Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Benin
Benin: Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required was 47.4% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Benin, 2003–2019
Source: Harvard Medical School Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of people at risk.
Analysis
Benin recorded 47.4% for share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in 2019.
That represents a change of up 3.5% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Benin peaked at 58.0% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 45.8%, in 2018.
That places Benin 28th out of 134 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Benin, year by year
| Year | % of people at risk | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 57.8% | — |
| 2004 | 58.0% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 57.6% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 57.6% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 55.6% | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 53.5% | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 52.3% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 50.0% | -4.4% |
| 2014 | 50.1% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 51.9% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 54.4% | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 51.9% | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 45.8% | -11.8% |
| 2019 | 47.4% | +3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 56.1% | 52.3% | 58.0% | 7 |
| 2010s | 50.2% | 45.8% | 54.4% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More population data for Benin
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4203 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4203 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6566 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 25,264 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.48 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1997 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 351.08 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.95 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Benin?
- Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Benin was 47.4% in 2019, according to Harvard Medical School Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 58.0% in 2004.
- What is the lowest share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.8% in 2018.
- How does Benin rank for share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required?
- Benin ranks 28th out of 134 countries with data for 2019.
- Is share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from Harvard Medical School Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Catastrophic expenditure is defined as direct out-of-pocket payments for surgical and anaesthesia care exceeding 10% of total income.