Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending was 57.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Nicaragua, 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
Nicaragua recorded 57.4% for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Nicaragua peaked at 63.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 37.5%, in 2004.
Nicaragua ranks 94th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 49.0% | — |
| 2001 | 44.8% | -8.5% |
| 2002 | 42.9% | -4.2% |
| 2003 | 42.0% | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 37.5% | -10.7% |
| 2005 | 40.3% | +7.3% |
| 2006 | 45.0% | +11.7% |
| 2007 | 45.3% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 44.5% | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 49.6% | +11.5% |
| 2010 | 46.1% | -7.1% |
| 2011 | 47.4% | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 50.1% | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 50.6% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 52.1% | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 56.1% | +7.6% |
| 2016 | 57.8% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 58.3% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 60.9% | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 61.6% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 61.8% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 63.4% | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 57.6% | -9.2% |
| 2023 | 57.4% | -0.3% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 57.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.9%, 1.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 57.4% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 59.0%, 97% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 44.1% | 37.5% | 49.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.1% | 46.1% | 61.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.1% | 57.4% | 63.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More health data for Nicaragua
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6599 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,175 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3497 % 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 0.0458 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.323 % 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 Nicaragua?
- Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Nicaragua was 57.4% 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 63.4% in 2021.
- What is the lowest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.5% in 2004.
- How does Nicaragua rank for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending?
- Nicaragua ranks 94th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.