Saudi Arabia — Health spending
Health Spending (% of GDP) for Saudi Arabia, 2000–2023.
Health spending for Saudi Arabia was 5.69% in 2023, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 24 years, from 2000 to 2023. The highest recorded value was 6.65% in 2020. The lowest was 2.97% in 2008 (about 1.9× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 1.31% per year.
Saudi Arabia ranks 111 of 189 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 59%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 5.57%, so Saudi Arabia sits above it. It peaked in 2020 and has fallen 14% since. Over the last decade (2013–2023) the figure moved up 29%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 11 of 23 economies; Lebanon (5.57%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 44% in 2009.
Data highlights
Doubling roughly every 53 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 118th of 184 in 2000 → 153rd of 188 in 2010 → 96th of 189 in 2020 → 110th of 188 in 2023.
Key figures
Full history — 2000 to 2023
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5.69% | +0.4 pp |
| 2022 | 5.31% | -0.6 pp |
| 2021 | 5.93% | -0.7 pp |
| 2020 | 6.65% | +1.2 pp |
| 2019 | 5.47% | +0.1 pp |
| 2018 | 5.34% | -0.7 pp |
| 2017 | 6.03% | -0.2 pp |
| 2016 | 6.24% | +0.4 pp |
| 2015 | 5.86% | +0.7 pp |
| 2014 | 5.16% | +0.7 pp |
| 2013 | 4.42% | +0.4 pp |
| 2012 | 3.99% | +0.3 pp |
| 2011 | 3.68% | +0.0 pp |
| 2010 | 3.65% | -0.6 pp |
| 2009 | 4.29% | +1.3 pp |
| 2008 | 2.97% | -0.6 pp |
| 2007 | 3.56% | -0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 3.62% | +0.2 pp |
| 2005 | 3.42% | -0.2 pp |
| 2004 | 3.58% | -0.4 pp |
| 2003 | 3.98% | -0.3 pp |
| 2002 | 4.25% | -0.2 pp |
| 2001 | 4.46% | +0.3 pp |
| 2000 | 4.21% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Saudi Arabia’s Health spending in 2001?
4.46% (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 Saudi Arabia’s Health spending growing or shrinking?
Between 2000 and 2023 the series was growing overall: +35.0% in total — about 1.3% 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: 5.69%; 2022: 5.31%; 2021: 5.93%; 2020: 6.65%; 2019: 5.47%. 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.