Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant PPP$ in South Africa
South Africa: Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant PPP$ was 10,895 millions in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
10,895 millions
Change on year
down 12.1%
World rank
26th
of 146 countries
All-time high
12,395 millions
in 2023
All-time low
3,700 millions
in 2003
Years of data
30
1991–2024
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant PPP$ in South Africa, 1991–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
In 2024, government expenditure on tertiary education, constant ppp$ in South Africa stood at 10,895 millions.
The figure is down 12.1% on the previous year and up 87.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, constant ppp$ in South Africa peaked at 12,395 millions in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3,700 millions, in 2003.
That places South Africa 26th out of 146 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 tertiary education, constant PPP$ in South Africa, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5,939 millions | — |
| 1993 | 3,832 millions | -35.5% |
| 1994 | 4,080 millions | +6.5% |
| 1996 | 4,247 millions | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 4,276 millions | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 3,877 millions | -9.3% |
| 2001 | 3,806 millions | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 3,869 millions | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 3,700 millions | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 3,726 millions | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 4,417 millions | +18.5% |
| 2006 | 3,971 millions | -10.1% |
| 2007 | 4,198 millions | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 4,323 millions | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 4,678 millions | +8.2% |
| 2010 | 4,707 millions | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 4,993 millions | +6.1% |
| 2012 | 5,660 millions | +13.4% |
| 2013 | 5,720 millions | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 5,805 millions | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 6,007 millions | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 5,481 millions | -8.8% |
| 2017 | 7,161 millions | +30.6% |
| 2018 | 7,755 millions | +8.3% |
| 2019 | 9,429 millions | +21.6% |
| 2020 | 10,603 millions | +12.4% |
| 2021 | 11,018 millions | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 11,751 millions | +6.7% |
| 2023 | 12,395 millions | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 10,895 millions | -12.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4,475 millions | 3,832 millions | 5,939 millions | 5 |
| 2000s | 4,056 millions | 3,700 millions | 4,678 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,272 millions | 4,707 millions | 9,429 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,332 millions | 10,603 millions | 12,395 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 tertiary education, constant ppp$ in South Africa?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant ppp$ in South Africa was 10,895 millions in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant ppp$ recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12,395 millions in 2023.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant ppp$ recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,700 millions in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant ppp$?
- South Africa ranks 26th out of 146 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant ppp$ rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 87.7%. 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 tertiary education, constant PPP$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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