk of catastrophic expenditure for surgical care rising or falling in World?
Over the last ten years it is down 42.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this World 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 World. Statizoid, drawing on Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), Harvard Medical School. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/risk-of-catastrophic-expenditure-for-surgical-care-percent-of-people-at-risk/world/

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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.