Afghanistan — Health spending
Health Spending (% of GDP) for Afghanistan, 2002–2023.
Health spending for Afghanistan was 14.99% in 2023, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 22 years, from 2002 to 2023. The highest recorded value was 23.09% in 2022. The lowest was 7.90% in 2012 (about 1.9× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 2.22% per year.
Afghanistan ranks 4 of 189 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 2%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 5.57%, so Afghanistan sits above it. It peaked in 2022 and has fallen 35% since. Over the last decade (2013–2023) the figure moved up 70%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 1 of 23 economies; West Bank and Gaza (10.73%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 38% in 2021. That is 5% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 2002 level: doubled by 2021. Doubling roughly every 32 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 15th of 185 in 2002 → 41st of 188 in 2010 → 3rd of 189 in 2020 → 4th of 188 in 2023.
Key figures
Full history — 2002 to 2023
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 14.99% | -8.1 pp |
| 2022 | 23.09% | +1.6 pp |
| 2021 | 21.51% | +6.0 pp |
| 2020 | 15.53% | +0.7 pp |
| 2019 | 14.83% | +0.6 pp |
| 2018 | 14.21% | +1.6 pp |
| 2017 | 12.62% | +0.8 pp |
| 2016 | 11.82% | +1.7 pp |
| 2015 | 10.11% | +0.6 pp |
| 2014 | 9.53% | +0.7 pp |
| 2013 | 8.81% | +0.9 pp |
| 2012 | 7.9% | -0.7 pp |
| 2011 | 8.56% | -0.0 pp |
| 2010 | 8.57% | -1.2 pp |
| 2009 | 9.82% | -0.4 pp |
| 2008 | 10.26% | +0.4 pp |
| 2007 | 9.9% | -0.7 pp |
| 2006 | 10.62% | +0.7 pp |
| 2005 | 9.95% | +0.1 pp |
| 2004 | 9.81% | +0.9 pp |
| 2003 | 8.94% | -0.5 pp |
| 2002 | 9.44% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Afghanistan’s Health spending in 2003?
8.94% (2003). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of GDP, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Afghanistan’s Health spending growing or shrinking?
Between 2002 and 2023 the series was growing overall: +58.7% in total — about 2.2% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2023: 14.99%; 2022: 23.09%; 2021: 21.51%; 2020: 15.53%; 2019: 14.83%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS — Health Spending (% of GDP). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.