Malta Health Spending
Current health expenditure as % of GDP SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS
Malta's health spending was 8.90% in 2025, ranked 47th globally. This represents a 0.6% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2000–2025.
Overview
Malta's health spending stood at 8.90% in 2025, a rise of +0.05% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 8.90% by 2025. Malta ranked 47th globally.
Malta’s health‑care expenditure as a share of gross domestic product has risen steadily over the 25‑year series, moving from an all‑time trough of 6.63 % in 2000 to a peak of 9.85 % in 2020 before easing slightly to the latest 2025 level of 8.90 %, which places the country 47th in the global ranking. The upward trajectory reflects expanded public financing for hospitals, ageing demographics and the adoption of advanced medical technologies, while the modest post‑2020 decline coincides with fiscal consolidation measures introduced after the pandemic. Malta’s 2025 figure is closely aligned with peers such as Cyprus (8.93 %) and Denmark (8.84 %), suggesting that the island nation remains competitive among both high‑spending European systems and higher‑growth economies. If demographic pressures intensify and the government continues to prioritise universal coverage, health spending is likely to resume a gradual rise, although any major fiscal tightening could temper the forward momentum.
Data & projection
| Year | Health Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 8.81% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 8.90% | - | - |
| 2025 | 8.90% | +0.05% | #47 |
| 2023 | 8.84% | −0.25% | #144 |
| 2022 | 9.09% | −0.44% | #153 |
| 2021 | 9.53% | −0.33% | #151 |
| 2020 | 9.85% | +0.96% | #157 |
| 2019 | 8.89% | +0.78% | #155 |
| 2018 | 8.11% | −0.20% | #144 |
| 2017 | 8.31% | −0.39% | #148 |
| 2016 | 8.70% | −0.00% | #151 |
| 2015 | 8.70% | −0.18% | #153 |
| 2014 | 8.88% | +0.58% | #157 |
| 2013 | 8.30% | +0.05% | #145 |
| 2012 | 8.25% | −0.07% | #145 |
| 2011 | 8.32% | +0.42% | #146 |
| 2010 | 7.90% | +0.01% | #136 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malta matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw health spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malta's health spending was 8.90% in 2025. Ranked 47th globally. This represents a 0.6% increase from the previous year.
Malta's health spending peaked at 9.85% in 2020.
The lowest health spending in Malta was 6.63% in 2000.
Malta ranks 47th globally in health spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Malta's health spending is projected to reach 8.90% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The health spending of Malta in 2025 was 8.90%. This ranks 47th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malta_health-spending,
title = {Malta Health Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malta/health-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}