Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending was 37.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Sao Tome and Principe, 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 Sao Tome and Principe is 37.0%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 7.7% on the previous year and up 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 52.8% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 7.7%, in 2006.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 140th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 37.7% | — |
| 2001 | 38.5% | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 39.8% | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 52.8% | +32.8% |
| 2004 | 48.4% | -8.4% |
| 2005 | 48.6% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 7.7% | -84.1% |
| 2007 | 23.8% | +207.3% |
| 2008 | 20.5% | -13.8% |
| 2009 | 27.7% | +35.0% |
| 2010 | 36.5% | +32.0% |
| 2011 | 40.7% | +11.5% |
| 2012 | 32.6% | -19.9% |
| 2013 | 33.5% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 35.3% | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 31.4% | -11.0% |
| 2016 | 40.3% | +28.3% |
| 2017 | 46.0% | +14.2% |
| 2018 | 44.3% | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 40.7% | -8.1% |
| 2020 | 40.5% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 42.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 40.0% | -6.6% |
| 2023 | 37.0% | -7.7% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 37.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.9%, 98% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 37.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.1%, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Sao Tome and Principe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +207.3% | 7.7% | 23.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 34.5% | 7.7% | 52.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.1% | 31.4% | 46.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.1% | 37.0% | 42.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More health data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -6.25 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.35 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 793.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 15 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2021)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.58 % 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 0.0651 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.65 % 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 Sao Tome and Principe?
- Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Sao Tome and Principe was 37.0% 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 Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 52.8% in 2003.
- What is the lowest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.7% in 2006.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 140th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe 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.