Lower middle income vs South Africa: Government expenditure on education, total

Lower middle income
3.4%
in 2023
South Africa
6.0%
in 2024
Lower middle income rank
29th
South Africa rank
27th

Government expenditure on education, total over time

  • Lower middle income
  • South Africa
0246198720052024

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 6.0% against 3.4% in Lower middle income, a difference of 2.6%.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.8 times Lower middle income's.

Across all 24 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

Lower middle income ranks 29th and South Africa ranks 27th of 46 groups.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Lower middle income South Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 2.9% 5.3% 2.4% South Africa
2000s 3.1% 4.6% 1.5% South Africa
2010s 3.9% 5.5% 1.6% South Africa
2020s 3.5% 6.3% 2.7% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher government expenditure on education, total, Lower middle income or South Africa?
South Africa, at 6.0% against 3.4% in Lower middle income as of 2024.
What is the difference in government expenditure on education, total between Lower middle income and South Africa?
2.6%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Lower middle income and South Africa?
24 years are reported by both, from 1999 to 2023.
How do Lower middle income and South Africa rank globally for government expenditure on education, total?
Lower middle income ranks 29th and South Africa ranks 27th of 46 groups.
Where does this data come from?
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Lower middle income vs South Africa: Government expenditure on education, total. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/government-expenditure-on-education-total-percent-of-gdp/lower-middle-income/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
242 places, 6,340 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of GDP. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.