Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health was 32.1% in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
32.1%
Change on year
up 0.4%
Rank
2nd
of 12 groups
All-time high
40.4%
in 2001
All-time low
32.0%
in 2021
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2022

0102030402000201120222000: 40.4 %2001: 40.4 %2002: 39.4 %2003: 37.9 %2004: 36.8 %2005: 37.8 %2006: 36.4 %2007: 36 %2008: 35 %2009: 34.9 %2010: 35.3 %2011: 34.9 %2012: 35.2 %2013: 34.6 %2014: 35.6 %2015: 35.6 %2016: 34.9 %2017: 33.6 %2018: 33.5 %2019: 32.6 %2020: 32.9 %2021: 32 %2022: 32.1 %

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Sub-Saharan Africa is 32.1%, measured in 2022.

The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 8.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 40.4% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 32.0%, in 2021.

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 Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000 to 2022.
Year % Change
2000 40.4%
2001 40.4% +0.0%
2002 39.4% -2.6%
2003 37.9% -3.8%
2004 36.8% -2.9%
2005 37.8% +2.6%
2006 36.4% -3.5%
2007 36.0% -1.1%
2008 35.0% -3.0%
2009 34.9% -0.2%
2010 35.3% +1.2%
2011 34.9% -1.3%
2012 35.2% +1.0%
2013 34.6% -1.6%
2014 35.6% +2.7%
2015 35.6% +0.1%
2016 34.9% -1.9%
2017 33.6% -3.9%
2018 33.5% -0.3%
2019 32.6% -2.5%
2020 32.9% +0.8%
2021 32.0% -2.8%
2022 32.1% +0.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 37.5% 34.9% 40.4% 10
2010s 34.6% 32.6% 35.6% 10
2020s 32.3% 32.0% 32.9% 3

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

  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

See the full ranking of 90 places →

More reference data data for Sub-Saharan Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Sub-Saharan Africa was 32.1% 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 40.4% in 2001.
What is the lowest proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 32.0% in 2021.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health?
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd out of 12 groups with data for 2022.
Is proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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 Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-facing-impoverishing-out-of-pocket-health-expenditure-based-on/sub-saharan-africa/

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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).