Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending was 77.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Saudi Arabia, 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 Saudi Arabia stood at 77.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Saudi Arabia peaked at 78.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 61.9%, in 2010.
That places Saudi Arabia 25th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 72.1% | — |
| 2001 | 72.5% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 72.3% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 72.4% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 71.5% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 72.5% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 73.0% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 70.4% | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 63.6% | -9.7% |
| 2009 | 65.0% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 61.9% | -4.7% |
| 2011 | 67.1% | +8.3% |
| 2012 | 68.3% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 69.6% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 71.4% | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 68.5% | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 69.6% | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 71.8% | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 70.3% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 73.8% | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 78.3% | +6.1% |
| 2021 | 77.0% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 77.1% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 77.8% | +0.8% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 77.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 73.1%, 1.1× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 77.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 53.1%, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 70.5% | 63.6% | 73.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.2% | 61.9% | 73.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 77.5% | 77.0% | 78.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More health data for Saudi Arabia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3736 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 483.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 829 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 5.31 % 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 0.0384 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 5.38 % 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 Saudi Arabia?
- Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Saudi Arabia was 77.8% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 78.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.9% in 2010.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 25th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.