The cost of global 'excess' CS in 2008 was estimated to amount to approximately US$ 2.32
billion (all costs are denominated in 2005 constant $), while the cost of the global 'needed' CS
in 2008 was estimated to amount to approximately US$ 432 million (Table 2 and 3). In
countries with 'needed' CS, the average cost of a C-section was estimated to be approximately
US$ 135; whereas in countries with excess CS, the average cost of the procedure was estimated
as approximately US$ 373, meaning that CS are estimated to be about 2.8 times more
expensive in countries with 'excess' procedures than in those where procedures are 'needed'.