Expenditure on primary education in South Africa
South Africa: Expenditure on primary education was 38.7% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on primary education in South Africa, 1999–2018
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure on education.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 38.7% for expenditure on primary education in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 17 years on record.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in South Africa peaked at 45.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 38.7%, in 2018.
That places South Africa 47th out of 149 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Expenditure on primary education in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 45.0% | — |
| 2000 | 45.9% | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 44.3% | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 44.1% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 41.7% | -5.6% |
| 2004 | 40.4% | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 42.9% | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 45.1% | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 42.3% | -6.2% |
| 2008 | 40.7% | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 41.1% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 42.5% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 40.5% | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 39.9% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 38.8% | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 38.9% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 38.7% | -0.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 38.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 34.1%, 1.1× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 38.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46.7%, 83% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 45.0% | 45.0% | 45.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 42.9% | 40.4% | 45.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.9% | 38.7% | 42.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 44 Trinidad and Tobago 39.2% compare
- 45 Israel 38.9% compare
- 46 Syrian Arab Republic 38.9% compare
- 48 Liechtenstein 38.6% compare
- 49 Fiji 38.6% compare
- 50 Cape Verde 38.1% 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 primary education in South Africa?
- Expenditure on primary education in South Africa was 38.7% in 2018, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on primary education recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 45.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.7% in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for expenditure on primary education?
- South Africa ranks 47th out of 149 countries with data for 2018.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Expenditure on primary education (% of government expenditure on education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Expenditure on primary education is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on education. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.