Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in secondary in South Africa
South Africa: Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in secondary was 4.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in secondary in South Africa, 2001–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in secondary in South Africa is 4.1%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 14.6% on the previous year and up 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in secondary in South Africa peaked at 4.9% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2010.
South Africa ranks 85th of 126 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in secondary in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1.6% | — |
| 2003 | 2.5% | +56.9% |
| 2004 | 3.1% | +25.1% |
| 2005 | 3.0% | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | +22.9% |
| 2007 | 4.9% | +34.3% |
| 2008 | 2.9% | -40.5% |
| 2009 | 2.4% | -18.9% |
| 2010 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2011 | 2.4% | — |
| 2012 | 1.7% | -27.4% |
| 2013 | 1.4% | -17.6% |
| 2014 | 3.4% | +139.5% |
| 2015 | 3.6% | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 4.9% | +36.9% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | -15.0% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | -22.4% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 3.5% | +7.9% |
| 2022 | 3.5% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 4.1% | +14.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 4.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.5%, 91% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 4.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.8%, 87% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.0% | 1.6% | 4.9% | 8 |
| 2010s | 2.8% | 0.0% | 4.9% | 9 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 3.2% | 4.1% | 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 secondary in South Africa?
- Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in secondary in South Africa was 4.1% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in secondary recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.9% in 2017.
- What is the lowest capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in secondary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2010.
- How does South Africa rank for capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in secondary?
- South Africa ranks 85th out of 126 countries with data for 2024.
- Is capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in secondary rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 secondary public institutions (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release