Nauru Health Spending
Current health expenditure as % of GDP SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS
Nauru's health spending was 22.14% in 2025, ranked 2nd globally. This represents a 21.6% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2000–2025.
Overview
Nauru's health spending stood at 22.14% in 2025, a rise of +3.93% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 22.14% by 2025. Nauru ranked 2nd globally.
Nauru’s health‑spending per capita has risen sharply over the past quarter‑century, moving from 18.97 in 2000 to a World Bank‑reported 22.14 in 2025, which places the island nation second globally among the listed economies. The upward trajectory peaked in 2007 at 24.23 before a dramatic dip to an all‑time trough of 6.88 in 2004, illustrating the volatility of fiscal capacity in a small, resource‑dependent state. Compared with peer small‑state Tuvalu, which records 26.67, Nauru’s recent level remains modest, yet it exceeds the spending of larger economies such as the United States (16.45) and Afghanistan (21.13). The sustained increase since the early 2000s reflects both higher government revenues from phosphate mining and a growing emphasis on universal health coverage. Continued diversification of the economy and stable external aid will be crucial to maintain this upward trend and prevent a reversal toward past lows.
Data & projection
| Year | Health Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 24.15% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 22.14% | - | - |
| 2025 | 22.14% | +3.93% | #2 |
| 2023 | 18.21% | −0.13% | #190 |
| 2022 | 18.34% | +7.49% | #189 |
| 2021 | 10.85% | −0.70% | #170 |
| 2020 | 11.56% | −0.01% | #176 |
| 2019 | 11.56% | +0.47% | #185 |
| 2018 | 11.09% | −0.40% | #180 |
| 2017 | 11.49% | +0.54% | #186 |
| 2016 | 10.95% | −2.96% | #180 |
| 2015 | 13.91% | +5.79% | #189 |
| 2014 | 8.12% | −1.45% | #145 |
| 2013 | 9.57% | +0.73% | #166 |
| 2012 | 8.84% | −1.13% | #156 |
| 2011 | 9.97% | −2.73% | #170 |
| 2010 | 12.70% | +0.38% | #184 |
Analysis
Nauru's health spending was 22.14% in 2025, a rise of +3.93% from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 22.14% by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nauru's health spending was 22.14% in 2025. Ranked 2nd globally. This represents a 21.6% increase from the previous year.
Nauru's health spending peaked at 24.23% in 2007.
The lowest health spending in Nauru was 6.88% in 2004.
Nauru ranks 2nd globally in health spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Nauru's health spending is projected to reach 22.14% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The health spending of Nauru in 2025 was 22.14%. This ranks 2nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_nauru_health-spending,
title = {Nauru Health Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/nauru/health-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}