Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of GDP was 1.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.2%
Change on year
down 12.7%
World rank
41st
of 173 countries
All-time high
1.3%
in 2023
All-time low
0.6%
in 2008
Years of data
34
1987–2024
Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of GDP in South Africa, 1987–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp in South Africa is 1.2%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 12.7% on the previous year and up 74.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp in South Africa peaked at 1.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2008.
South Africa ranks 41st of 173 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 1.3% | — |
| 1988 | 1.2% | -2.2% |
| 1989 | 1.2% | -4.8% |
| 1990 | 1.2% | +6.5% |
| 1991 | 1.3% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 0.8% | -33.4% |
| 1994 | 0.9% | +4.8% |
| 1996 | 0.9% | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | -6.4% |
| 2000 | 0.7% | -11.5% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | -5.8% |
| 2002 | 0.7% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | -7.8% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 0.7% | +13.4% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | -14.6% |
| 2007 | 0.6% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 0.6% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 0.6% | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 0.6% | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 0.7% | +9.9% |
| 2013 | 0.7% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 0.6% | -9.9% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | +29.8% |
| 2018 | 0.9% | +7.1% |
| 2019 | 1.0% | +19.7% |
| 2020 | 1.2% | +12.2% |
| 2021 | 1.3% | +10.7% |
| 2022 | 1.3% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 1.3% | +3.5% |
| 2024 | 1.2% | -12.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.7%, 1.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.7%, 1.8× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.3% | 3 |
| 1990s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.3% | 6 |
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.3% | 5 |
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 government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp in South Africa?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp in South Africa was 1.2% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.3% in 2023.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2008.
- How does South Africa rank for government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 41st out of 173 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 74.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release