Out-of-pocket health expenditure — all countries

Out-of-pocket health expenditure — Southern Asia

Out-of-pocket health expenditure in Southern Asia in 2023 — 50.46%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 2.15 pp.

2023 50.46% +1.71 pp vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 56.41%2007
Period minimum 46.44%2020

Trend over time

2000–2023 · % of health expenditure

Out-of-pocket health expenditure — Southern Asia, 2000–20234547.55052.55557.52000200320062009201220152018202120232000: 52.6%2001: 51.6%2002: 53.65%2003: 55.7%2004: 56.2%2005: 55.74%2006: 54.16%2007: 56.41%2008: 55.41%2009: 54.8%2010: 56.15%2011: 54.68%2012: 53.62%2013: 54.05%2014: 52.72%2015: 51.86%2016: 50.44%2017: 47.98%2018: 48.21%2019: 48.66%2020: 46.44%2021: 47.82%2022: 48.74%2023: 50.46%
Change over the period: −2.15 pp Annual average: -0.09 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

Southern Asia 50.46%
World 17.33%
Out-of-pocket health expenditure — Southern Asia, by year Southern Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 50.46 +1.71 pp
2022 48.74 +0.93 pp
2021 47.82 +1.38 pp
2020 46.44 −2.22 pp
2019 48.66 +0.46 pp
2018 48.21 +0.22 pp
2017 47.98 −2.46 pp
2016 50.44 −1.42 pp
2015 51.86 −0.86 pp
2014 52.72 −1.33 pp
2013 54.05 +0.43 pp
2012 53.62 −1.06 pp
2011 54.68 −1.47 pp
2010 56.15 +1.35 pp
2009 54.8 −0.61 pp
2008 55.41 −1 pp
2007 56.41 +2.25 pp
2006 54.16 −1.58 pp
2005 55.74 −0.46 pp
2004 56.2 +0.5 pp
2003 55.7 +2.05 pp
2002 53.65 +2.05 pp
2001 51.6 −1 pp
2000 52.6

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.