Government expenditure on education, constant US$ in South Africa
South Africa: Government expenditure on education, constant US$ was 24,672 millions in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
24,672 millions
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
29th
of 174 countries
All-time high
25,019 millions
in 2020
All-time low
9,088 millions
in 1989
Years of data
34
1987–2024
Government expenditure on education, constant US$ in South Africa, 1987–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 24,672 millions for government expenditure on education, constant us$ in 2024.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 18.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, constant us$ in South Africa peaked at 25,019 millions in 2020 and was at its lowest, 9,088 millions, in 1989.
South Africa ranks 29th of 174 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, constant US$ in South Africa, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 9,142 millions | — |
| 1988 | 9,532 millions | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 9,088 millions | -4.7% |
| 1990 | 9,842 millions | +8.3% |
| 1991 | 10,984 millions | +11.6% |
| 1993 | 10,901 millions | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 10,849 millions | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 10,998 millions | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 12,399 millions | +12.7% |
| 2000 | 11,779 millions | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 11,592 millions | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 11,673 millions | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 11,589 millions | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 12,361 millions | +6.7% |
| 2005 | 12,969 millions | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 13,659 millions | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 14,170 millions | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 14,686 millions | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 16,496 millions | +12.3% |
| 2010 | 17,517 millions | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 18,591 millions | +6.1% |
| 2012 | 20,030 millions | +7.7% |
| 2013 | 19,869 millions | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 20,892 millions | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 21,160 millions | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 21,289 millions | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 22,039 millions | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 22,474 millions | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 23,906 millions | +6.4% |
| 2020 | 25,019 millions | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 24,938 millions | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 24,580 millions | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 24,918 millions | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 24,672 millions | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9,254 millions | 9,088 millions | 9,532 millions | 3 |
| 1990s | 10,996 millions | 9,842 millions | 12,399 millions | 6 |
| 2000s | 13,097 millions | 11,589 millions | 16,496 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 20,777 millions | 17,517 millions | 23,906 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 24,825 millions | 24,580 millions | 25,019 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 us$ in South Africa?
- Government expenditure on education, constant us$ in South Africa was 24,672 millions in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 25,019 millions in 2020.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,088 millions in 1989.
- How does South Africa rank for government expenditure on education, constant us$?
- South Africa ranks 29th out of 174 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government expenditure on education, constant us$ 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 US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release