Out-of-pocket health expenditure — all countries

Out-of-pocket health expenditure — South America

Out-of-pocket health expenditure in South America in 2023 — 26.19%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 9.07 pp.

2023 26.19% +0.58 pp vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 36.64%2001
Period minimum 24.01%2020

Trend over time

2000–2023 · % of health expenditure

Out-of-pocket health expenditure — South America, 2000–202320253035402000200320062009201220152018202120232000: 35.26%2001: 36.64%2002: 36.09%2003: 34.87%2004: 35.22%2005: 35.91%2006: 35.6%2007: 34.81%2008: 35.16%2009: 32.8%2010: 32.57%2011: 32.23%2012: 32.09%2013: 31.06%2014: 29.59%2015: 28.01%2016: 27.27%2017: 26.67%2018: 27.22%2019: 26.56%2020: 24.01%2021: 25.07%2022: 25.61%2023: 26.19%
Change over the period: −9.07 pp Annual average: -0.39 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

South America 26.19%
World 17.33%
Out-of-pocket health expenditure — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 26.19 +0.58 pp
2022 25.61 +0.54 pp
2021 25.07 +1.06 pp
2020 24.01 −2.55 pp
2019 26.56 −0.66 pp
2018 27.22 +0.55 pp
2017 26.67 −0.6 pp
2016 27.27 −0.74 pp
2015 28.01 −1.58 pp
2014 29.59 −1.48 pp
2013 31.06 −1.03 pp
2012 32.09 −0.13 pp
2011 32.23 −0.35 pp
2010 32.57 −0.23 pp
2009 32.8 −2.36 pp
2008 35.16 +0.35 pp
2007 34.81 −0.79 pp
2006 35.6 −0.31 pp
2005 35.91 +0.69 pp
2004 35.22 +0.35 pp
2003 34.87 −1.22 pp
2002 36.09 −0.54 pp
2001 36.64 +1.38 pp
2000 35.26

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.