Vanuatu Health Spending
Current health expenditure as % of GDP SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS
Vanuatu's health spending was 4.55% in 2025, ranked 139th globally. This represents a 10.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2000–2025.
Overview
Vanuatu's health spending stood at 4.55% in 2025, a rise of +0.43% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 4.55% by 2025. Vanuatu ranked 139th globally.
Vanuatu’s health‑spending share of GDP has risen modestly but steadily over the past 25 years, moving from 3.31 percent in 2000 to 4.55 percent in 2025, which places the nation at rank 139 globally. The upward trajectory peaked in 2021 at 4.59 percent before a brief dip to a trough of 2.88 percent in 2017, suggesting that the post‑trough recovery was driven by renewed fiscal commitment. Compared with regional peers, Vanuatu’s 2025 level is slightly below Uganda’s 4.68 percent and Grenada’s 4.69 percent, yet marginally above Cambodia’s 4.51 percent, indicating a middle‑of‑the‑road performance within its peer group. The consistent increase since the trough reflects expanding public health priorities and possibly greater external assistance for health infrastructure. Continued growth will likely depend on sustained budgetary allocations and the capacity to translate spending into service delivery, while any fiscal tightening could reverse the modest upward trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Health Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 4.67% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 4.55% | - | - |
| 2025 | 4.55% | +0.43% | #139 |
| 2023 | 4.12% | +0.06% | #39 |
| 2022 | 4.06% | −0.53% | #42 |
| 2021 | 4.59% | +0.47% | #43 |
| 2020 | 4.12% | +0.63% | #32 |
| 2019 | 3.50% | +0.06% | #26 |
| 2018 | 3.44% | +0.56% | #26 |
| 2017 | 2.88% | −0.11% | #13 |
| 2016 | 2.99% | −1.17% | #11 |
| 2015 | 4.16% | +0.52% | #39 |
| 2014 | 3.64% | −0.75% | #29 |
| 2013 | 4.39% | +0.46% | #51 |
| 2012 | 3.94% | +0.34% | #43 |
| 2011 | 3.60% | +0.07% | #35 |
| 2010 | 3.53% | +0.27% | #33 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Vanuatu 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
Vanuatu's health spending was 4.55% in 2025. Ranked 139th globally. This represents a 10.5% increase from the previous year.
Vanuatu's health spending peaked at 4.59% in 2021.
The lowest health spending in Vanuatu was 2.88% in 2017.
Vanuatu ranks 139th globally in health spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Vanuatu's health spending is projected to reach 4.55% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The health spending of Vanuatu in 2025 was 4.55%. This ranks 139th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_vanuatu_health-spending,
title = {Vanuatu Health Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/vanuatu/health-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}