Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in South Africa
South Africa: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 19.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
19.1%
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
26th
of 197 countries
All-time high
20.5%
in 2001
All-time low
0.0%
in 1987
Years of data
35
1987–2025
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in South Africa, 1987–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in UIS calculation.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 19.1% for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in South Africa peaked at 20.5% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1987.
That places South Africa 26th out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in South Africa, year by year
| Year | UIS calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 0.0% | — |
| 1988 | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 0.0% | — |
| 1993 | 0.0% | — |
| 1994 | 0.0% | — |
| 1996 | 0.0% | — |
| 1999 | 0.0% | — |
| 2000 | 0.0% | — |
| 2001 | 20.5% | — |
| 2002 | 20.1% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 19.6% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 19.9% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 19.9% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 18.0% | -9.6% |
| 2007 | 18.0% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 17.9% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 18.3% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 18.0% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 18.7% | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 19.7% | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 18.7% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 19.0% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 18.7% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 18.0% | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 18.7% | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 18.9% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 19.6% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 19.7% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 18.9% | -3.7% |
| 2022 | 18.9% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 19.2% | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 18.5% | -3.4% |
| 2025 | 19.1% | +3.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 19.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13.2%, 1.4× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 19.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.2%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6 |
| 2000s | 17.2% | 0.0% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.8% | 18.0% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.1% | 18.5% | 19.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 23 Eswatini 19.2% compare
- 24 Peru 19.2% compare
- 25 Syrian Arab Republic 19.2% compare
- 27 Belize 18.9% compare
- 28 Iran, Islamic Republic of 18.8% compare
- 29 Micronesia, Federated States of 18.6% 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 19.1% in 2025, 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 20.5% in 2001.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1987.
- How does South Africa rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- South Africa ranks 26th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 (%) (UIS calculation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release