Australia Health Spending
Current health expenditure as % of GDP SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS
Australia's health spending was 10.14% in 2025, ranked 27th globally. This represents a 2.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2000–2025.
Overview
Australia's health spending stood at 10.14% in 2025, a decline of +0.25% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 10.14% by 2025. Australia ranked 27th globally.
Australia’s health‑spending share of gross domestic product has risen steadily over the 25‑year span from 7.59 in 2000 to 10.14 in 2025, placing the nation 27th globally according to the World Bank. The upward trajectory accelerated after the all‑time peak of 10.70 in 2020, a year marked by heightened pandemic‑related expenditures, and has since settled at a level comparable to peers such as Canada (10.41) and the European Union (10.09). The early‑millennium trough of 7.59 reflects a period of relatively modest fiscal commitment to health, after which successive reforms and demographic pressures pushed spending higher. While Australia now exceeds the 2020 peak only marginally, the continued aging of the population and expanding scope of medical technologies suggest that the health‑spending ratio may keep climbing unless efficiency gains or policy shifts curb growth.
Data & projection
| Year | Health Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 10.09% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 10.14% | - | - |
| 2025 | 10.14% | −0.25% | #27 |
| 2023 | 10.40% | +0.51% | #168 |
| 2022 | 9.89% | −0.62% | #162 |
| 2021 | 10.52% | −0.19% | #164 |
| 2020 | 10.70% | +0.45% | #164 |
| 2019 | 10.25% | +0.17% | #172 |
| 2018 | 10.09% | −0.02% | #169 |
| 2017 | 10.11% | +0.02% | #170 |
| 2016 | 10.09% | −0.05% | #173 |
| 2015 | 10.14% | +0.31% | #172 |
| 2014 | 9.83% | +1.08% | #167 |
| 2013 | 8.75% | +0.08% | #154 |
| 2012 | 8.67% | +0.14% | #151 |
| 2011 | 8.53% | +0.11% | #148 |
| 2010 | 8.42% | −0.12% | #144 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Australia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw health spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Australia's health spending was 10.14% in 2025. Ranked 27th globally. This represents a 2.4% decrease from the previous year.
Australia's health spending peaked at 10.70% in 2020.
The lowest health spending in Australia was 7.59% in 2000.
Australia ranks 27th globally in health spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Australia's health spending is projected to reach 10.14% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The health spending of Australia in 2025 was 10.14%. This ranks 27th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_australia_health-spending,
title = {Australia Health Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/australia/health-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}