Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in South Africa
South Africa: Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary was 3.5% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in South Africa, 2001–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 3.5% for capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in 2024.
That represents a change of down 3.5% on the previous year and down 11.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in South Africa peaked at 7.1% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2003.
South Africa ranks 83rd of 124 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3.7% | — |
| 2003 | 0.0% | -99.1% |
| 2004 | 4.8% | +13646.6% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | -7.2% |
| 2006 | 4.2% | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 4.0% | -7.8% |
| 2009 | 5.3% | +31.7% |
| 2010 | 5.6% | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 5.0% | -10.9% |
| 2012 | 7.1% | +43.6% |
| 2013 | 5.9% | -16.8% |
| 2014 | 4.0% | -33.0% |
| 2015 | 4.3% | +7.1% |
| 2017 | 5.3% | +24.0% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | -4.7% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | -22.3% |
| 2020 | 3.8% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 2.8% | -27.8% |
| 2022 | 3.5% | +24.4% |
| 2023 | 3.7% | +5.8% |
| 2024 | 3.5% | -3.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.1%, 69% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.7%, 96% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +13646.6% | 0.0% | 4.8% |
| 2003 | -99.1% | 3.7% | 0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.8% | 0.0% | 5.3% | 8 |
| 2010s | 5.1% | 3.9% | 7.1% | 9 |
| 2020s | 3.5% | 2.8% | 3.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 181,739 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 339,638 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,708 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 407,696 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in South Africa?
- Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in South Africa was 3.5% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.1% in 2012.
- What is the lowest capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary?
- South Africa ranks 83rd out of 124 countries with data for 2024.
- Is capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary public institutions (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release