Eritrea Health Spending
Current health expenditure as % of GDP SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS
Eritrea's health spending was 3.19% in 2025, ranked 167th globally. This represents a 13.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2000–2025.
Overview
Eritrea's health spending stood at 3.19% in 2025, a decline of +0.49% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 3.19% by 2025. Eritrea ranked 167th globally.
Eritrea’s health‑spending share of gross domestic product has fallen sharply over the past 25 years, declining from 5.77 % in 2000 to an all‑time trough of 3.19 % in 2025, the lowest level recorded since the series began. The peak of 7.34 % occurred in 2003, shortly after the post‑war reconstruction period, after which fiscal pressures and limited external assistance prompted a gradual contraction. By 2025 Eritrea ranks 167th globally, tied with peers such as Equatorial Guinea and Niger at 3.19 % of GDP, while neighboring Algeria records a slightly lower share of 3.16 %. The downward trajectory reflects persistent challenges in mobilising domestic resources for health, compounded by low tax capacity and modest donor flows. If fiscal reforms broaden the tax base and prioritize health budgeting, the country could reverse the decline and move toward the regional average, but without such policy shifts the current low‑spending pattern is likely to persist.
Data & projection
| Year | Health Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 2.96% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 3.19% | - | - |
| 2025 | 3.19% | −0.49% | #167 |
| 2023 | 3.68% | −0.19% | #29 |
| 2022 | 3.88% | −0.30% | #34 |
| 2021 | 4.18% | −0.13% | #33 |
| 2020 | 4.31% | −0.34% | #38 |
| 2019 | 4.65% | +0.40% | #62 |
| 2018 | 4.25% | +0.09% | #48 |
| 2017 | 4.15% | +0.42% | #43 |
| 2016 | 3.74% | −0.77% | #28 |
| 2015 | 4.51% | +0.59% | #50 |
| 2014 | 3.91% | −1.05% | #37 |
| 2013 | 4.97% | +1.23% | #75 |
| 2012 | 3.74% | −1.42% | #36 |
| 2011 | 5.16% | +0.34% | #80 |
| 2010 | 4.82% | −0.60% | #67 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Eritrea matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2019. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw health spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Eritrea's health spending was 3.19% in 2025. Ranked 167th globally. This represents a 13.3% decrease from the previous year.
Eritrea's health spending peaked at 7.34% in 2003.
The lowest health spending in Eritrea was 3.19% in 2025.
Eritrea ranks 167th globally in health spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Eritrea's health spending is projected to reach 3.19% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The health spending of Eritrea in 2025 was 3.19%. This ranks 167th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_eritrea_health-spending,
title = {Eritrea Health Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/eritrea/health-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}