Government expenditure on education, constant PPP$ in South Africa
South Africa: Government expenditure on education, constant PPP$ was 55,822 millions in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
55,822 millions
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
22nd
of 166 countries
All-time high
56,606 millions
in 2020
All-time low
24,547 millions
in 1994
Years of data
30
1991–2024
Government expenditure on education, constant PPP$ in South Africa, 1991–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
In 2024, government expenditure on education, constant ppp$ in South Africa stood at 55,822 millions.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and up 18.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, constant ppp$ in South Africa peaked at 56,606 millions in 2020 and was at its lowest, 24,547 millions, in 1994.
That places South Africa 22nd out of 166 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, constant PPP$ in South Africa, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 24,768 millions | — |
| 1993 | 24,581 millions | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 24,547 millions | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 24,883 millions | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 28,054 millions | +12.7% |
| 2000 | 26,651 millions | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 26,228 millions | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 26,410 millions | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 26,221 millions | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 27,968 millions | +6.7% |
| 2005 | 29,342 millions | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 30,904 millions | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 32,060 millions | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 33,229 millions | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 37,322 millions | +12.3% |
| 2010 | 39,633 millions | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 42,063 millions | +6.1% |
| 2012 | 45,317 millions | +7.7% |
| 2013 | 44,954 millions | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 47,269 millions | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 47,876 millions | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 48,168 millions | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 49,863 millions | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 50,849 millions | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 54,089 millions | +6.4% |
| 2020 | 56,606 millions | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 56,424 millions | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 55,613 millions | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 56,377 millions | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 55,822 millions | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25,366 millions | 24,547 millions | 28,054 millions | 5 |
| 2000s | 29,633 millions | 26,221 millions | 37,322 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 47,008 millions | 39,633 millions | 54,089 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 56,168 millions | 55,613 millions | 56,606 millions | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.65 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.31 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0578 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 3.87 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.55 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0612 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.22 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 287,310 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 13.45 % change on previous year (2015)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, constant ppp$ in South Africa?
- Government expenditure on education, constant ppp$ in South Africa was 55,822 millions in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, constant ppp$ recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 56,606 millions in 2020.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, constant ppp$ recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 24,547 millions in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for government expenditure on education, constant ppp$?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 166 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government expenditure on education, constant ppp$ rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.1%. 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 Government expenditure on education, constant PPP$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 30 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release