Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Nigeria
Nigeria: Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending was 14.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Nigeria, 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
In 2023, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Nigeria stood at 14.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.6% on the previous year and up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Nigeria peaked at 26.9% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 13.0%, in 2016.
Nigeria ranks 181st of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 18.3% | — |
| 2001 | 26.9% | +46.8% |
| 2002 | 21.3% | -20.7% |
| 2003 | 18.4% | -13.8% |
| 2004 | 25.9% | +41.0% |
| 2005 | 25.6% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 21.2% | -17.1% |
| 2007 | 19.9% | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 17.9% | -10.2% |
| 2009 | 15.9% | -10.9% |
| 2010 | 13.6% | -14.6% |
| 2011 | 14.4% | +6.1% |
| 2012 | 16.2% | +12.2% |
| 2013 | 14.3% | -11.7% |
| 2014 | 13.3% | -6.9% |
| 2015 | 16.4% | +23.5% |
| 2016 | 13.0% | -20.8% |
| 2017 | 14.2% | +9.2% |
| 2018 | 16.1% | +13.3% |
| 2019 | 15.7% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 15.0% | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 13.3% | -11.3% |
| 2022 | 14.7% | +10.9% |
| 2023 | 14.3% | -2.6% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 14.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.9%, 38% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 14.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.1%, 48% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21.1% | 15.9% | 26.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.7% | 13.0% | 16.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.3% | 13.3% | 15.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 178 Benin 14.7% compare
- 179 Bangladesh 14.5% compare
- 180 Central African Republic 14.4% compare
- 182 Micronesia, Federated States of 14.2% compare
- 183 Somalia 14.2% compare
- 184 Comoros 12.9% compare
More health data for Nigeria
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8137 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,301 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 257,921 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 14 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0711 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Nigeria?
- Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Nigeria was 14.3% 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 26.9% in 2001.
- What is the lowest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.0% in 2016.
- How does Nigeria rank for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending?
- Nigeria ranks 181st out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.