Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary in South Africa
South Africa: Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary was 0.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary in South Africa, 2001–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary in South Africa stood at 0.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 92.5% on the previous year and down 100.0% over five years.
Over the whole period, capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary in South Africa peaked at 5.1% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2014.
That places South Africa 108th out of 113 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1.6% | — |
| 2003 | 0.0% | -97.1% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | +230.6% |
| 2006 | 4.1% | +2671.1% |
| 2007 | 0.0% | -98.9% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | +30.0% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | +58.1% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | +145.5% |
| 2014 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2017 | 5.1% | — |
| 2018 | 4.7% | -8.2% |
| 2019 | 4.7% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 4.6% | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 4.0% | -12.0% |
| 2022 | 0.0% | -99.9% |
| 2023 | 0.0% | -46.1% |
| 2024 | 0.0% | -92.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.9%, 0% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.3%, 0% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +2671.1% | 0.1% | 4.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.9% | 0.0% | 4.1% | 7 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 0.0% | 5.1% | 5 |
| 2020s | 1.7% | 0.0% | 4.6% | 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 tertiary in South Africa?
- Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary in South Africa was 0.0% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.1% in 2017.
- What is the lowest capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2014.
- How does South Africa rank for capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary?
- South Africa ranks 108th out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
- 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 tertiary public institutions (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release