Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Kuwait
Kuwait: Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare was 10.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Kuwait, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
Kuwait recorded 10.0% for share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in 2023.
That represents a change of down 7.0% on the previous year and down 30.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Kuwait peaked at 25.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 10.0%, in 2021.
That places Kuwait 169th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 25.5% | — |
| 2001 | 19.6% | -22.9% |
| 2002 | 21.5% | +9.6% |
| 2003 | 20.8% | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 21.6% | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 21.5% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 21.2% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 21.3% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 19.8% | -7.2% |
| 2009 | 16.7% | -15.6% |
| 2010 | 14.3% | -14.3% |
| 2011 | 14.0% | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 15.0% | +6.7% |
| 2013 | 14.5% | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 13.9% | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 13.7% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 13.3% | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 12.9% | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 10.6% | -17.6% |
| 2019 | 10.7% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 10.4% | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 10.0% | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 10.8% | +7.5% |
| 2023 | 10.0% | -7.0% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 10.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.8%, 60% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 10.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 34.5%, 29% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21.0% | 16.7% | 25.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.3% | 10.6% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.3% | 10.0% | 10.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More health data for Kuwait
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.9259 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.41 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 287.2 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 107 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.9273 % 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 0.0264 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6875 % 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 Kuwait?
- Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Kuwait was 10.0% in 2023, 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 Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 25.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.0% in 2021.
- How does Kuwait rank for share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare?
- Kuwait ranks 169th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kuwait 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.