Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita was 37.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Nicaragua, 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
The most recent figure for share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Nicaragua is 37.6%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 5.5% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Nicaragua peaked at 45.3% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 30.8%, in 2021.
That places Nicaragua 63rd out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 43.9% | — |
| 2001 | 40.4% | -8.0% |
| 2002 | 45.3% | +12.2% |
| 2003 | 38.7% | -14.6% |
| 2004 | 41.6% | +7.4% |
| 2005 | 39.2% | -5.7% |
| 2006 | 42.0% | +7.2% |
| 2007 | 41.9% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 40.9% | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 38.3% | -6.3% |
| 2010 | 37.5% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 37.8% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 37.6% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 36.9% | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 35.3% | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 35.4% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 35.0% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 33.8% | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 33.2% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 33.2% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 32.3% | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 30.8% | -4.5% |
| 2022 | 35.7% | +15.8% |
| 2023 | 37.6% | +5.5% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 37.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.6%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 37.6% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 29.3%, 1.3× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41.2% | 38.3% | 45.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.6% | 33.2% | 37.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.1% | 30.8% | 37.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More economy & growth data for Nicaragua
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.29 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 73.80 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0037 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 10.67 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.35 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 21.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0687 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 195.53 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 36.36 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Nicaragua?
- Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Nicaragua was 37.6% 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 45.3% in 2002.
- What is the lowest share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.8% in 2021.
- How does Nicaragua rank for share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita?
- Nicaragua ranks 63rd 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 Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.