World: Proportion of population further impoverished due to out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2022, World's proportion of population further impoverished due to out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%) fell 0.01 percentage points on 2021 (from 18.57% to 18.56%).

Across the 21 yearly changes before that (2001 to 2021), the average change was −0.38 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.36 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.0 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 0.3 percentage points in 2001 and the biggest yearly fall was 1.13 percentage points in 2007. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2013 to 2022 the straight-line trend is downward, about 0.28 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 96% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

What this measures

Proportion of population living in households already in societal poverty (household total budget lies below the societal poverty line) that incur any out-of-pocket health expenditure. The household 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).

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 23 values

Proportion of population further impoverished due to out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%) in nearby economies

• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 9.42% (2022)
• Israel — 9.99% (2021)

More health data for World

• Population ages 00-04, female (% of female population) — 7.67% (2025)
• Population ages 00-04, male (% of male population) — 7.97% (2025)
• Population ages 0-14, female — 974.32 million (2025)
• Population ages 0-14, female (% of female population) — 23.85% (2025)
• Population ages 0-14, male — 1.03 billion (2025)
• Population ages 0-14, male (% of male population) — 24.97% (2025)
• Population ages 0-14, total — 2.01 billion (2025)
• Population ages 0-14 (% of total population) — 24.41% (2025)
• Population ages 05-09, female (% of female population) — 8.04% (2025)
• Population ages 05-09, male (% of male population)

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Questions people ask

What is World's proportion of population further impoverished due to out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%)?

18.56% in 2022, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2000?

It is down 8.05 percentage points from 26.61% in 2000. The highest value was 26.91% in 2001 and the lowest 18.56% in 2022.

Is the latest change in proportion of population further impoverished due to out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%) unusual for World?

In 2022, World's proportion of population further impoverished due to out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%) fell 0.01 percentage points on 2021 (from 18.57% to 18.56%). Across the 21 yearly changes before that (2001 to 2021), the average change was −0.38 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.36 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.0 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SH_UHC_FH40_FURTHER, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO); World Bank (WB), note: Universal Health Coverage Dataset Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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