Government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant in South Africa
South Africa: Government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant was 1,065 millions in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1,065 millions
Change on year
down 17.6%
World rank
17th
of 147 countries
All-time high
7,422 millions
in 2012
All-time low
0 millions
in 1987
Years of data
33
1987–2024
Government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant in South Africa, 1987–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1,065 millions for government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant in 2024.
That represents a change of down 17.6% on the previous year and down 83.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant in South Africa peaked at 7,422 millions in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0 millions, in 1987.
South Africa ranks 17th of 147 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant in South Africa, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 0 millions | — |
| 1988 | 0 millions | — |
| 1989 | 0 millions | — |
| 1990 | 0 millions | — |
| 1993 | 0 millions | — |
| 1994 | 0 millions | — |
| 1996 | 0 millions | — |
| 1999 | 1,704 millions | — |
| 2000 | 1,857 millions | +9.0% |
| 2001 | 1,698 millions | -8.6% |
| 2002 | 1,659 millions | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 2,201 millions | +32.7% |
| 2004 | 2,878 millions | +30.8% |
| 2005 | 2,477 millions | -14.0% |
| 2006 | 2,681 millions | +8.2% |
| 2007 | 2,624 millions | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 4,025 millions | +53.4% |
| 2009 | 4,538 millions | +12.7% |
| 2010 | 4,333 millions | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 5,487 millions | +26.6% |
| 2012 | 7,422 millions | +35.3% |
| 2013 | 5,140 millions | -30.7% |
| 2014 | 6,328 millions | +23.1% |
| 2015 | 6,566 millions | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 6,145 millions | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 6,159 millions | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 6,127 millions | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 6,280 millions | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 1,091 millions | -82.6% |
| 2021 | 1,496 millions | +37.1% |
| 2022 | 1,221 millions | -18.4% |
| 2023 | 1,293 millions | +5.9% |
| 2024 | 1,065 millions | -17.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 millions | 0 millions | 0 millions | 3 |
| 1990s | 340.77 millions | 0 millions | 1,704 millions | 5 |
| 2000s | 2,664 millions | 1,659 millions | 4,538 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,999 millions | 4,333 millions | 7,422 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,233 millions | 1,065 millions | 1,496 millions | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant in South Africa?
- Government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant in South Africa was 1,065 millions in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7,422 millions in 2012.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 millions in 1987.
- How does South Africa rank for government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant?
- South Africa ranks 17th out of 147 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 83.2%. 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 Government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant PPP$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release