Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates: Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required was 0.4% in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
0.4%
Change on year
up 100.0%
World rank
108th
of 134 countries
All-time high
4.6%
in 2016
All-time low
0.1%
in 2003
Years of data
15
2003–2022

Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in United Arab Emirates, 2003–2022

0123452003201220222003: 0.1 % of people at risk2004: 0.1 % of people at risk2005: 0.1 % of people at risk2006: 0.1 % of people at risk2007: 0.1 % of people at risk2008: 0.1 % of people at risk2009: 0.1 % of people at risk2013: 2.9 % of people at risk2016: 4.6 % of people at risk2017: 1.2 % of people at risk2018: 0.2 % of people at risk2019: 0.1 % of people at risk2020: 0.1 % of people at risk2021: 0.2 % of people at risk2022: 0.4 % of people at risk

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 United Arab Emirates is 0.4%, measured in 2022.

The figure is up 100.0% on the previous year and down 86.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in United Arab Emirates peaked at 4.6% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2003.

United Arab Emirates ranks 108th of 134 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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 United Arab Emirates, year by year

Annual values for Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in United Arab Emirates, 2003 to 2022.
Year % of people at risk Change
2003 0.1%
2004 0.1% +0.0%
2005 0.1% +0.0%
2006 0.1% +0.0%
2007 0.1% +0.0%
2008 0.1% +0.0%
2009 0.1% +0.0%
2013 2.9% +2800.0%
2016 4.6% +58.6%
2017 1.2% -73.9%
2018 0.2% -83.3%
2019 0.1% -50.0%
2020 0.1% +0.0%
2021 0.2% +100.0%
2022 0.4% +100.0%

United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries

  • United Arab Emirates's 0.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.4%, 1.0× the median. (40 countries reporting)
  • United Arab Emirates's 0.4% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 23.6%, 2% of the median. (12 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2013 +2800.0% 0.1% 2.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 7
2010s 1.8% 0.1% 4.6% 5
2020s 0.2% 0.1% 0.4% 3

Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates

  1. 107 Japan 0.5% compare
  2. 108 Croatia 0.4% compare
  3. 108 Kazakhstan 0.4% compare
  4. 108 Luxembourg 0.4% compare

See the full ranking of 134 places →

More population data for United Arab Emirates

All data for United Arab Emirates →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in United Arab Emirates?
Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in United Arab Emirates was 0.4% 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 United Arab Emirates?
The highest recorded value was 4.6% in 2016.
What is the lowest share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required recorded in United Arab Emirates?
The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2003.
How does United Arab Emirates rank for share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required?
United Arab Emirates ranks 108th 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 United Arab Emirates?
Over the last ten years it is down 86.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Arab Emirates 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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Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in United Arab Emirates. Statizoid, drawing on Harvard Medical School Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-the-population-at-risk-of-catastrophic-expenditure-when-surgical-care-is-required/united-arab-emirates/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required
Unit
% of people at risk
Source
Harvard Medical School Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
134 places, 2,380 data points, 2003–2022
Last refreshed

Catastrophic expenditure is defined as direct out-of-pocket payments for surgical and anaesthesia care exceeding 10% of total income.