Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Malaysia
Malaysia: Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending was 50.0% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Malaysia, 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
The most recent figure for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Malaysia is 50.0%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Malaysia peaked at 56.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 46.7%, in 2000.
Malaysia ranks 111th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 46.7% | — |
| 2001 | 50.5% | +8.3% |
| 2002 | 51.2% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 51.9% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 50.9% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 48.9% | -4.0% |
| 2006 | 53.9% | +10.2% |
| 2007 | 52.9% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 53.1% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 55.6% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 53.1% | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 53.2% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 53.9% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 53.9% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 54.7% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 53.2% | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 51.0% | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 51.7% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 51.3% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 52.3% | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 53.3% | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 56.2% | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 50.6% | -10.0% |
| 2023 | 50.0% | -1.1% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 50.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 59.4%, 84% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 50.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 60.9%, 82% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 51.6% | 46.7% | 55.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.8% | 51.0% | 54.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.5% | 50.0% | 56.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More health data for Malaysia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.9119 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2888 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 652 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 18 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7207 % 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 0.0297 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5991 % 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 Malaysia?
- Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Malaysia was 50.0% 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 56.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.7% in 2000.
- How does Malaysia rank for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending?
- Malaysia ranks 111th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.