North America vs South Africa: Current education expenditure, tertiary

North America
91.3%
in 2022
South Africa
100.0%
in 2024
North America rank
8th
South Africa rank
7th

Current education expenditure, tertiary over time

  • North America
  • South Africa
020406080100199820112024

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 100.0% against 91.3% in North America, a difference of 8.7%.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times North America's.

Across all 11 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

North America ranks 8th and South Africa ranks 7th of 18 groups.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade North America South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 90.5% 98.6% 8.1% South Africa
2010s 90.4% 97.0% 6.7% South Africa
2020s 91.9% 97.1% 5.3% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher current education expenditure, tertiary, North America or South Africa?
South Africa, at 100.0% against 91.3% in North America as of 2024.
What is the difference in current education expenditure, tertiary between North America and South Africa?
8.7%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for North America and South Africa?
11 years are reported by both, from 2006 to 2022.
How do North America and South Africa rank globally for current education expenditure, tertiary?
North America ranks 8th and South Africa ranks 7th of 18 groups.
Where does this data come from?
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Current education expenditure, tertiary (% of total expenditure in tertiary public institutions). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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North America vs South Africa: Current education expenditure, tertiary. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/current-education-expenditure-tertiary-percent-of-total-expenditure-in-tertiary-public/north-america/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Current education expenditure, tertiary (% of total expenditure in tertiary public institutions)
Unit
% of total expenditure in tertiary public institutions
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
130 places, 1,854 data points, 1998–2024
Last refreshed

Current expenditure is expressed as a percentage of direct expenditure in public educational institutions (instructional and non-instructional) of the specified level of education. Financial aid to students and other transfers are excluded from direct expenditure. Current expenditure is consumed within the current year and would have to be renewed if needed in the following year. It includes staff compensation and current expenditure other than for staff compensation (ex. on teaching materials, ancillary services and administration).