Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita was 71.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Nigeria, 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 Nigeria is 71.9%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.1% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Nigeria peaked at 77.4% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 60.2%, in 2000.
That places Nigeria 6th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 60.2% | — |
| 2001 | 60.7% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 65.0% | +7.1% |
| 2003 | 72.8% | +11.9% |
| 2004 | 64.5% | -11.4% |
| 2005 | 66.0% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 70.5% | +6.8% |
| 2007 | 70.9% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 72.8% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 74.5% | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 76.9% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 74.7% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 72.8% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 70.9% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 71.9% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 71.9% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 75.2% | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 77.4% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 75.9% | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 71.5% | -5.9% |
| 2020 | 74.7% | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 76.2% | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 75.7% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 71.9% | -5.1% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 71.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.6%, 1.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 71.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 32.4%, 2.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 67.8% | 60.2% | 74.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 73.9% | 70.9% | 77.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 74.6% | 71.9% | 76.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 3 Turkmenistan 77.4% compare
- 4 Afghanistan 77.1% compare
- 5 Syrian Arab Republic 72.4% compare
- 7 Myanmar 71.1% compare
- 8 Yemen 69.1% compare
- 9 Cameroon 67.7% compare
More economy & growth data for Nigeria
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.32 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.19 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0041 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 148.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0138 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 16.86 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 13.91 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Nigeria?
- Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Nigeria was 71.9% 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 77.4% in 2017.
- What is the lowest share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.2% in 2000.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita?
- Nigeria ranks 6th 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 Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.