Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Portugal
Portugal: Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending was 61.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Portugal, 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
Portugal recorded 61.4% for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in 2023.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Portugal peaked at 72.0% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 60.8%, in 2019.
That places Portugal 83rd out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 69.7% | — |
| 2001 | 70.2% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 72.0% | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 70.6% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 70.6% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 70.9% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 63.4% | -10.5% |
| 2007 | 62.7% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 62.5% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 63.8% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 66.5% | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 64.5% | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 61.3% | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 62.3% | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 61.7% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 61.7% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 61.6% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 61.1% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 61.2% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 60.8% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 64.2% | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 62.4% | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 62.3% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 61.4% | -1.4% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 61.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 73.1%, 84% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 61.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 70.4%, 87% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 67.6% | 62.5% | 72.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.3% | 60.8% | 66.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.6% | 61.4% | 64.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More health data for Portugal
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.56 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1616 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,112 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 38 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.39 % 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 0.0199 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.15 % 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 Portugal?
- Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Portugal was 61.4% 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 72.0% in 2002.
- What is the lowest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.8% in 2019.
- How does Portugal rank for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending?
- Portugal ranks 83rd out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal 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.