Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in China
China: Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required was 3.7% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in China, 2003–2022
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
The most recent figure for share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in China is 3.7%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 20 years on record.
That represents a change of down 50.7% on the previous year and down 84.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in China peaked at 73.8% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2022.
That places China 90th out of 134 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in China, year by year
| Year | % of people at risk | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 73.8% | — |
| 2004 | 70.6% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 65.6% | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 59.7% | -9.0% |
| 2007 | 48.5% | -18.8% |
| 2008 | 45.1% | -7.0% |
| 2009 | 38.0% | -15.7% |
| 2010 | 32.7% | -13.9% |
| 2011 | 26.7% | -18.3% |
| 2012 | 23.3% | -12.7% |
| 2013 | 17.6% | -24.5% |
| 2014 | 14.4% | -18.2% |
| 2015 | 11.4% | -20.8% |
| 2016 | 10.4% | -8.8% |
| 2017 | 9.7% | -6.7% |
| 2018 | 8.0% | -17.5% |
| 2019 | 6.7% | -16.2% |
| 2020 | 6.2% | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 7.5% | +21.0% |
| 2022 | 3.7% | -50.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 57.3% | 38.0% | 73.8% | 7 |
| 2010s | 16.1% | 6.7% | 32.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.8% | 3.7% | 7.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
More population data for China
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -12.97 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.31 million Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1671 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3489 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -1.7% (2100)
- Population density 67.46 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 15.54 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in China?
- Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in China was 3.7% in 2022, 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 73.8% in 2003.
- What is the lowest share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2022.
- How does China rank for share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required?
- China ranks 90th out of 134 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 84.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 20 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Catastrophic expenditure is defined as direct out-of-pocket payments for surgical and anaesthesia care exceeding 10% of total income.