Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in South Asia

South Asia: Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health was 22.6% in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
22.6%
Change on year
down 9.1%
Rank
4th
of 12 groups
All-time high
35.7%
in 2000
All-time low
22.6%
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in South Asia, 2000–2022

0102030402000201120222000: 35.7 %2001: 35.2 %2002: 33.6 %2003: 32 %2004: 31.1 %2005: 32 %2006: 33 %2007: 29.1 %2008: 30.8 %2009: 32.4 %2010: 32.7 %2011: 33.1 %2012: 28.8 %2013: 28.8 %2014: 28.3 %2015: 27.6 %2016: 27.2 %2017: 25.5 %2018: 24.6 %2019: 25.1 %2020: 25.8 %2021: 24.9 %2022: 22.6 %

Source: Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in %.

Analysis

South Asia recorded 22.6% for proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.1% on the previous year and down 21.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in South Asia peaked at 35.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 22.6%, in 2022.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in South Asia, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%) in South Asia, 2000 to 2022.
Year % Change
2000 35.7%
2001 35.2% -1.3%
2002 33.6% -4.7%
2003 32.0% -4.5%
2004 31.1% -2.8%
2005 32.0% +2.8%
2006 33.0% +3.2%
2007 29.1% -12.0%
2008 30.8% +5.9%
2009 32.4% +5.1%
2010 32.7% +1.1%
2011 33.1% +1.1%
2012 28.8% -13.1%
2013 28.8% +0.2%
2014 28.3% -2.0%
2015 27.6% -2.4%
2016 27.2% -1.5%
2017 25.5% -6.1%
2018 24.6% -3.6%
2019 25.1% +2.0%
2020 25.8% +2.9%
2021 24.9% -3.7%
2022 22.6% -9.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 32.5% 29.1% 35.7% 10
2010s 28.2% 24.6% 33.1% 10
2020s 24.4% 22.6% 25.8% 3

Countries ranked near South Asia

  1. 1 Nigeria 42.2% compare
  2. 2 Malawi 42.0% compare
  3. 3 Mali 36.9% compare
  4. 4 Niger 35.7% compare
  5. 5 Burkina Faso 33.6% compare
  6. 6 Cameroon 32.5% compare
  7. 7 Uganda 31.4% compare

See the full ranking of 90 places →

More reference data data for South Asia

All data for South Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in South Asia?
Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in South Asia was 22.6% in 2022, according to Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO).
What is the highest proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health recorded in South Asia?
The highest recorded value was 35.7% in 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health recorded in South Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 22.6% in 2022.
How does South Asia rank for proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health?
South Asia ranks 4th out of 12 groups with data for 2022.
Is proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health rising or falling in South Asia?
Over the last ten years it is down 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Asia data come from?
The figures come from Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in South Asia. Statizoid, drawing on Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-facing-impoverishing-out-of-pocket-health-expenditure-based-on/south-asia/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%)
Unit
%
Source
Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
90 places, 1,155 data points, 1985–2024
Last refreshed

Proportion of population spending more than 100% of household discretionary budget on out-of-pocket health expenditure (%). This includes people living in poverty that are further impoverished due to out-of-pocket health expenditure as well as people who are pushed into poverty by out-of-pocket health expenditure. The discretionary budget is defined as the total household budget, measured by consumption expenditure or income, minus the societal poverty line (SPL ). Using 2017 purchasing power parities (PPPs), the SPL corresponds to whichever is greater: $2.15 (the international poverty line) or $1.15 + 50% of median household consumption expenditure or income, excluding out-of-pocket household expenditure on health. Out-of-pocket health expenditure is defined as any spending incurred by a household when any member uses a health good or service to receive any type of care (preventive, curative, rehabilitative, long-term or palliative care); provided by any type of provider; for any type of disease, illness or health condition; in any type of setting (outpatient, inpatient, at home).