Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Canada
Canada: Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare was 15.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Canada, 2000–2024
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
In 2024, share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Canada stood at 15.3%.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Canada peaked at 16.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 13.7%, in 2020.
Canada ranks 142nd of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Canada, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 16.6% | — |
| 2001 | 15.9% | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 15.9% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 15.3% | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 15.3% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 15.4% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 15.9% | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 15.6% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 15.5% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 15.2% | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 15.6% | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 15.2% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 15.0% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 14.6% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 14.7% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 14.7% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 15.6% | +6.2% |
| 2017 | 15.8% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 15.6% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 15.4% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 13.7% | -11.5% |
| 2021 | 14.2% | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 15.0% | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 15.2% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 15.3% | +0.5% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 15.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.8%, 91% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15.7% | 15.2% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.2% | 14.6% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.7% | 13.7% | 15.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More health data for Canada
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.79 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.3588 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,083 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 385 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5214 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.023 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.5024 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Canada?
- Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Canada was 15.3% in 2024, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 16.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.7% in 2020.
- How does Canada rank for share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare?
- Canada ranks 142nd out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Out-of-pocket spending on healthcare as percent of total current healthcare expenditure.