Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Malawi
Malawi: Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita was 12.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Malawi, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 12.0% for share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in 2023.
The figure is down 4.6% on the previous year and up 79.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Malawi peaked at 18.5% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 6.7%, in 2013.
Malawi ranks 158th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 16.8% | — |
| 2001 | 18.5% | +10.6% |
| 2002 | 15.0% | -19.2% |
| 2003 | 12.1% | -19.5% |
| 2004 | 9.7% | -19.6% |
| 2005 | 9.1% | -6.2% |
| 2006 | 8.9% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 11.7% | +31.3% |
| 2008 | 10.4% | -11.5% |
| 2009 | 11.2% | +8.3% |
| 2010 | 10.9% | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 9.0% | -18.0% |
| 2012 | 10.2% | +14.3% |
| 2013 | 6.7% | -34.5% |
| 2014 | 8.2% | +22.0% |
| 2015 | 11.0% | +34.2% |
| 2016 | 12.4% | +13.0% |
| 2017 | 12.7% | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 12.8% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 11.9% | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 12.5% | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 11.5% | -7.8% |
| 2022 | 12.6% | +9.1% |
| 2023 | 12.0% | -4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.3% | 8.9% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.6% | 6.7% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.2% | 11.5% | 12.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More economy & growth data for Malawi
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.07 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.6 Percent per annum (2029)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate -29.8 % change on previous year (2020)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0505 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2020)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 30.43 current US$ per person (2020)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 26.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1824 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 122.51 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 27.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 319.42 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Malawi?
- Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Malawi was 12.0% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 18.5% in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.7% in 2013.
- How does Malawi rank for share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita?
- Malawi ranks 158th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 79.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Out-of-pocket spending on healthcare as percent of total current healthcare expenditure vs. GDP per capita, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.