Iran, Islamic Rep. — Health spending
Health Spending (% of GDP) for Iran, Islamic Rep., 2000–2023.
Health spending for Iran, Islamic Rep. was 6.03% in 2023, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 24 years, from 2000 to 2023. The highest recorded value was 8.38% in 2015. The lowest was 4.65% in 2002 (about 1.3× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 1.06% per year.
Iran, Islamic Rep. ranks 103 of 189 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 54%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 5.57%, so Iran, Islamic Rep. sits above it. It peaked in 2015 and has fallen 28% since. Over the last decade (2013–2023) the figure moved up 5%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 10 of 23 economies; Saudi Arabia (5.69%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 23% in 2015. That is 6% below this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
Doubling roughly every 65 years at that pace.
World ranking. Slipped: 97th of 184 in 2000 → 79th of 188 in 2010 → 140th of 189 in 2020 → 102nd of 188 in 2023.
Key figures
Full history — 2000 to 2023
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 6.03% | +0.4 pp |
| 2022 | 5.63% | +0.8 pp |
| 2021 | 4.86% | -0.1 pp |
| 2020 | 4.96% | -1.3 pp |
| 2019 | 6.23% | -0.4 pp |
| 2018 | 6.64% | -1.1 pp |
| 2017 | 7.72% | -0.1 pp |
| 2016 | 7.8% | -0.6 pp |
| 2015 | 8.38% | +1.6 pp |
| 2014 | 6.82% | +1.1 pp |
| 2013 | 5.74% | -0.4 pp |
| 2012 | 6.12% | +0.0 pp |
| 2011 | 6.1% | -0.2 pp |
| 2010 | 6.29% | +0.2 pp |
| 2009 | 6.11% | +1.1 pp |
| 2008 | 5.04% | +0.1 pp |
| 2007 | 4.91% | -0.2 pp |
| 2006 | 5.16% | -0.1 pp |
| 2005 | 5.3% | +0.2 pp |
| 2004 | 5.13% | +0.2 pp |
| 2003 | 4.96% | +0.3 pp |
| 2002 | 4.65% | -0.5 pp |
| 2001 | 5.16% | +0.4 pp |
| 2000 | 4.72% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Iran, Islamic Rep.’s Health spending in 2001?
5.16% (2001). 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 Iran, Islamic Rep.’s Health spending growing or shrinking?
Between 2000 and 2023 the series was growing overall: +27.6% in total — about 1.1% 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: 6.03%; 2022: 5.63%; 2021: 4.86%; 2020: 4.96%; 2019: 6.23%. 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.