Government expenditure on primary education, constant US$ in South Africa
South Africa: Government expenditure on primary education, constant US$ was 10,028 millions in 2024. ▲ Rising
Government expenditure on primary education, constant US$ in South Africa, 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on primary education, constant us$ in South Africa is 10,028 millions, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 22.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on primary education, constant us$ in South Africa peaked at 10,452 millions in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4,832 millions, in 2003.
That places South Africa 20th out of 148 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Government expenditure on primary education, constant US$ in South Africa, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 5,579 millions | — |
| 2000 | 5,410 millions | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 5,130 millions | -5.2% |
| 2002 | 5,153 millions | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 4,832 millions | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 5,000 millions | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 5,570 millions | +11.4% |
| 2006 | 6,161 millions | +10.6% |
| 2007 | 5,993 millions | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 5,982 millions | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 6,779 millions | +13.3% |
| 2010 | 7,438 millions | +9.7% |
| 2011 | 7,633 millions | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 8,382 millions | +9.8% |
| 2013 | 8,427 millions | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 8,169 millions | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 8,065 millions | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 8,537 millions | +5.9% |
| 2017 | 8,570 millions | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 8,708 millions | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 8,964 millions | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 10,452 millions | +16.6% |
| 2021 | 10,206 millions | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 10,067 millions | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 9,969 millions | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 10,028 millions | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5,579 millions | 5,579 millions | 5,579 millions | 1 |
| 2000s | 5,601 millions | 4,832 millions | 6,779 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,289 millions | 7,438 millions | 8,964 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 10,144 millions | 9,969 millions | 10,452 millions | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.65 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on primary education, constant us$ in South Africa?
- Government expenditure on primary education, constant us$ in South Africa was 10,028 millions in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on primary education, constant us$ recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10,452 millions in 2020.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on primary education, constant us$ recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,832 millions in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for government expenditure on primary education, constant us$?
- South Africa ranks 20th out of 148 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government expenditure on primary education, constant us$ rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.8%. 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 primary education, constant US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release