Government Health Spending % of Total Government Expenditure 2017

This metric shows the proportion of a country's total government budget allocated to health services.

194 data pointsโ€ขโ€ขGlobal Coverageโ€ขHealth spending as a share of total government spending | Our World in Dataโ€ข

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
Actions
1
San Marino flag
San Marino
28.298 %
2
Costa Rica flag
Costa Rica
27.034 %
3
Iran flag
Iran
24.505 %
4
Japan flag
Japan
24.462 %
5
United States flag
United States
22.585 %
6
Maldives flag
Maldives
21.472 %
7
Panama flag
Panama
20.797 %
8
Uruguay flag
Uruguay
20.32 %
9
Ireland flag
Ireland
19.868 %
10
United Kingdom flag
United Kingdom
19.749 %
11
Germany flag
Germany
19.377 %
12
Canada flag
Canada
18.809 %
13
Colombia flag
Colombia
18.605 %
14
Australia flag
Australia
18.582 %
15
Sweden flag
Sweden
18.448 %
16
New Zealand flag
New Zealand
18.27 %
17
Chile flag
Chile
17.972 %
18
Tuvalu flag
Tuvalu
17.955 %
19
Nicaragua flag
Nicaragua
17.787 %
20
Norway flag
Norway
17.396 %
21
Monaco flag
Monaco
17.305 %
22
Guatemala flag
Guatemala
17.212 %
23
Denmark flag
Denmark
16.781 %
24
Paraguay flag
Paraguay
16.762 %
25
El Salvador flag
El Salvador
16.314 %
26
Argentina flag
Argentina
16.252 %
27
Palau flag
Palau
16.245 %
28
Malta flag
Malta
15.988 %
29
Belgium flag
Belgium
15.918 %
30
Czech Republic flag
Czech Republic
15.912 %
31
Bahamas flag
Bahamas
15.596 %
32
Cuba flag
Cuba
15.512 %
33
Austria flag
Austria
15.486 %
34
Bosnia and Herzegovina flag
Bosnia and Herzegovina
15.467 %
35
Iceland flag
Iceland
15.371 %
36
Singapore flag
Singapore
15.313 %
37
South Africa flag
South Africa
15.29 %
38
Spain flag
Spain
15.281 %
39
France flag
France
15.211 %
40
Dominican Republic flag
Dominican Republic
15.108 %
41
Madagascar flag
Madagascar
15.032 %
42
Liechtenstein flag
Liechtenstein
15.017 %
43
Netherlands flag
Netherlands
14.949 %
44
Peru flag
Peru
14.433 %
45
Botswana flag
Botswana
14.315 %
46
Andorra flag
Andorra
14.12 %
47
Namibia flag
Namibia
14.021 %
48
Jamaica flag
Jamaica
13.955 %
49
Finland flag
Finland
13.568 %
50
Saudi Arabia flag
Saudi Arabia
13.513 %
51
Slovakia flag
Slovakia
13.38 %
52
Slovenia flag
Slovenia
13.292 %
53
South Korea flag
South Korea
13.171 %
54
Thailand flag
Thailand
13.104 %
55
Italy flag
Italy
13.062 %
56
Samoa flag
Samoa
12.709 %
57
Lithuania flag
Lithuania
12.643 %
58
Portugal flag
Portugal
12.536 %
59
Croatia flag
Croatia
12.407 %
60
Estonia flag
Estonia
12.23 %
61
Romania flag
Romania
12.151 %
62
Lebanon flag
Lebanon
12.027 %
63
Lesotho flag
Lesotho
11.973 %
64
Bulgaria flag
Bulgaria
11.837 %
65
North Macedonia flag
North Macedonia
11.827 %
66
Serbia flag
Serbia
11.788 %
67
Israel flag
Israel
11.764 %
68
Republic of Moldova flag
Republic of Moldova
11.646 %
69
Belize flag
Belize
11.625 %
70
Antigua and Barbuda flag
Antigua and Barbuda
11.607 %
71
Tunisia flag
Tunisia
11.561 %
72
Bolivia flag
Bolivia
11.51 %
73
Ecuador flag
Ecuador
11.46 %
74
Suriname flag
Suriname
11.394 %
75
Switzerland flag
Switzerland
11.321 %
76
Trinidad and Tobago flag
Trinidad and Tobago
11.173 %
77
Jordan flag
Jordan
11.099 %
78
Poland flag
Poland
10.938 %
79
Sao Tome and Principe flag
Sao Tome and Principe
10.763 %
80
Mexico flag
Mexico
10.73 %
81
Honduras flag
Honduras
10.626 %
82
Guyana flag
Guyana
10.614 %
83
State of Palestine flag
State of Palestine
10.612 %
84
Algeria flag
Algeria
10.606 %
85
Luxembourg flag
Luxembourg
10.548 %
86
Burkina Faso flag
Burkina Faso
10.235 %
87
Mauritius flag
Mauritius
10.204 %
88
Belarus flag
Belarus
10.196 %
89
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines flag
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
10.105 %
90
Vietnam flag
Vietnam
10.093 %
91
Zambia flag
Zambia
10.052 %
92
Eswatini flag
Eswatini
9.972 %
93
Turkey flag
Turkey
9.96 %
94
Hungary flag
Hungary
9.882 %
95
Montenegro flag
Montenegro
9.726 %
96
Gabon flag
Gabon
9.715 %
97
Niger flag
Niger
9.663 %
98
Seychelles flag
Seychelles
9.546 %
99
Tanzania flag
Tanzania
9.521 %
100
Georgia flag
Georgia
9.519 %
101
Albania flag
Albania
9.514 %
102
Ghana flag
Ghana
9.274 %
103
Papua New Guinea flag
Papua New Guinea
9.155 %
104
Cabo Verde flag
Cabo Verde
9.124 %
105
Barbados flag
Barbados
9.062 %
106
Kiribati flag
Kiribati
9.03 %
107
Uzbekistan flag
Uzbekistan
8.991 %
108
Oman flag
Oman
8.946 %
109
Syrian Arab Republic flag
Syrian Arab Republic
8.945 %
110
Latvia flag
Latvia
8.94 %
111
Brazil flag
Brazil
8.924 %
112
Libya flag
Libya
8.863 %
113
Greece flag
Greece
8.842 %
114
China flag
China
8.797 %
115
Russia flag
Russia
8.784 %
116
Saint Lucia flag
Saint Lucia
8.746 %
117
Malaysia flag
Malaysia
8.72 %
118
Turkmenistan flag
Turkmenistan
8.714 %
119
Saint Kitts and Nevis flag
Saint Kitts and Nevis
8.6 %
120
Ukraine flag
Ukraine
8.447 %
121
Burundi flag
Burundi
8.358 %
122
Grenada flag
Grenada
8.352 %
123
Sudan flag
Sudan
8.325 %
124
Nauru flag
Nauru
8.259 %
125
Indonesia flag
Indonesia
8.209 %
126
Malawi flag
Malawi
8.19 %
127
Bahrain flag
Bahrain
7.977 %
128
Kazakhstan flag
Kazakhstan
7.857 %
129
Qatar flag
Qatar
7.825 %
130
United Arab Emirates flag
United Arab Emirates
7.809 %
131
Kuwait flag
Kuwait
7.741 %
132
Fiji flag
Fiji
7.723 %
133
Marshall Islands flag
Marshall Islands
7.686 %
134
Solomon Islands flag
Solomon Islands
7.666 %
135
Sri Lanka flag
Sri Lanka
7.637 %
136
Philippines flag
Philippines
7.62 %
137
Bhutan flag
Bhutan
7.584 %
138
Tonga flag
Tonga
7.324 %
139
Cook Islands flag
Cook Islands
7.263 %
140
Cyprus flag
Cyprus
7.131 %
141
Morocco flag
Morocco
7.106 %
142
Mongolia flag
Mongolia
7.023 %
143
Cambodia flag
Cambodia
6.996 %
144
Zimbabwe flag
Zimbabwe
6.979 %
145
Kenya flag
Kenya
6.792 %
146
Dominica flag
Dominica
6.77 %
147
Togo flag
Togo
6.45 %
148
Kyrgyzstan flag
Kyrgyzstan
6.342 %
149
Rwanda flag
Rwanda
6.23 %
150
Mozambique flag
Mozambique
6.075 %
151
Mauritania flag
Mauritania
6.066 %
152
Tajikistan flag
Tajikistan
5.886 %
153
Brunei Darussalam flag
Brunei Darussalam
5.871 %
154
Egypt flag
Egypt
5.42 %
155
Angola flag
Angola
5.364 %
156
Armenia flag
Armenia
5.273 %
157
Central African Republic flag
Central African Republic
5.26 %
158
Cรดte d'Ivoire flag
Cรดte d'Ivoire
5.15 %
159
Timor-Leste flag
Timor-Leste
5.146 %
160
Mali flag
Mali
5.137 %
161
Niue flag
Niue
4.995 %
162
Djibouti flag
Djibouti
4.803 %
163
Ethiopia flag
Ethiopia
4.788 %
164
Iraq flag
Iraq
4.775 %
165
Pakistan flag
Pakistan
4.772 %
166
Somalia flag
Somalia
4.726 %
167
Chad flag
Chad
4.678 %
168
Haiti flag
Haiti
4.544 %
169
Nepal flag
Nepal
4.508 %
170
Senegal flag
Senegal
4.499 %
171
Gambia flag
Gambia
4.491 %
172
Nigeria flag
Nigeria
4.442 %
173
Bangladesh flag
Bangladesh
4.107 %
174
Laos flag
Laos
4.077 %
175
Benin flag
Benin
3.972 %
176
Vanuatu flag
Vanuatu
3.962 %
177
Liberia flag
Liberia
3.955 %
178
Equatorial Guinea flag
Equatorial Guinea
3.936 %
179
Uganda flag
Uganda
3.922 %
180
Congo, Democratic Republic of the flag
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
3.842 %
181
Yemen flag
Yemen
3.668 %
182
India flag
India
3.661 %
183
Sierra Leone flag
Sierra Leone
3.632 %
184
Comoros flag
Comoros
3.585 %
185
Myanmar flag
Myanmar
3.524 %
186
Guinea flag
Guinea
3.478 %
187
Congo flag
Congo
3.411 %
188
Azerbaijan flag
Azerbaijan
2.824 %
189
Guinea-Bissau flag
Guinea-Bissau
2.752 %
190
Eritrea flag
Eritrea
2.373 %
191
Micronesia (Fed. States of) flag
Micronesia (Fed. States of)
2.363 %
192
Afghanistan flag
Afghanistan
2.319 %
193
South Sudan flag
South Sudan
2.106 %
194
Cameroon flag
Cameroon
0.734 %

โ†‘Top 10 Countries

  1. #1San Marino flagSan Marino
  2. #2Costa Rica flagCosta Rica
  3. #3Iran flagIran
  4. #4Japan flagJapan
  5. #5United States flagUnited States
  6. #6Maldives flagMaldives
  7. #7Panama flagPanama
  8. #8Uruguay flagUruguay
  9. #9Ireland flagIreland
  10. #10United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom

Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.

โ†“Bottom 10 Countries

  1. #194Cameroon flagCameroon
  2. #193South Sudan flagSouth Sudan
  3. #192Afghanistan flagAfghanistan
  4. #191Micronesia (Fed. States of) flagMicronesia (Fed. States of)
  5. #190Eritrea flagEritrea
  6. #189Guinea-Bissau flagGuinea-Bissau
  7. #188Azerbaijan flagAzerbaijan
  8. #187Congo flagCongo
  9. #186Guinea flagGuinea
  10. #185Myanmar flagMyanmar

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

1

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.

2

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.

3

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.

4

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.

5

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.

6

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.

7

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.

8

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 Samoaโ€™s health expenditure priorities, enabling targeted investments in health services.

9

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 governmentโ€™s ability to allocate more funds towards health services.

10

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.

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Historical 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.

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