Current expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in South Africa
South Africa: Current expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary was 96.5% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Current expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in South Africa, 2001–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for current expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in South Africa is 96.5%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, current expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in South Africa peaked at 100.0% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 92.9%, in 2012.
South Africa ranks 46th of 128 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Current expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 96.3% | — |
| 2003 | 100.0% | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 95.2% | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 95.6% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 95.8% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 95.7% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 96.0% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 94.7% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 94.4% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 95.0% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 92.9% | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 94.1% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 96.0% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 95.7% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 94.7% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 95.0% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 96.1% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 96.2% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 97.2% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 96.5% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 96.3% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 96.5% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 96.2% | 94.7% | 100.0% | 8 |
| 2010s | 94.9% | 92.9% | 96.1% | 9 |
| 2020s | 96.5% | 96.2% | 97.2% | 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 current expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in South Africa?
- Current expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary in South Africa was 96.5% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest current expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 2003.
- What is the lowest current expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 92.9% in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for current expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary?
- South Africa ranks 46th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
- Is current expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. 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 Current expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in primary public institutions (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release