Expenditure on tertiary education in South Africa
South Africa: Expenditure on tertiary education was 15.3% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on tertiary education in South Africa, 1987–2018
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure on education.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 15.3% for expenditure on tertiary education in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on tertiary education in South Africa peaked at 26.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 11.7%, in 2011.
South Africa ranks 113th of 160 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 27 years of available data.
Expenditure on tertiary education in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 26.4% | — |
| 1988 | 25.3% | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 26.3% | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 26.5% | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 24.0% | -9.6% |
| 1993 | 15.6% | -35.0% |
| 1994 | 16.6% | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 17.1% | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 15.2% | -10.7% |
| 2000 | 14.5% | -4.6% |
| 2001 | 14.5% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 14.6% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 14.1% | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 13.3% | -5.6% |
| 2005 | 15.1% | +13.0% |
| 2006 | 12.8% | -14.7% |
| 2007 | 13.1% | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 13.0% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 12.5% | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 11.9% | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 11.7% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 11.9% | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 12.4% | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 12.2% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 12.5% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 14.4% | +14.5% |
| 2018 | 15.3% | +6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 26.0% | 25.3% | 26.4% | 3 |
| 1990s | 19.2% | 15.2% | 26.5% | 6 |
| 2000s | 13.8% | 12.5% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.8% | 11.7% | 15.3% | 8 |
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 expenditure on tertiary education in South Africa?
- Expenditure on tertiary education in South Africa was 15.3% in 2018, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 26.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.7% in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for expenditure on tertiary education?
- South Africa ranks 113th out of 160 countries with data for 2018.
- Is expenditure on tertiary education rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.2%. 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 tertiary education (% of government expenditure on education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Expenditure on tertiary education is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on education. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.