Countries With the Fastest Decline in Health expenditure share of GDP (5-Year Change)
Change in Health expenditure share of GDP over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Lebanon fell the most: by 2.5 pts, from 8.07% of GDP to 5.58% of GDP in the five years to 2023. Guyana is second (−2.44 pts), followed by Zimbabwe (−1.75 pts). 60 countries fell over that period; the median change among them was −0.452 pts.
- #1
- Lebanon · −2.5 pts
- Median
- −0.452 pts
- Coverage
- 60 countries
- Data year
- 2023
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lebanon | 8.07 | 5.58 | −2.5 pts |
| 2 | Guyana | 4.9 | 2.47 | −2.44 pts |
| 3 | Zimbabwe | 4.67 | 2.93 | −1.75 pts |
| 4 | San Marino | 8.28 | 6.61 | −1.67 pts |
| 5 | Cuba | 11 | 9.38 | −1.63 pts |
| 6 | Sudan | 4.46 | 2.85 | −1.61 pts |
| 7 | Algeria | 5.93 | 4.35 | −1.58 pts |
| 8 | Tanzania | 4.33 | 3.05 | −1.28 pts |
| 9 | Niger | 5.3 | 4.05 | −1.25 pts |
| 10 | Syrian Arab Republic | 3.94 | 2.71 | −1.23 pts |
| 11 | Suriname | 6.61 | 5.41 | −1.2 pts |
| 12 | Dominica | 6.19 | 5.01 | −1.18 pts |
| 13 | Haiti | 4.32 | 3.19 | −1.12 pts |
| 14 | Marshall Islands | 14.5 | 13.4 | −1.06 pts |
| 15 | Monaco | 4.05 | 3.12 | −0.928 pts |
| 16 | Lao PDR | 2.25 | 1.33 | −0.92 pts |
| 17 | Georgia | 7.76 | 6.86 | −0.898 pts |
| 18 | Denmark | 10.2 | 9.39 | −0.797 pts |
| 19 | Madagascar | 4.22 | 3.43 | −0.793 pts |
| 20 | Antigua and Barbuda | 4.69 | 3.91 | −0.773 pts |
| 21 | Armenia | 10 | 9.32 | −0.684 pts |
| 22 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 6.64 | 6.03 | −0.61 pts |
| 23 | Belize | 4.76 | 4.15 | −0.608 pts |
| 24 | Sierra Leone | 5.3 | 4.72 | −0.58 pts |
| 25 | Eritrea | 4.25 | 3.68 | −0.564 pts |
| 26 | Norway | 9.96 | 9.43 | −0.531 pts |
| 27 | Kyrgyz Republic | 5.01 | 4.5 | −0.507 pts |
| 28 | Ethiopia | 3.3 | 2.8 | −0.501 pts |
| 29 | Fiji | 4.11 | 3.62 | −0.49 pts |
| 30 | Viet Nam | 5.03 | 4.56 | −0.466 pts |
| 31 | Qatar | 2.96 | 2.52 | −0.438 pts |
| 32 | Barbados | 5.83 | 5.4 | −0.426 pts |
| 33 | Costa Rica | 7.29 | 6.87 | −0.42 pts |
| 34 | Malawi | 6.88 | 6.53 | −0.348 pts |
| 35 | Central African Republic | 11 | 10.7 | −0.339 pts |
| 36 | Palau | 11.2 | 10.9 | −0.336 pts |
| 37 | Rwanda | 5.46 | 5.13 | −0.33 pts |
| 38 | Pakistan | 2.83 | 2.52 | −0.309 pts |
| 39 | Gambia, The | 3.19 | 2.89 | −0.293 pts |
| 40 | Ecuador | 7.83 | 7.56 | −0.272 pts |
| 41 | Djibouti | 2.53 | 2.28 | −0.248 pts |
| 42 | Kuwait | 5.17 | 4.96 | −0.209 pts |
| 43 | Nicaragua | 8.5 | 8.3 | −0.201 pts |
| 44 | Belgium | 11 | 10.8 | −0.19 pts |
| 45 | Brunei Darussalam | 2.42 | 2.23 | −0.187 pts |
| 46 | Hungary | 6.55 | 6.37 | −0.186 pts |
| 47 | Italy | 8.62 | 8.44 | −0.171 pts |
| 48 | Indonesia | 2.87 | 2.7 | −0.165 pts |
| 49 | Serbia | 8.18 | 8.03 | −0.153 pts |
| 50 | São Tomé and Principe | 5.92 | 5.77 | −0.147 pts |
| 51 | Bangladesh | 2.32 | 2.17 | −0.146 pts |
| 52 | Israel | 7.24 | 7.1 | −0.137 pts |
| 53 | Senegal | 4.43 | 4.32 | −0.109 pts |
| 54 | Benin | 3.44 | 3.34 | −0.099 pts |
| 55 | South Sudan | 11.7 | 11.6 | −0.085 pts |
| 56 | Myanmar | 4.54 | 4.46 | −0.078 pts |
| 57 | Turkmenistan | 5.55 | 5.5 | −0.055 pts |
| 58 | Togo | 6.16 | 6.11 | −0.052 pts |
| 59 | Guinea | 3.74 | 3.69 | −0.044 pts |
| 60 | Mauritius | 5.6 | 5.57 | −0.038 pts |
About the top 10
#1 Lebanon
Lebanon ranks #1 on this list with −2.5 pts.
- Capital
- Beirut
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 5.85 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$25.97 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$4,473 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 77.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 91% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Beirut.
Also ranks #1 in official exchange rate · #2 in smoking prevalence · #7 in refugee population by asylum.
#2 Guyana
Guyana ranks #2 on this list with −2.44 pts.
- Capital
- Georgetown
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 835,990 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$27.1 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$32,414 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 70.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 26.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in gdp growth rate · #1 in industry value added share of gdp · #1 in livestock production index.
#3 Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe ranks #3 on this list with −1.75 pts.
- Capital
- Harare
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 16.95 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$51.22 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,021 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 63.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 40.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Harare, Masvingo.
Also ranks #2 in lending interest rate · #3 in inflation rate · #4 in income share of richest 10%.
#4 San Marino
San Marino ranks #4 on this list with −1.67 pts.
- Capital
- San Marino
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 34,109 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.03 billion (2023)
- GDP per person
- US$59,871 (2023)
- Life expectancy
- 85.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 97.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in bank branches per 100,000 adults · #2 in life expectancy · #2 in male life expectancy.
#5 Cuba
Cuba ranks #5 on this list with −1.63 pts.
- Capital
- Havana
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 10.94 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$107.35 billion (2020)
- GDP per person
- US$9,605 (2020)
- Life expectancy
- 78.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 77.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Havana.
Also ranks #1 in physicians per 1,000 · #2 in women in parliament share · #3 in immunisation (measles) rate.
#6 Sudan
Sudan ranks #6 on this list with −1.61 pts.
- Capital
- Khartoum
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 51.66 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$60.16 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,165 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 66.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 34.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Khartoum, Omdurman.
Also ranks #2 in inflation rate · #4 in children out of school (primary) · #5 in refugee population by origin.
#7 Algeria
Algeria ranks #7 on this list with −1.58 pts.
- Capital
- Algiers
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 47.44 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$287.03 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$6,051 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 75.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Algiers.
Also ranks #1 in gross capital formation rate · #5 in education expenditure share of gdp · #10 in land area.
#8 Tanzania
Tanzania ranks #8 on this list with −1.28 pts.
- Capital
- Dodoma
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 70.55 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$90.14 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,319 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 36.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Dar es Salaam.
Also ranks #4 in labour force participation rate · #4 in female labour force participation · #5 in livestock production index.
#9 Niger
Niger ranks #9 on this list with −1.25 pts.
- Capital
- Niamey
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 27.92 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$21.65 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$775.4 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 61.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 18.4% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Niamey.
Also ranks #1 in agriculture value added share of gdp · #2 in under-5 mortality rate · #3 in population ages 0-14 share.
#10 Syrian Arab Republic
Syrian Arab Republic ranks #10 on this list with −1.23 pts.
- Capital
- Damascus
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 25.62 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$23.74 billion (2022)
- GDP per person
- US$1,057 (2022)
- Life expectancy
- 72.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 72.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Damascus, Aleppo.
Also ranks #2 in refugee population by origin · #2 in agriculture value added share of gdp · #3 in net migration.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in Health expenditure share of GDP over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed.
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 (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.