Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure 2009
This metric shows the proportion of a country's total government budget allocated to health services.
Interactive Map
Complete Data Rankings
Rank | Actions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Costa Rica | 33.473 % | |
2 | Panama | 20.487 % | |
3 | San Marino | 20.109 % | |
4 | Monaco | 19.187 % | |
5 | Niue | 18.988 % | |
6 | United Kingdom | 18.243 % | |
7 | United States | 18.225 % | |
8 | Japan | 18.057 % | |
9 | Jordan | 17.916 % | |
10 | New Zealand | 17.824 % | |
11 | Canada | 17.325 % | |
12 | Ireland | 17.302 % | |
13 | Uruguay | 17.272 % | |
14 | Germany | 17.266 % | |
15 | Colombia | 17.041 % | |
16 | Andorra | 16.871 % | |
17 | Nicaragua | 16.77 % | |
18 | Argentina | 16.644 % | |
19 | Norway | 16.477 % | |
20 | Guatemala | 16.026 % | |
21 | Denmark | 15.937 % | |
22 | Australia | 15.882 % | |
23 | El Salvador | 15.815 % | |
24 | Maldives | 15.745 % | |
25 | Bahamas | 15.01 % | |
26 | Cuba | 14.932 % | |
27 | Spain | 14.79 % | |
28 | Dominican Republic | 14.434 % | |
29 | Belgium | 14.385 % | |
30 | Luxembourg | 14.116 % | |
31 | Sudan | 14.02 % | |
32 | Honduras | 13.993 % | |
33 | France | 13.959 % | |
34 | Paraguay | 13.957 % | |
35 | Netherlands | 13.924 % | |
36 | Austria | 13.752 % | |
37 | Sweden | 13.699 % | |
38 | Italy | 13.671 % | |
39 | Chile | 13.603 % | |
40 | Czech Republic | 13.545 % | |
41 | Croatia | 13.518 % | |
42 | Namibia | 13.492 % | |
43 | Serbia | 13.47 % | |
44 | Finland | 13.385 % | |
45 | Iceland | 13.371 % | |
46 | South Africa | 13.37 % | |
47 | Eswatini | 13.332 % | |
48 | Slovakia | 13.177 % | |
49 | Republic of Moldova | 12.876 % | |
50 | Portugal | 12.862 % | |
51 | Tonga | 12.717 % | |
52 | Samoa | 12.671 % | |
53 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 12.524 % | |
54 | Solomon Islands | 12.504 % | |
55 | Belize | 12.483 % | |
56 | Thailand | 12.459 % | |
57 | Slovenia | 12.447 % | |
58 | Malta | 12.446 % | |
59 | Iran | 12.377 % | |
60 | Ghana | 12.357 % | |
61 | North Macedonia | 12.192 % | |
62 | Tunisia | 12.075 % | |
63 | Greece | 11.883 % | |
64 | Turkey | 11.881 % | |
65 | Lithuania | 11.778 % | |
66 | Peru | 11.672 % | |
67 | Barbados | 11.655 % | |
68 | Kazakhstan | 11.364 % | |
69 | Estonia | 11.335 % | |
70 | Bahrain | 11.166 % | |
71 | Kiribati | 10.903 % | |
72 | Cook Islands | 10.859 % | |
73 | Kyrgyzstan | 10.696 % | |
74 | Poland | 10.498 % | |
75 | Romania | 10.446 % | |
76 | Madagascar | 10.439 % | |
77 | Mexico | 10.292 % | |
78 | South Korea | 10.088 % | |
79 | Tuvalu | 10.031 % | |
80 | Israel | 10 % | |
81 | Switzerland | 9.974 % | |
82 | Marshall Islands | 9.855 % | |
83 | Hungary | 9.711 % | |
84 | Suriname | 9.525 % | |
85 | Bolivia | 9.512 % | |
86 | Palau | 9.426 % | |
87 | Zambia | 9.366 % | |
88 | Nauru | 9.25 % | |
89 | Brazil | 9.146 % | |
90 | Russia | 9.076 % | |
91 | Bulgaria | 9.036 % | |
92 | Mongolia | 8.749 % | |
93 | Turkmenistan | 8.706 % | |
94 | Niger | 8.694 % | |
95 | Algeria | 8.645 % | |
96 | United Arab Emirates | 8.527 % | |
97 | Rwanda | 8.43 % | |
98 | China | 8.375 % | |
99 | Fiji | 8.37 % | |
100 | Lebanon | 8.342 % | |
101 | Cabo Verde | 8.312 % | |
102 | State of Palestine | 8.173 % | |
103 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 8.065 % | |
104 | Latvia | 8.061 % | |
105 | Grenada | 7.983 % | |
106 | Ukraine | 7.919 % | |
107 | Sri Lanka | 7.839 % | |
108 | Burkina Faso | 7.629 % | |
109 | Tanzania | 7.584 % | |
110 | Saudi Arabia | 7.522 % | |
111 | Ecuador | 7.459 % | |
112 | Jamaica | 7.451 % | |
113 | Seychelles | 7.432 % | |
114 | Dominica | 7.417 % | |
115 | Guyana | 7.414 % | |
116 | Saint Lucia | 7.398 % | |
117 | Lesotho | 7.323 % | |
118 | Uzbekistan | 7.269 % | |
119 | Vanuatu | 7.267 % | |
120 | Albania | 7.217 % | |
121 | Kenya | 7.201 % | |
122 | Singapore | 7.147 % | |
123 | Trinidad and Tobago | 7.051 % | |
124 | Uganda | 7.033 % | |
125 | Vietnam | 6.853 % | |
126 | Gabon | 6.818 % | |
127 | Haiti | 6.772 % | |
128 | Belarus | 6.731 % | |
129 | Senegal | 6.66 % | |
130 | Philippines | 6.645 % | |
131 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 6.497 % | |
132 | Armenia | 6.345 % | |
133 | Antigua and Barbuda | 6.331 % | |
134 | Papua New Guinea | 6.315 % | |
135 | Gambia | 6.309 % | |
136 | Mauritius | 6.282 % | |
137 | Botswana | 6.252 % | |
138 | Brunei Darussalam | 6.217 % | |
139 | Bhutan | 6.194 % | |
140 | Djibouti | 6.14 % | |
141 | Cyprus | 6.124 % | |
142 | Morocco | 6.123 % | |
143 | Oman | 6.015 % | |
144 | Cambodia | 5.968 % | |
145 | Syrian Arab Republic | 5.95 % | |
146 | Georgia | 5.884 % | |
147 | Malaysia | 5.865 % | |
148 | Côte d'Ivoire | 5.821 % | |
149 | Angola | 5.778 % | |
150 | Laos | 5.704 % | |
151 | Sierra Leone | 5.606 % | |
152 | Burundi | 5.478 % | |
153 | Indonesia | 5.413 % | |
154 | Ethiopia | 5.3 % | |
155 | Malawi | 5.232 % | |
156 | Kuwait | 5.178 % | |
157 | Benin | 5.106 % | |
158 | Liberia | 5.047 % | |
159 | Mozambique | 4.965 % | |
160 | Togo | 4.777 % | |
161 | Iraq | 4.734 % | |
162 | Egypt | 4.718 % | |
163 | Nepal | 4.691 % | |
164 | Qatar | 4.646 % | |
165 | Tajikistan | 4.591 % | |
166 | Central African Republic | 4.575 % | |
167 | Mauritania | 4.476 % | |
168 | Bangladesh | 4.115 % | |
169 | Libya | 4.089 % | |
170 | Yemen | 3.716 % | |
171 | Nigeria | 3.694 % | |
172 | Chad | 3.55 % | |
173 | Azerbaijan | 3.285 % | |
174 | Sao Tome and Principe | 3.272 % | |
175 | India | 3.122 % | |
176 | Cameroon | 3.047 % | |
177 | Pakistan | 2.963 % | |
178 | Mali | 2.926 % | |
179 | Comoros | 2.775 % | |
180 | Timor-Leste | 2.663 % | |
181 | Congo | 2.528 % | |
182 | Guinea-Bissau | 2.524 % | |
183 | Afghanistan | 2.515 % | |
184 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 2.499 % | |
185 | Eritrea | 2.373 % | |
186 | Equatorial Guinea | 1.93 % | |
187 | Guinea | 1.604 % | |
188 | Micronesia (Fed. States of) | 1.552 % | |
189 | Myanmar | 1.303 % |
- #1
Costa Rica
- #2
Panama
- #3
San Marino
- #4
Monaco
- #5
Niue
- #6
United Kingdom
- #7
United States
- #8
Japan
- #9
Jordan
- #10
New Zealand
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #189
Myanmar
- #188
Micronesia (Fed. States of)
- #187
Guinea
- #186
Equatorial Guinea
- #185
Eritrea
- #184
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- #183
Afghanistan
- #182
Guinea-Bissau
- #181
Congo
- #180
Timor-Leste
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
In 2009, Costa Rica led the world in Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure, allocating 33.47% of its government budget to health services. Globally, this metric ranged from a minimum of 1.30% to a maximum of 33.47%. The average spending across 189 countries was 9.58%, while the median value stood at 8.64%.
Economic Priorities and Health Spending
The significant variation in Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure can often be traced back to economic priorities and fiscal capacity. Countries like Costa Rica and Panama, which allocate 33.47% and 20.49% respectively, demonstrate a strong commitment to health, likely driven by robust public health policies and a focus on social welfare. In contrast, nations such as Myanmar and Micronesia (Fed. States of), with expenditures of just 1.30% and 1.55% respectively, may prioritize other sectors such as infrastructure or defense, or they may have limited fiscal capacity to increase health spending.
High-Income Nations and Health Investment
High-income countries tend to allocate a larger share of their budgets to health, reflecting both economic capacity and public demand for comprehensive health services. For instance, Monaco and the United Kingdom spend 19.19% and 18.24% of their budgets on health, respectively. These investments are often supported by well-established healthcare systems and a strong emphasis on public health. However, even within high-income brackets, priorities can differ significantly, as seen with Japan and the United States, which allocate 18.06% and 18.23%, respectively.
Factors Influencing Low Health Expenditure
Countries at the lower end of the spectrum, such as Myanmar and Guinea, face a myriad of challenges that limit health spending. Economic constraints often necessitate prioritizing immediate economic development goals over health. Additionally, political instability, such as in Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, can lead to diverted resources away from health services. In these contexts, international aid often plays a crucial role in supplementing domestic health expenditures.
Year-over-Year Changes and Policy Shifts
The year 2009 saw notable shifts in health spending priorities for several countries. Sudan experienced the largest increase, with a remarkable 59.6% rise, reflecting a policy shift towards strengthening its healthcare infrastructure. Similarly, Niue and the Dominican Republic increased their spending by 20.3% and 25.8%, respectively, suggesting increased government commitment to health. Conversely, Andorra reduced its health expenditure by 32.0%, potentially reallocating resources to other pressing areas.
The dynamics of Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure in 2009 underscore the complex interplay between economic capability, political priorities, and public health needs. These factors collectively shape how countries allocate their budgets, reflecting both immediate and long-term national strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure in 2009
Which country had the highest government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2009?
Costa Rica had the highest government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2009, with 33.47%.
Which country had the lowest government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2009?
Myanmar had the lowest government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2009, with 1.3%.
What was the average government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure across all countries in 2009?
The average government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure across all countries in 2009 was 9.58%.
What was the median government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2009?
The median government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2009 was 8.64%.
Which countries were in the top 3 for government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2009?
The top 3 countries for government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2009 were Costa Rica (33.47%), Panama (20.49%), and San Marino (20.11%).
What was the range of government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2009?
The range of government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2009 was from 1.3% in Myanmar to 33.47% in Costa Rica.
Insights by country
Iraq
In 2009, Iraq ranked #161 globally in Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure, allocating 4.733726 % of its budget to health. This figure is significantly lower than the global average, reflecting challenges in public health funding across the region. The allocation is influenced by the country's ongoing economic struggles, post-conflict recovery efforts, and a need for improved healthcare infrastructure and services.
Fiji
In 2009, Fiji ranked #99 globally with a Government Health Spending of 8.37037 % of Total Government Expenditure. This figure is below the global average, indicating a relatively modest investment in health compared to higher-ranked countries. Contributing factors include Fiji's economic constraints and the prioritization of other sectors, such as infrastructure and tourism, which often receive more funding in the national budget.
Equatorial Guinea
In 2009, Equatorial Guinea ranked #186 globally with a Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure of 1.9303828 %. This figure is significantly lower than the global average, indicating a lack of investment in health relative to other nations.
The country's wealth, largely derived from oil, has not translated into adequate public health funding, reflecting a focus on economic growth over social services. Additionally, limited infrastructure and governance challenges have hindered effective health spending, impacting overall health outcomes for the population.
Lebanon
In 2009, Lebanon ranked #100 globally with a Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure of 8.342395 %. This figure is notably lower than the global average, indicating a constrained public health budget compared to many other nations. Contributing factors include Lebanon's ongoing economic challenges, political instability, and the impact of regional conflicts, which limit government resources available for health services.
Niue
In 2009, Niue ranked #5 globally for Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure, allocating 18.987642 % of its total government budget to health. This figure is significantly higher than the global average, reflecting the country's prioritization of health services in a region where many nations struggle with limited resources. Niue's small population and reliance on tourism contribute to a focused health policy aimed at ensuring comprehensive healthcare access for its residents.
Finland
In 2009, Finland ranked #44 globally with a Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure of 13.384903 %. This figure is notably higher than the global average, reflecting Finland's commitment to public health. The country's comprehensive welfare system and emphasis on universal healthcare access drive substantial government investment in health services, ensuring high standards of care for its citizens.
Laos
In 2009, Laos ranked #150 globally with a Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure of 5.703766 %. This figure is notably lower than the regional average for Southeast Asia, highlighting challenges in health financing. Contributing factors include Laos's limited economic resources, a high percentage of the population living in rural areas, and ongoing development needs that prioritize infrastructure over health services.
Georgia
In 2009, Georgia ranked #146 globally in Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure, allocating 5.8841796 % of its total budget to health. This figure is notably lower than the global average, reflecting significant challenges in public health financing compared to higher-ranked nations. Economic constraints and a focus on other sectors have historically limited government investment in healthcare, impacting overall health outcomes in the country.
Guyana
In 2009, Guyana ranked #115 globally for Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure, allocating 7.414193 % of its total government expenditure to health. This figure is lower than the global average, indicating potential challenges in health financing compared to more developed nations. The relatively modest health spending reflects Guyana's economic constraints and the need to prioritize other sectors, such as infrastructure and education, in a developing economy.
Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire ranked #148 globally in 2009 with a Government Health Spending of 5.8213243 % of Total Government Expenditure. This figure is notably lower than the global average, reflecting significant challenges in health financing compared to more developed nations. Contributing factors include a struggling economy and ongoing political instability, which have historically hindered public investment in essential services like healthcare.
Data Source
Health spending as a share of total government spending | Our World in Data
Our World in Data is a research organization that provides comprehensive global statistics on various topics, including health, economics, and education. The dataset on health spending as a share of total government spending offers country-level insights into the proportion of government budgets allocated to health care.
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