Countries in Asia Ranked by Health expenditure share of GDP (2023)
Health expenditure share of GDP: each country's latest value (2018–2023), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Afghanistan ranks #1 with 15% of GDP. Japan is second with 10.7% of GDP, 39.5% behind. The top five are Afghanistan, Japan, West Bank and Gaza, Yemen, Rep. and Timor-Leste. The median across all 46 is 4.97% of GDP; Lao PDR is last at 1.33% of GDP. Afghanistan's figure has risen 59% since 2002 (9.44% of GDP to 15% of GDP in 2023).
- #1
- Afghanistan · 15% of GDP
- Median
- 4.97% of GDP
- Coverage
- 46 countries in Asia
- Data year
- 2023
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | Health expenditure share of GDP (% of GDP) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Afghanistan | 15 | 2023 |
| 2 | Japan | 10.7 | 2023 |
| 3 | West Bank and Gaza | 10.7 | 2023 |
| 4 | Yemen, Rep. | 9.7 | 2023 |
| 5 | Timor-Leste | 9.6 | 2023 |
| 6 | Armenia | 9.32 | 2023 |
| 7 | Maldives | 9.25 | 2023 |
| 8 | Korea, Rep. | 8.68 | 2024 |
| 9 | Jordan | 7.66 | 2023 |
| 10 | Tajikistan | 7.44 | 2023 |
| 11 | Israel | 7.1 | 2023 |
| 12 | Georgia | 6.86 | 2023 |
| 13 | Uzbekistan | 6.74 | 2023 |
| 14 | Nepal | 6.16 | 2023 |
| 15 | Mongolia | 6.07 | 2023 |
| 16 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 6.03 | 2023 |
| 17 | China | 5.94 | 2023 |
| 18 | Saudi Arabia | 5.69 | 2023 |
| 19 | Lebanon | 5.58 | 2023 |
| 20 | Iraq | 5.53 | 2023 |
| 21 | Turkmenistan | 5.5 | 2023 |
| 22 | Philippines | 5.1 | 2023 |
| 23 | United Arab Emirates | 4.97 | 2023 |
| 24 | Kuwait | 4.96 | 2023 |
| 25 | Cambodia | 4.62 | 2023 |
| 26 | Viet Nam | 4.56 | 2023 |
| 27 | Thailand | 4.54 | 2023 |
| 28 | Kyrgyz Republic | 4.5 | 2023 |
| 29 | Singapore | 4.49 | 2023 |
| 30 | Myanmar | 4.46 | 2023 |
| 31 | Bhutan | 4.42 | 2023 |
| 32 | Türkiye | 4.28 | 2023 |
| 33 | Azerbaijan | 4.27 | 2023 |
| 34 | Bahrain | 4 | 2023 |
| 35 | Malaysia | 3.96 | 2023 |
| 36 | Kazakhstan | 3.77 | 2023 |
| 37 | Sri Lanka | 3.68 | 2023 |
| 38 | Oman | 3.49 | 2023 |
| 39 | India | 3.34 | 2023 |
| 40 | Syrian Arab Republic | 2.71 | 2023 |
| 41 | Indonesia | 2.7 | 2023 |
| 42 | Qatar | 2.52 | 2023 |
| 43 | Pakistan | 2.52 | 2023 |
| 44 | Brunei Darussalam | 2.23 | 2023 |
| 45 | Bangladesh | 2.17 | 2023 |
| 46 | Lao PDR | 1.33 | 2023 |
About the top 10
#1 Afghanistan
Afghanistan ranks #1 on this list with 15% of GDP.
- Capital
- Kabul
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 43.84 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$17.78 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$416.9 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 66.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 25.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kabul.
Also ranks #1 in refugee population by origin · #4 in health expenditure share of gdp · #6 in agriculture value added share of gdp.
#2 Japan
Japan ranks #2 on this list with 10.7% of GDP.
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 123.37 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$4.44 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$35,951 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 84 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 92.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Tokyo, Tokyo, Yokohama.
Also ranks #2 in population ages 65+ share · #2 in age dependency ratio (old) · #2 in fdi outflows.
#3 West Bank and Gaza
West Bank and Gaza ranks #3 on this list with 10.7% of GDP.
- Capital
- Ramallah, East Jerusalem
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 5.41 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$17.17 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,171 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 69.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 87.4% of population (2025)
Also ranks #5 in unemployment rate · #10 in crop production index · #12 in population density.
#4 Yemen, Rep.
Yemen, Rep. ranks #4 on this list with 9.7% of GDP.
- Capital
- Sanaa, Aden
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 41.77 million people (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 69.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 37% of population (2025)
- International tourist arrivals
- 398,000 arrivals (2015)
- CO2 emissions per person
- 0.261 t CO2e per person (2024)
Also ranks #2 in prevalence of stunting (under-5) · #2 in prevalence of wasting (under-5) · #12 in unemployment rate.
#5 Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste ranks #5 on this list with 9.6% of GDP.
- Capital
- Dili
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 1.42 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.9 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,341 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 28.8% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in smoking prevalence · #3 in government revenue share of gdp · #4 in prevalence of stunting (under-5).
#6 Armenia
Armenia ranks #6 on this list with 9.32% of GDP.
- Capital
- Yerevan
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 3.09 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$29.24 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$9,474 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 78.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 65.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Yerevan.
Also ranks #5 in electricity access rate · #5 in access to electricity (rural) · #7 in female population share.
#7 Maldives
Maldives ranks #7 on this list with 9.25% of GDP.
- Capital
- Malé
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 529,680 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$7.74 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$14,615 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 81.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 42.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #5 in male population share · #5 in population ages 15-64 share · #8 in population density.
#8 Korea, Rep.
Korea, Rep. ranks #8 on this list with 8.68% of GDP (2024).
- Capital
- Seoul
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 51.69 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.87 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$36,227 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 81.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Seoul, Busan, Incheon.
Also ranks #1 in hospital beds per 10,000 · #2 in atms per 100,000 adults · #2 in researchers in r&d per million.
#9 Jordan
Jordan ranks #9 on this list with 7.66% of GDP.
- Capital
- Amman
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 11.52 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$61.61 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,348 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 78 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 93.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in refugee population by asylum · #8 in youth unemployment rate · #8 in immunisation (measles) rate.
#10 Tajikistan
Tajikistan ranks #10 on this list with 7.44% of GDP.
- Capital
- Dushanbe
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 10.79 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$17.66 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,637 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 26.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in livestock production index · #9 in gdp growth rate · #12 in gross savings rate.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Health expenditure share of GDP: each country's latest value (2018–2023), ranked from highest to lowest.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Current health expenditure (% of GDP): Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.