Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Uruguay

Uruguay: Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare was 17.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
17.1%
Change on year
up 4.7%
World rank
136th
of 193 countries
All-time high
25.9%
in 2005
All-time low
15.5%
in 2019
Years of data
24
2000–2023

Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Uruguay, 2000–2023

01020302000201120232000: 25.2 % of current health expenditure2001: 24.1 % of current health expenditure2002: 21.7 % of current health expenditure2003: 21.4 % of current health expenditure2004: 24.3 % of current health expenditure2005: 25.9 % of current health expenditure2006: 23.8 % of current health expenditure2007: 23.4 % of current health expenditure2008: 21.3 % of current health expenditure2009: 20.8 % of current health expenditure2010: 20.5 % of current health expenditure2011: 19.4 % of current health expenditure2012: 18.5 % of current health expenditure2013: 17.7 % of current health expenditure2014: 17.1 % of current health expenditure2015: 16.9 % of current health expenditure2016: 16.4 % of current health expenditure2017: 16.5 % of current health expenditure2018: 16.2 % of current health expenditure2019: 15.5 % of current health expenditure2020: 16.7 % of current health expenditure2021: 15.8 % of current health expenditure2022: 16.3 % of current health expenditure2023: 17.1 % of current health expenditure

Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of current health expenditure.

Analysis

In 2023, share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Uruguay stood at 17.1%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% on the previous year and down 3.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Uruguay peaked at 25.9% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 15.5%, in 2019.

Uruguay ranks 136th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.

Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Uruguay, year by year

Annual values for Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Uruguay, 2000 to 2023.
Year % of current health expenditure Change
2000 25.2%
2001 24.1% -4.4%
2002 21.7% -9.8%
2003 21.4% -1.6%
2004 24.3% +13.8%
2005 25.9% +6.8%
2006 23.8% -8.4%
2007 23.4% -1.7%
2008 21.3% -8.9%
2009 20.8% -2.5%
2010 20.5% -1.3%
2011 19.4% -5.1%
2012 18.5% -5.0%
2013 17.7% -4.2%
2014 17.1% -3.4%
2015 16.9% -1.0%
2016 16.4% -2.8%
2017 16.5% +0.4%
2018 16.2% -1.5%
2019 15.5% -4.8%
2020 16.7% +8.3%
2021 15.8% -5.5%
2022 16.3% +3.2%
2023 17.1% +4.7%

Uruguay compared with similar countries

  • Uruguay's 17.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 16.8%, 1.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
  • Uruguay's 17.1% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 29.3%, 58% of the median. (33 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 23.2% 20.8% 25.9% 10
2010s 17.5% 15.5% 20.5% 10
2020s 16.5% 15.8% 17.1% 4

Countries ranked near Uruguay

  1. 133 Maldives 18.0% compare
  2. 134 Cyprus 17.9% compare
  3. 135 Gabon 17.3% compare
  4. 137 Sao Tome and Principe 16.7% compare
  5. 138 Cuba 16.6% compare
  6. 139 Austria 16.5% compare

See the full ranking of 193 places →

More health data for Uruguay

All data for Uruguay →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Uruguay?
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Uruguay was 17.1% 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 Uruguay?
The highest recorded value was 25.9% in 2005.
What is the lowest share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare recorded in Uruguay?
The lowest recorded value was 15.5% in 2019.
How does Uruguay rank for share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare?
Uruguay ranks 136th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
Is share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare rising or falling in Uruguay?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Uruguay 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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Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in Uruguay. Statizoid, drawing on Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-out-of-pocket-expenditure-on-healthcare/uruguay/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare
Unit
% of current health expenditure
Source
Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
193 places, 4,562 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

Out-of-pocket spending on healthcare as percent of total current healthcare expenditure.