Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure 2017
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 | 28.298 % | |
2 | Costa Rica | 27.034 % | |
3 | Iran | 24.505 % | |
4 | Japan | 24.462 % | |
5 | United States | 22.585 % | |
6 | Maldives | 21.472 % | |
7 | Panama | 20.797 % | |
8 | Uruguay | 20.32 % | |
9 | Ireland | 19.868 % | |
10 | United Kingdom | 19.749 % | |
11 | Germany | 19.377 % | |
12 | Canada | 18.809 % | |
13 | Colombia | 18.605 % | |
14 | Australia | 18.582 % | |
15 | Sweden | 18.448 % | |
16 | New Zealand | 18.27 % | |
17 | Chile | 17.972 % | |
18 | Tuvalu | 17.955 % | |
19 | Nicaragua | 17.787 % | |
20 | Norway | 17.396 % | |
21 | Monaco | 17.305 % | |
22 | Guatemala | 17.212 % | |
23 | Denmark | 16.781 % | |
24 | Paraguay | 16.762 % | |
25 | El Salvador | 16.314 % | |
26 | Argentina | 16.252 % | |
27 | Palau | 16.245 % | |
28 | Malta | 15.988 % | |
29 | Belgium | 15.918 % | |
30 | Czech Republic | 15.912 % | |
31 | Bahamas | 15.596 % | |
32 | Cuba | 15.512 % | |
33 | Austria | 15.486 % | |
34 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 15.467 % | |
35 | Iceland | 15.371 % | |
36 | Singapore | 15.313 % | |
37 | South Africa | 15.29 % | |
38 | Spain | 15.281 % | |
39 | France | 15.211 % | |
40 | Dominican Republic | 15.108 % | |
41 | Madagascar | 15.032 % | |
42 | Liechtenstein | 15.017 % | |
43 | Netherlands | 14.949 % | |
44 | Peru | 14.433 % | |
45 | Botswana | 14.315 % | |
46 | Andorra | 14.12 % | |
47 | Namibia | 14.021 % | |
48 | Jamaica | 13.955 % | |
49 | Finland | 13.568 % | |
50 | Saudi Arabia | 13.513 % | |
51 | Slovakia | 13.38 % | |
52 | Slovenia | 13.292 % | |
53 | South Korea | 13.171 % | |
54 | Thailand | 13.104 % | |
55 | Italy | 13.062 % | |
56 | Samoa | 12.709 % | |
57 | Lithuania | 12.643 % | |
58 | Portugal | 12.536 % | |
59 | Croatia | 12.407 % | |
60 | Estonia | 12.23 % | |
61 | Romania | 12.151 % | |
62 | Lebanon | 12.027 % | |
63 | Lesotho | 11.973 % | |
64 | Bulgaria | 11.837 % | |
65 | North Macedonia | 11.827 % | |
66 | Serbia | 11.788 % | |
67 | Israel | 11.764 % | |
68 | Republic of Moldova | 11.646 % | |
69 | Belize | 11.625 % | |
70 | Antigua and Barbuda | 11.607 % | |
71 | Tunisia | 11.561 % | |
72 | Bolivia | 11.51 % | |
73 | Ecuador | 11.46 % | |
74 | Suriname | 11.394 % | |
75 | Switzerland | 11.321 % | |
76 | Trinidad and Tobago | 11.173 % | |
77 | Jordan | 11.099 % | |
78 | Poland | 10.938 % | |
79 | Sao Tome and Principe | 10.763 % | |
80 | Mexico | 10.73 % | |
81 | Honduras | 10.626 % | |
82 | Guyana | 10.614 % | |
83 | State of Palestine | 10.612 % | |
84 | Algeria | 10.606 % | |
85 | Luxembourg | 10.548 % | |
86 | Burkina Faso | 10.235 % | |
87 | Mauritius | 10.204 % | |
88 | Belarus | 10.196 % | |
89 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 10.105 % | |
90 | Vietnam | 10.093 % | |
91 | Zambia | 10.052 % | |
92 | Eswatini | 9.972 % | |
93 | Turkey | 9.96 % | |
94 | Hungary | 9.882 % | |
95 | Montenegro | 9.726 % | |
96 | Gabon | 9.715 % | |
97 | Niger | 9.663 % | |
98 | Seychelles | 9.546 % | |
99 | Tanzania | 9.521 % | |
100 | Georgia | 9.519 % | |
101 | Albania | 9.514 % | |
102 | Ghana | 9.274 % | |
103 | Papua New Guinea | 9.155 % | |
104 | Cabo Verde | 9.124 % | |
105 | Barbados | 9.062 % | |
106 | Kiribati | 9.03 % | |
107 | Uzbekistan | 8.991 % | |
108 | Oman | 8.946 % | |
109 | Syrian Arab Republic | 8.945 % | |
110 | Latvia | 8.94 % | |
111 | Brazil | 8.924 % | |
112 | Libya | 8.863 % | |
113 | Greece | 8.842 % | |
114 | China | 8.797 % | |
115 | Russia | 8.784 % | |
116 | Saint Lucia | 8.746 % | |
117 | Malaysia | 8.72 % | |
118 | Turkmenistan | 8.714 % | |
119 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 8.6 % | |
120 | Ukraine | 8.447 % | |
121 | Burundi | 8.358 % | |
122 | Grenada | 8.352 % | |
123 | Sudan | 8.325 % | |
124 | Nauru | 8.259 % | |
125 | Indonesia | 8.209 % | |
126 | Malawi | 8.19 % | |
127 | Bahrain | 7.977 % | |
128 | Kazakhstan | 7.857 % | |
129 | Qatar | 7.825 % | |
130 | United Arab Emirates | 7.809 % | |
131 | Kuwait | 7.741 % | |
132 | Fiji | 7.723 % | |
133 | Marshall Islands | 7.686 % | |
134 | Solomon Islands | 7.666 % | |
135 | Sri Lanka | 7.637 % | |
136 | Philippines | 7.62 % | |
137 | Bhutan | 7.584 % | |
138 | Tonga | 7.324 % | |
139 | Cook Islands | 7.263 % | |
140 | Cyprus | 7.131 % | |
141 | Morocco | 7.106 % | |
142 | Mongolia | 7.023 % | |
143 | Cambodia | 6.996 % | |
144 | Zimbabwe | 6.979 % | |
145 | Kenya | 6.792 % | |
146 | Dominica | 6.77 % | |
147 | Togo | 6.45 % | |
148 | Kyrgyzstan | 6.342 % | |
149 | Rwanda | 6.23 % | |
150 | Mozambique | 6.075 % | |
151 | Mauritania | 6.066 % | |
152 | Tajikistan | 5.886 % | |
153 | Brunei Darussalam | 5.871 % | |
154 | Egypt | 5.42 % | |
155 | Angola | 5.364 % | |
156 | Armenia | 5.273 % | |
157 | Central African Republic | 5.26 % | |
158 | Cรดte d'Ivoire | 5.15 % | |
159 | Timor-Leste | 5.146 % | |
160 | Mali | 5.137 % | |
161 | Niue | 4.995 % | |
162 | Djibouti | 4.803 % | |
163 | Ethiopia | 4.788 % | |
164 | Iraq | 4.775 % | |
165 | Pakistan | 4.772 % | |
166 | Somalia | 4.726 % | |
167 | Chad | 4.678 % | |
168 | Haiti | 4.544 % | |
169 | Nepal | 4.508 % | |
170 | Senegal | 4.499 % | |
171 | Gambia | 4.491 % | |
172 | Nigeria | 4.442 % | |
173 | Bangladesh | 4.107 % | |
174 | Laos | 4.077 % | |
175 | Benin | 3.972 % | |
176 | Vanuatu | 3.962 % | |
177 | Liberia | 3.955 % | |
178 | Equatorial Guinea | 3.936 % | |
179 | Uganda | 3.922 % | |
180 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 3.842 % | |
181 | Yemen | 3.668 % | |
182 | India | 3.661 % | |
183 | Sierra Leone | 3.632 % | |
184 | Comoros | 3.585 % | |
185 | Myanmar | 3.524 % | |
186 | Guinea | 3.478 % | |
187 | Congo | 3.411 % | |
188 | Azerbaijan | 2.824 % | |
189 | Guinea-Bissau | 2.752 % | |
190 | Eritrea | 2.373 % | |
191 | Micronesia (Fed. States of) | 2.363 % | |
192 | Afghanistan | 2.319 % | |
193 | South Sudan | 2.106 % | |
194 | Cameroon | 0.734 % |
- #1
San Marino
- #2
Costa Rica
- #3
Iran
- #4
Japan
- #5
United States
- #6
Maldives
- #7
Panama
- #8
Uruguay
- #9
Ireland
- #10
United Kingdom
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #194
Cameroon
- #193
South Sudan
- #192
Afghanistan
- #191
Micronesia (Fed. States of)
- #190
Eritrea
- #189
Guinea-Bissau
- #188
Azerbaijan
- #187
Congo
- #186
Guinea
- #185
Myanmar
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
In 2017, San Marino led the world in Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure with a remarkable 28.30%. Globally, the range of health spending as a share of government expenditure spanned from a minimum of 0.73% to the maximum observed in San Marino. The global average for this metric stood at 10.40%, providing a benchmark for comparing individual countries' commitments to healthcare within their budgets.
High-Spending Nations and Their Policies
Countries that allocate a significant portion of their budgets to health services often have well-established healthcare systems or prioritize public health as part of their policy agenda. In 2017, Costa Rica and Japan followed closely behind San Marino, spending 27.03% and 24.46% of their government budgets, respectively, on health. Costa Rica's robust public healthcare system, known for its universal coverage and strong emphasis on preventive care, aligns with its high budget allocation. Similarly, Japan's aging population necessitates substantial investment in healthcare, contributing to its high expenditure percentage.
The United States, with 22.58% of its government budget dedicated to health, reflects its complex healthcare landscape, characterized by high costs and significant federal and state involvement. Meanwhile, Maldives and Panama allocate over 20% of their expenditures to health, underscoring the importance of healthcare in their national agendas despite differing economic scales and healthcare challenges.
Low Health Spending and Development Challenges
At the opposite end of the spectrum, countries with minimal health expenditure as a portion of their budgets often face economic and political challenges. Cameroon recorded the lowest percentage at 0.73%, highlighting limited government capacity to fund healthcare amid other pressing needs. Similarly, South Sudan and Afghanistan, both spending just above 2%, grapple with conflict-driven constraints and developmental hurdles that restrict their ability to allocate more towards health services.
In Eritrea and Guinea-Bissau, where government health spending was below 3%, systemic issues such as political instability and limited fiscal resources hinder comprehensive healthcare funding. These nations often rely on international aid and NGOs to fill the gaps in their healthcare systems.
Year-Over-Year Changes and Key Movers
In 2017, several countries experienced notable shifts in their health spending allocations. Tuvalu saw the largest increase, boosting its health expenditure by 4.96%, a substantial 38.2% rise from the previous year. This increase may reflect efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure and accessibility. Niger and Botswana also demonstrated significant increases of 3.98% and 3.10%, respectively, indicating a growing commitment to strengthening their health sectors.
Conversely, Sudan experienced the most significant decrease, with a reduction of 4.60% or 35.6%Marshall Islands and San Marino faced reductions of 3.68% and 3.19%, respectively, reflecting potential reallocations within their budgets or external financial pressures.
Implications for Health Policy and Economic Context
The variance in Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure across countries reflects diverse economic, demographic, and policy environments. High spenders like Japan and Costa Rica demonstrate how established healthcare systems and policy priorities can drive significant budget allocations. In contrast, countries with lower spending, such as Cameroon and South Sudan, often face barriers that limit their ability to prioritize health within their budgets.
Year-over-year changes highlight the dynamic nature of government budgeting for health, influenced by both internal policy decisions and external economic conditions. Countries like Tuvalu and Niger exemplify positive shifts towards enhanced healthcare funding, while decreases in nations like Sudan may signal challenges that require strategic policy interventions to ensure sustainable health financing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure in 2017
Which country had the highest government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2017?
San Marino had the highest government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2017, with 28.3%.
Which country had the lowest government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2017?
Cameroon had the lowest government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2017, with 0.73%.
What was the average government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure across all countries in 2017?
The average government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure across all countries in 2017 was 10.4%.
What was the median government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2017?
The median government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2017 was 9.6%.
Which countries were in the top 3 for government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2017?
The top 3 countries for government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2017 were San Marino (28.3%), Costa Rica (27.03%), and Iran (24.5%).
What is the range of government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2017?
The range of government health spending as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2017 spans from 0.73% in Cameroon to 28.3% in San Marino.
Insights by country
Angola
In 2017, Angola ranked #155 globally with a Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure of 5.3643193 %. This percentage is significantly lower than the global average, indicating limited investment in health relative to other countries. Contributing factors include Angola's ongoing economic challenges, stemming from fluctuations in oil prices, and a young population that places pressure on health services without corresponding government funding.
Honduras
In 2017, Honduras ranked #81 globally for Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure at 10.626307 %. This figure is below the average for Central American countries, which often allocate a higher percentage of their budgets to health. Contributing factors include economic challenges, with a significant portion of government resources directed toward addressing poverty and security issues, affecting overall health funding priorities.
Afghanistan
In 2017, Afghanistan ranked #192 globally for Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure, with a value of 2.3191156 %. This figure is significantly lower than the global average, reflecting the challenges faced by the country in prioritizing health amidst ongoing conflict and instability. The limited government resources, exacerbated by a struggling economy and high levels of poverty, contribute to this low investment in health services.
Bahrain
Bahrain ranked #127 globally with a Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure of 7.9766583 % in 2017. This figure is lower than the global average, indicating a relatively limited allocation of government resources to health compared to many other countries.
The country's health expenditure is influenced by its small population and a focus on economic diversification, which can sometimes prioritize other sectors over healthcare. Additionally, Bahrain's ongoing efforts to enhance its healthcare infrastructure may require increased investment in the future to meet rising demand.
Chile
In 2017, Chile ranked #17 globally for Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure at 17.972158 %. This figure is notably higher than the average spending in Latin America, where many countries allocate significantly less to health. Chile's robust health spending can be attributed to its comprehensive healthcare system and a commitment to improving public health outcomes, driven by both economic stability and demographic changes.
Austria
In 2017, Austria ranked #33 globally with a Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure of 15.486373 %. This figure is notably higher than the global average, reflecting a strong commitment to healthcare compared to many countries. The high spending is driven by Austria's robust social welfare system and a focus on providing comprehensive healthcare services to its population, which includes a significant proportion of elderly residents.
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic ranked #157 globally in 2017 for Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure, allocating 5.2599773 % of its budget to health. This figure is significantly lower than the global average, reflecting the country's ongoing economic challenges and limited resources. Factors such as prolonged conflicts, a fragile healthcare infrastructure, and high levels of poverty contribute to the low prioritization of health spending in government budgets.
Samoa
In 2017, Samoa ranked #56 globally for Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure, allocating 12.708512 % of its budget to health. This spending is higher than the global average, reflecting a commitment to healthcare in the Pacific region. Economic factors, such as reliance on tourism and remittances, alongside a small population, influence Samoaโs health expenditure priorities, enabling targeted investments in health services.
Republic of Moldova
In 2017, the Republic of Moldova ranked #68 globally for Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure at 11.645921 %. This figure is notably lower than the global average, reflecting the country's ongoing economic challenges and limited public resources. Factors such as a high level of poverty and a significant outflow of skilled healthcare professionals have also impacted the governmentโs ability to allocate more funds towards health services.
Malawi
In 2017, Malawi ranked #126 globally with a Government Health Spending of 8.189613 % of Total Government Expenditure. This figure is below the global average, indicating limited investment in health compared to many other countries. Contributing factors include Malawi's low GDP per capita and significant health challenges, such as high rates of malaria and HIV/AIDS, which strain public resources and necessitate a larger share of government spending on health.
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.
Visit Data SourceHistorical Data by Year
Explore Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure data across different years. Compare trends and see how statistics have changed over time.
More Government Facts
Rule of Law Index by Country
Compare countries by Rule of Law percentile rank, reflecting confidence in laws, courts, police, property rights, and protection from crime and violence.
View dataBrowse All Government
Explore more facts and statistics in this category
All Categories
Discover more categories with comprehensive global data