Oxygen Concentrators Market Size, Growth, Share & Trends Analysis

The global increase in chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis has become a major health concern. According to the Global Burden of Disease study, COPD alone causes over 3 million deaths each year, making it one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The rising rates of smoking, environmental pollution, occupational exposure to hazardous air, and an aging population are key factors driving this trend. Asia Pacific countries like China and India are experiencing a surge in respiratory illnesses due to poor air quality, industrial emissions, and urban growth. These countries, with their large populations and aging demographics, show strong potential demand for oxygen concentrators.

The upfront cost of oxygen concentrators, particularly portable and smart-enabled models, poses a significant barrier to adoption—especially in developing and underinsured regions. Depending on the configuration and features, units can cost between USD 500 to over USD 3,000. While this cost may be offset by long-term savings when compared to cylinder-based delivery, the initial expenditure remains a challenge for many patients and small clinics. In macroeconomic terms, several low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia, Africa, and Latin America operate with limited healthcare budgets and fragmented insurance coverage. Out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure exceeds 50% in countries like Nigeria, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, making access to expensive medical equipment financially burdensome for households. In countries like Mexico or Brazil, reimbursement policies for oxygen therapy vary across public and private insurance schemes.

Emerging economies across the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa present one of the most promising growth avenues for the oxygen concentrator market. Macroeconomic developments in these regions include rising per capita incomes, growing health insurance penetration, and increased public spending on healthcare infrastructure. In countries like India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Nigeria, the demand for respiratory care devices is accelerating due to rising pollution levels, urbanization, and expanding middle-class populations with growing health awareness. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical gaps in oxygen delivery systems in many of these countries. In response, governments and multilateral organizations such as the World Bank, UNICEF, and WHO have pledged substantial funding toward upgrading medical oxygen infrastructure. As a result, procurement of oxygen concentrators—especially stationary and mid-flow variants—has increased significantly. India, for instance, launched national schemes such as the PM Cares Fund Oxygen Distribution Plan to distribute concentrators across district hospitals and rural health centers.

Oxygen concentrators require a stable power supply to operate effectively, and this reliance creates limitations in many rural and low-resource settings. Most concentrators require continuous electricity for compressor function, oxygen filtration, and electronic control systems. Power outages or voltage fluctuations can compromise device function, oxygen purity, and patient safety. In macro terms, countries with underdeveloped electrical infrastructure—such as large parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, rural India, or parts of Southeast Asia—struggle with inconsistent electricity access. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that over 700 million people worldwide lack reliable electricity, many of whom reside in oxygen-deficient regions. In these contexts, oxygen concentrators are not always viable unless backed by battery or solar solutions, which come with added cost. Manufacturers have begun to design units with low power consumption and external battery support. However, few of these products are widely distributed or adopted. NGOs such as PATH and Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) are piloting solar-powered oxygen systems, but scale remains a concern. On the microeconomic level, healthcare facilities in remote areas must manage costs associated with backup generators or inverters, leading some to prefer oxygen cylinders despite refill and safety issues. For homecare patients in rural settings, electricity reliability is often cited as the top reason for preferring alternatives. Unless power infrastructure is improved or hybrid devices become affordable, this barrier will continue to limit adoption in many of the most oxygen-deficient markets.