SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia vs South Africa: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government
SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia
12.5%
in 2022
South Africa
19.1%
in 2025
SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia rank
28th
South Africa rank
26th
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government over time
- SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 19.1% against 12.5% in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia, a difference of 6.6%.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.5 times SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia's.
Across all 16 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.
SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia ranks 28th and South Africa ranks 26th of 43 groups.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.5% | 19.2% | 5.8% | South Africa |
| 2010s | 12.6% | 18.9% | 6.3% | South Africa |
| 2020s | 12.2% | 19.2% | 7.0% | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher expenditure on education as a percentage of total government, SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 19.1% against 12.5% in SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia as of 2025.
- What is the difference in expenditure on education as a percentage of total government between SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia and South Africa?
- 6.6%, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia and South Africa?
- 16 years are reported by both, from 2001 to 2022.
- How do SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia and South Africa rank globally for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- SDG: Northern Africa and Western Asia ranks 28th and South Africa ranks 26th of 43 groups.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government expenditure (%) (UIS calculation). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
February 2026 Data Release