Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Iraq
Iraq: Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending was 46.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Iraq, 2003–2023
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, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Iraq stood at 46.0%.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Iraq peaked at 77.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 23.2%, in 2015.
Iraq ranks 121st of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 45.3% | — |
| 2004 | 69.9% | +54.4% |
| 2005 | 67.0% | -4.2% |
| 2006 | 61.5% | -8.2% |
| 2007 | 63.4% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 77.4% | +22.1% |
| 2009 | 76.7% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 73.5% | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 74.2% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 37.5% | -49.5% |
| 2013 | 40.8% | +9.0% |
| 2014 | 37.2% | -8.8% |
| 2015 | 23.2% | -37.8% |
| 2016 | 55.5% | +139.5% |
| 2017 | 41.4% | -25.3% |
| 2018 | 49.1% | +18.5% |
| 2019 | 49.4% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 45.0% | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 49.3% | +9.6% |
| 2022 | 45.8% | -7.3% |
| 2023 | 46.0% | +0.6% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 46.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 59.4%, 77% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 46.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 53.1%, 87% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Iraq changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +139.5% | 23.2% | 55.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 65.9% | 45.3% | 77.4% | 7 |
| 2010s | 48.2% | 23.2% | 74.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.5% | 45.0% | 49.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More health data for Iraq
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.4 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 898.9 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 5,830 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.988 % 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 0.0587 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9818 % 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 public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Iraq?
- Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Iraq was 46.0% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 77.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.2% in 2015.
- How does Iraq rank for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending?
- Iraq ranks 121st out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iraq 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 Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from domestic public sources for health.