Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita was 14.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Saudi Arabia, 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
Saudi Arabia recorded 14.1% for share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in 2023.
That represents a change of up 10.4% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Saudi Arabia peaked at 19.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 10.1%, in 2020.
That places Saudi Arabia 146th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 18.5% | — |
| 2001 | 18.0% | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 18.5% | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 17.9% | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 18.2% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 16.5% | -9.1% |
| 2006 | 15.4% | -6.7% |
| 2007 | 16.7% | +8.7% |
| 2008 | 19.4% | +15.7% |
| 2009 | 18.4% | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 18.9% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 15.6% | -17.5% |
| 2012 | 15.2% | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 14.4% | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 13.1% | -8.5% |
| 2015 | 14.4% | +9.5% |
| 2016 | 14.5% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 14.3% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 15.9% | +11.0% |
| 2019 | 11.4% | -28.3% |
| 2020 | 10.1% | -11.6% |
| 2021 | 10.2% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 12.8% | +25.9% |
| 2023 | 14.1% | +10.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 14.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.8%, 84% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 14.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 34.5%, 41% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.7% | 15.4% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.8% | 11.4% | 18.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.8% | 10.1% | 14.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More economy & growth data for Saudi Arabia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 27.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0212 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 731.09 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 32.63 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 52.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0256 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 882.47 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Saudi Arabia?
- Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Saudi Arabia was 14.1% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 19.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.1% in 2020.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 146th 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 Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.