Uruguay Health Spending
Current health expenditure as % of GDP SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS
Uruguay's health spending was 8.77% in 2025, ranked 50th globally. This represents a 2.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2000–2025.
Overview
Uruguay's health spending stood at 8.77% in 2025, a decline of +0.24% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 8.77% by 2025. Uruguay ranked 50th globally.
Uruguay’s health‑care expenditure as a share of gross domestic product has shown a gradual decline over the past 25 years, falling from 9.17 % in 2000 to 8.77 % in 2025, which places the country at rank 50 globally. The apex of spending occurred in 2001 at 9.76 %, while the lowest point was recorded in 2007 at 7.46 %, indicating a modest rebound after the 2007 trough but no return to early‑2000s levels. Uruguay’s current figure of 8.77 % is virtually identical to that of Paraguay (8.77 %) and closely matches Bosnia and Herzegovina (8.77 %) and Denmark (8.84 %), suggesting that its health‑spending intensity aligns with a diverse set of economies. The persistent downward trajectory, despite occasional upticks, reflects structural pressures such as demographic ageing and fiscal constraints. If policy reforms expand public financing or improve efficiency, the downward trend could be arrested, potentially raising Uruguay’s health‑spending share toward the regional average in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Health Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 8.71% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 8.77% | - | - |
| 2025 | 8.77% | −0.24% | #50 |
| 2023 | 9.02% | +0.13% | #147 |
| 2022 | 8.89% | −0.03% | #149 |
| 2021 | 8.92% | −0.17% | #138 |
| 2020 | 9.09% | −0.15% | #143 |
| 2019 | 9.24% | +0.34% | #162 |
| 2018 | 8.90% | +0.18% | #156 |
| 2017 | 8.72% | +0.08% | #156 |
| 2016 | 8.64% | +0.38% | #150 |
| 2015 | 8.26% | +0.22% | #143 |
| 2014 | 8.04% | −0.05% | #143 |
| 2013 | 8.08% | +0.05% | #138 |
| 2012 | 8.03% | +0.12% | #141 |
| 2011 | 7.92% | +0.04% | #134 |
| 2010 | 7.88% | −0.04% | #135 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Uruguay matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2020. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw health spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Uruguay's health spending was 8.77% in 2025. Ranked 50th globally. This represents a 2.7% decrease from the previous year.
Uruguay's health spending peaked at 9.76% in 2001.
The lowest health spending in Uruguay was 7.46% in 2007.
Uruguay ranks 50th globally in health spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Uruguay's health spending is projected to reach 8.77% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The health spending of Uruguay in 2025 was 8.77%. This ranks 50th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_uruguay_health-spending,
title = {Uruguay Health Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/uruguay/health-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}