Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure 2014
This metric shows the proportion of a country's total government budget allocated to health services.
Interactive Map
Complete Data Rankings
Rank | Actions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
1 | San Marino | 30.791 % | |
2 | Costa Rica | 29.581 % | |
3 | Iran | 23.144 % | |
4 | Japan | 22.572 % | |
5 | Andorra | 21.672 % | |
6 | United States | 21.479 % | |
7 | United Kingdom | 19.277 % | |
8 | Canada | 18.97 % | |
9 | Uruguay | 18.821 % | |
10 | Germany | 18.728 % | |
11 | New Zealand | 18.51 % | |
12 | Paraguay | 18.451 % | |
13 | Panama | 18.435 % | |
14 | Cuba | 18.024 % | |
15 | Ireland | 18.022 % | |
16 | Sweden | 17.969 % | |
17 | Australia | 17.637 % | |
18 | Monaco | 17.631 % | |
19 | Norway | 17.233 % | |
20 | El Salvador | 16.978 % | |
21 | Nicaragua | 16.912 % | |
22 | Maldives | 16.863 % | |
23 | Argentina | 16.487 % | |
24 | Guatemala | 16.46 % | |
25 | Colombia | 16.183 % | |
26 | Denmark | 15.806 % | |
27 | Chile | 15.693 % | |
28 | Netherlands | 15.176 % | |
29 | Liechtenstein | 15.123 % | |
30 | Antigua and Barbuda | 15.106 % | |
31 | Czech Republic | 14.962 % | |
32 | South Africa | 14.916 % | |
33 | Iceland | 14.588 % | |
34 | Austria | 14.502 % | |
35 | Belgium | 14.499 % | |
36 | Dominican Republic | 14.476 % | |
37 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 14.432 % | |
38 | Bahamas | 14.213 % | |
39 | France | 14.148 % | |
40 | Spain | 14.093 % | |
41 | Madagascar | 13.924 % | |
42 | Palau | 13.917 % | |
43 | Malta | 13.833 % | |
44 | Samoa | 13.798 % | |
45 | Singapore | 13.655 % | |
46 | Finland | 13.572 % | |
47 | Tunisia | 13.543 % | |
48 | Peru | 13.096 % | |
49 | Italy | 13.09 % | |
50 | Jordan | 13.064 % | |
51 | Slovakia | 12.977 % | |
52 | Republic of Moldova | 12.757 % | |
53 | North Macedonia | 12.672 % | |
54 | Tuvalu | 12.671 % | |
55 | Thailand | 12.662 % | |
56 | Estonia | 12.427 % | |
57 | Lebanon | 12.388 % | |
58 | Belize | 12.234 % | |
59 | Serbia | 12.021 % | |
60 | Slovenia | 11.976 % | |
61 | Namibia | 11.967 % | |
62 | Lithuania | 11.834 % | |
63 | South Korea | 11.739 % | |
64 | Lesotho | 11.592 % | |
65 | Honduras | 11.553 % | |
66 | Algeria | 11.418 % | |
67 | Israel | 11.403 % | |
68 | Croatia | 11.335 % | |
69 | Jamaica | 11.252 % | |
70 | Romania | 11.165 % | |
71 | Portugal | 11.147 % | |
72 | Montenegro | 10.984 % | |
73 | Botswana | 10.959 % | |
74 | Zimbabwe | 10.926 % | |
75 | Luxembourg | 10.854 % | |
76 | Switzerland | 10.794 % | |
77 | Sudan | 10.618 % | |
78 | Mauritius | 10.528 % | |
79 | Poland | 10.471 % | |
80 | Bulgaria | 10.364 % | |
81 | Mexico | 10.346 % | |
82 | Turkey | 10.29 % | |
83 | Marshall Islands | 10.185 % | |
84 | Nauru | 10.093 % | |
85 | Bahrain | 10.091 % | |
86 | Kazakhstan | 10.034 % | |
87 | Cabo Verde | 9.983 % | |
88 | Barbados | 9.91 % | |
89 | Burundi | 9.792 % | |
90 | State of Palestine | 9.719 % | |
91 | China | 9.661 % | |
92 | Dominica | 9.62 % | |
93 | Seychelles | 9.539 % | |
94 | Guyana | 9.417 % | |
95 | Hungary | 9.394 % | |
96 | Uzbekistan | 9.302 % | |
97 | Saudi Arabia | 9.278 % | |
98 | Tonga | 9.177 % | |
99 | Russia | 9.164 % | |
100 | Cook Islands | 9.143 % | |
101 | Vietnam | 9.123 % | |
102 | Ecuador | 9.05 % | |
103 | Sri Lanka | 9.033 % | |
104 | Bolivia | 8.952 % | |
105 | Brazil | 8.929 % | |
106 | Greece | 8.772 % | |
107 | Turkmenistan | 8.714 % | |
108 | Belarus | 8.685 % | |
109 | Malawi | 8.581 % | |
110 | Eswatini | 8.501 % | |
111 | Latvia | 8.375 % | |
112 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 8.327 % | |
113 | Albania | 8.174 % | |
114 | Saint Lucia | 8.117 % | |
115 | Rwanda | 7.982 % | |
116 | Kenya | 7.845 % | |
117 | Malaysia | 7.824 % | |
118 | Zambia | 7.785 % | |
119 | Georgia | 7.78 % | |
120 | United Arab Emirates | 7.778 % | |
121 | Sao Tome and Principe | 7.776 % | |
122 | Burkina Faso | 7.774 % | |
123 | Bhutan | 7.724 % | |
124 | Ukraine | 7.719 % | |
125 | Sierra Leone | 7.58 % | |
126 | Tajikistan | 7.562 % | |
127 | Philippines | 7.505 % | |
128 | Mongolia | 7.485 % | |
129 | Trinidad and Tobago | 7.475 % | |
130 | Papua New Guinea | 7.47 % | |
131 | Solomon Islands | 7.422 % | |
132 | Syrian Arab Republic | 7.402 % | |
133 | Grenada | 7.296 % | |
134 | Kiribati | 7.28 % | |
135 | Kyrgyzstan | 7.139 % | |
136 | Fiji | 7.104 % | |
137 | Uganda | 7.009 % | |
138 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 6.958 % | |
139 | Tanzania | 6.938 % | |
140 | Suriname | 6.898 % | |
141 | Morocco | 6.839 % | |
142 | Oman | 6.813 % | |
143 | Ghana | 6.72 % | |
144 | Qatar | 6.504 % | |
145 | Gabon | 6.385 % | |
146 | Armenia | 6.275 % | |
147 | Cambodia | 6.168 % | |
148 | Djibouti | 6.073 % | |
149 | Niue | 6.029 % | |
150 | Gambia | 5.754 % | |
151 | Libya | 5.713 % | |
152 | Cyprus | 5.652 % | |
153 | Chad | 5.549 % | |
154 | Kuwait | 5.492 % | |
155 | Indonesia | 5.406 % | |
156 | Niger | 5.403 % | |
157 | Nepal | 5.268 % | |
158 | Mauritania | 5.241 % | |
159 | Brunei Darussalam | 5.204 % | |
160 | Cรดte d'Ivoire | 5.111 % | |
161 | Senegal | 4.676 % | |
162 | Togo | 4.558 % | |
163 | Mali | 4.455 % | |
164 | Mozambique | 4.317 % | |
165 | Egypt | 4.161 % | |
166 | Somalia | 4.112 % | |
167 | Ethiopia | 4.088 % | |
168 | Myanmar | 4.056 % | |
169 | Benin | 4.045 % | |
170 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 3.987 % | |
171 | Central African Republic | 3.947 % | |
172 | Comoros | 3.82 % | |
173 | Timor-Leste | 3.719 % | |
174 | Micronesia (Fed. States of) | 3.69 % | |
175 | Angola | 3.616 % | |
176 | Bangladesh | 3.592 % | |
177 | Pakistan | 3.342 % | |
178 | Nigeria | 3.336 % | |
179 | India | 3.251 % | |
180 | Haiti | 3.201 % | |
181 | Azerbaijan | 3.107 % | |
182 | Guinea | 3.048 % | |
183 | Cameroon | 2.94 % | |
184 | Yemen | 2.82 % | |
185 | Laos | 2.736 % | |
186 | Guinea-Bissau | 2.598 % | |
187 | Vanuatu | 2.519 % | |
188 | Liberia | 2.461 % | |
189 | Eritrea | 2.373 % | |
190 | Iraq | 2.37 % | |
191 | Equatorial Guinea | 2.061 % | |
192 | Congo | 1.95 % | |
193 | Afghanistan | 1.861 % |
- #1
San Marino
- #2
Costa Rica
- #3
Iran
- #4
Japan
- #5
Andorra
- #6
United States
- #7
United Kingdom
- #8
Canada
- #9
Uruguay
- #10
Germany
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #193
Afghanistan
- #192
Congo
- #191
Equatorial Guinea
- #190
Iraq
- #189
Eritrea
- #188
Liberia
- #187
Vanuatu
- #186
Guinea-Bissau
- #185
Laos
- #184
Yemen
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
The country with the highest Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure in 2014 was San Marino at 30.79%. Globally, this metric ranged from a minimum of 1.86% to a maximum of 30.79% across 193 countries. The global average was 10.00%, offering a benchmark for assessing national health budget priorities.
High Health Spending Priorities in Developed Nations
Developed countries tend to allocate a larger portion of their government expenditure to health services, reflecting their commitment to robust healthcare systems. For instance, Japan allocated 22.57% of its government budget to health, while the United States and United Kingdom dedicated 21.48% and 19.28%, respectively. These figures underscore the emphasis placed on healthcare in these nations, often driven by aging populations and advanced medical technologies that demand substantial funding.
The presence of San Marino at the top, with 30.79%, highlights a unique case where a small population and a well-established public health infrastructure allow for a significant budget allocation to health services.
Low Health Spending in Developing Economies
Conversely, many developing countries exhibit a lower percentage of government expenditure on health, often due to competing budgetary priorities like infrastructure and education. Afghanistan reported a mere 1.86%, the lowest globally, while Congo and Equatorial Guinea allocated 1.95% and 2.06%, respectively. These figures may reflect limited fiscal capacity or differing policy priorities, where immediate economic development is prioritized over healthcare investment.
Year-over-Year Changes and Their Implications
Analyzing year-over-year changes provides insights into shifting government priorities and external influences. Andorra saw the most significant increase of +10.48% (a 93.7% rise), indicating a substantial policy shift or increased investment in public health infrastructure. Similarly, Iran increased its health spending by +6.80% (a 41.6% rise), likely a reflection of policy reforms aimed at improving healthcare access and quality.
In contrast, Vanuatu experienced the most significant decrease, with a reduction of -7.28% (a -74.3% decline). This significant drop might be due to fiscal constraints or reallocation of funds to other sectors, such as disaster recovery or infrastructure development following natural events.
Impact of Economic and Policy Contexts
Economic stability and government policy heavily influence health spending priorities. Countries like Germany and Canada, with allocations of 18.73% and 18.97%, respectively, benefit from stable economies and policies that prioritize universal healthcare. These nations often have the fiscal capacity and political will to sustain high levels of health expenditure.
Meanwhile, countries with lower spending percentages, such as Yemen (2.82%) and Eritrea (2.37%), may face economic challenges and political instability that hinder their ability to allocate more towards health services. These conditions often lead to a reliance on international aid and non-governmental organizations to fill healthcare gaps.
Overall, the Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure in 2014 reflects a complex interplay of economic capacity, demographic needs, and policy decisions, highlighting the diverse approaches countries take in prioritizing health within their budgets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure in 2014
Which country had the highest government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2014?
San Marino had the highest government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2014, with 30.79%.
Which country had the lowest government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2014?
Afghanistan had the lowest government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2014, with 1.86%.
What was the average government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure across all countries in 2014?
The average government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure across all countries in 2014 was 10%.
What was the median government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2014?
The median government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2014 was 9.28%.
Which countries were in the top 3 for government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2014?
The top 3 countries for government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2014 were San Marino (30.79%), Costa Rica (29.58%), and Iran (23.14%).
What was the range of government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2014?
The range of government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2014 was from 1.86% in Afghanistan to 30.79% in San Marino.
Insights by country
Tuvalu
In 2014, Tuvalu ranked #54 globally for Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure, with a value of 12.67068 %. This percentage is higher than the global average, indicating a significant commitment to health relative to other nations. The small population and limited resources of Tuvalu necessitate focused investments in health services, driven by the need to address unique challenges such as geographic isolation and vulnerability to climate change.
Libya
In 2014, Libya's Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure was 5.7134776 %, ranking #151 out of 193 countries. This figure is significantly lower than the global average, indicating limited investment in health relative to other nations. The low spending is largely attributed to ongoing political instability and economic challenges following the civil conflict, which have strained public resources and diverted funds away from essential services like healthcare.
Nigeria
Nigeria ranked #178 globally with a Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure of 3.33638 % in 2014. This figure is notably lower than the global average, indicating significant underfunding in health compared to countries with better health outcomes.
The low expenditure can be attributed to Nigeria's economic challenges, including high levels of poverty and reliance on oil revenues, which often do not translate into sufficient public health funding. Additionally, the country's large population and diverse health needs further strain the limited resources allocated to healthcare.
Qatar
In 2014, Qatar ranked #144 globally with a Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure of 6.503873 %. This figure is notably lower than the global average, reflecting a focus on other sectors such as infrastructure and energy. Qatar's substantial wealth from natural gas reserves allows for significant public investment, yet prioritization of health spending may be influenced by a relatively young population and a commitment to developing a robust healthcare system.
Maldives
In 2014, Maldives ranked #22 globally, with a Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure of 16.86293 %. This figure is notably higher than the global average, reflecting the country's commitment to health care in a region where many nations allocate less. Contributing factors include Maldives' small population, which allows for more focused investment in health services, and a growing tourism sector that generates revenue for public services.
Austria
In 2014, Austria ranked #34 globally with a Government Health Spending of 14.502279 % of Total Government Expenditure. This figure is relatively high compared to some neighboring countries, reflecting Austria's commitment to healthcare in the European context. Key drivers of this spending include a robust social welfare system and a strong emphasis on public health policies, supported by a well-established healthcare infrastructure and a population that values comprehensive medical services.
Armenia
In 2014, Armenia ranked #146 globally with a Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure of 6.2752604 %. This percentage is below the global average, reflecting challenges in healthcare financing compared to higher-ranked countries. Contributing factors include Armenia's economic constraints and a focus on other pressing national priorities, which limit the allocation of funds to health services.
Poland
In 2014, Poland ranked #79 globally with a Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure of 10.471004 %. This figure is lower than the European Union average, reflecting a more conservative approach to health funding compared to many Western European nations. Key drivers of this spending level include Poland's transition to a market economy, which has influenced public health financing, and a demographic profile with a significant working-age population, impacting budget allocations.
Vanuatu
In 2014, Vanuatu ranked #187 globally for Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure at 2.5189924 %. This figure is notably low compared to many countries, reflecting a significant gap in health funding compared to the global average. Contributing factors include Vanuatu's limited economic resources and the challenges posed by its geographic dispersion of islands, which complicates healthcare delivery and infrastructure development.
Indonesia
In 2014, Indonesia ranked #155 globally for Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure at 5.405502 %. This figure is notably lower than the global average, indicating limited prioritization of health in government budgets compared to many other countries. Contributing factors include Indonesia's diverse geography, which complicates healthcare delivery, and a growing population that places additional strain on existing resources.
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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