Out-of-pocket health expenditure — all countries

Out-of-pocket health expenditure — South Asia

Out-of-pocket health expenditure in South Asia in 2023 — 46.65%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 23.13 pp.

2023 46.65% −0.48 pp vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 72.26%2001
Period minimum 46.65%2023

Trend over time

2000–2023 · % of health expenditure

Out-of-pocket health expenditure — South Asia, 2000–202340506070802000200320062009201220152018202120232000: 69.78%2001: 72.26%2002: 71.4%2003: 71.5%2004: 70.71%2005: 71.39%2006: 70.48%2007: 69.58%2008: 68.1%2009: 66.01%2010: 64.66%2011: 61.97%2012: 62.66%2013: 68.16%2014: 66.33%2015: 64.29%2016: 62.96%2017: 55.88%2018: 54.28%2019: 53.52%2020: 51.17%2021: 47.32%2022: 47.12%2023: 46.65%
Change over the period: −23.13 pp Annual average: -1.01 pp

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Asia

South Asia 46.65%
World 17.33%
Out-of-pocket health expenditure — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 46.65 −0.48 pp
2022 47.12 −0.2 pp
2021 47.32 −3.85 pp
2020 51.17 −2.36 pp
2019 53.52 −0.75 pp
2018 54.28 −1.61 pp
2017 55.88 −7.07 pp
2016 62.96 −1.33 pp
2015 64.29 −2.04 pp
2014 66.33 −1.83 pp
2013 68.16 +5.5 pp
2012 62.66 +0.69 pp
2011 61.97 −2.68 pp
2010 64.66 −1.35 pp
2009 66.01 −2.09 pp
2008 68.1 −1.47 pp
2007 69.58 −0.9 pp
2006 70.48 −0.91 pp
2005 71.39 +0.67 pp
2004 70.71 −0.79 pp
2003 71.5 +0.1 pp
2002 71.4 −0.86 pp
2001 72.26 +2.48 pp
2000 69.78

About the indicator

Payments people make for medical care directly at the point of use — as a percent of all current health expenditure in the country. Insurance contributions and taxes are excluded: only what a person takes out of their pocket at the counter. The indicator is considered a key measure of financial protection: the higher it is, the more often illness means ruin, and WHO tracks it as an indicator of the risk of catastrophic household spending.

Important: A high value means weak protection, not an active private sector: voluntary insurance is not part of this indicator, so a country with developed private insurance can have a low share of out-of-pocket payments.

Source: Global Health Observatory (WHO), license CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.