Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in South Africa
South Africa: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 18.6% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in South Africa, 2000–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in IMF calculation.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 18.6% for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in 2022.
That represents a change of down 1.5% on the previous year and down 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in South Africa peaked at 20.3% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 2007.
That places South Africa 19th out of 123 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in South Africa, year by year
| Year | IMF calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 18.4% | — |
| 2001 | 17.8% | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 16.6% | -6.9% |
| 2003 | 18.0% | +8.4% |
| 2004 | 17.3% | -4.0% |
| 2005 | 18.1% | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 19.0% | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 2.9% | -84.6% |
| 2008 | 18.5% | +534.4% |
| 2009 | 17.2% | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 17.2% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 18.5% | +7.1% |
| 2012 | 19.2% | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 16.8% | -12.8% |
| 2014 | 16.4% | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 18.9% | +15.5% |
| 2016 | 16.1% | -14.6% |
| 2017 | 18.9% | +17.1% |
| 2018 | 20.3% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | 18.7% | -7.9% |
| 2020 | 18.6% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 18.9% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 18.6% | -1.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 18.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.8%, 1.5× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 18.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.2%, 1.4× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +534.4% | 2.9% | 18.5% |
| 2007 | -84.6% | 19.0% | 2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.4% | 2.9% | 19.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.1% | 16.1% | 20.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.7% | 18.6% | 18.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 16 Mozambique 19.0% compare
- 17 Malaysia 18.9% compare
- 18 Cape Verde 18.8% compare
- 20 Bangladesh 18.6% compare
- 21 Kenya 18.4% compare
- 22 Costa Rica 18.0% compare
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 expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in South Africa?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in South Africa was 18.6% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 20.3% in 2018.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 2007.
- How does South Africa rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- South Africa ranks 19th out of 123 countries with data for 2022.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.9%. 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 Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government expenditure (%) (IMF calculation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release