Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in South Africa
South Africa: Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ was 4,816 millions in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
4,816 millions
Change on year
down 12.1%
World rank
28th
of 159 countries
All-time high
5,478 millions
in 2023
All-time low
1,635 millions
in 2003
Years of data
34
1987–2024
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in South Africa, 1987–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in South Africa is 4,816 millions, measured in 2024.
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 us$ in South Africa peaked at 5,478 millions in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1,635 millions, in 2003.
South Africa ranks 28th of 159 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 tertiary education, constant US$ in South Africa, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 2,415 millions | — |
| 1988 | 2,413 millions | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 2,392 millions | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 2,610 millions | +9.1% |
| 1991 | 2,634 millions | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 1,699 millions | -35.5% |
| 1994 | 1,803 millions | +6.1% |
| 1996 | 1,877 millions | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 1,890 millions | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 1,714 millions | -9.3% |
| 2001 | 1,682 millions | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 1,710 millions | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 1,635 millions | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 1,647 millions | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 1,952 millions | +18.5% |
| 2006 | 1,755 millions | -10.1% |
| 2007 | 1,856 millions | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 1,911 millions | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 2,068 millions | +8.2% |
| 2010 | 2,081 millions | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 2,207 millions | +6.1% |
| 2012 | 2,502 millions | +13.4% |
| 2013 | 2,528 millions | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 2,566 millions | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 2,655 millions | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 2,423 millions | -8.8% |
| 2017 | 3,165 millions | +30.6% |
| 2018 | 3,428 millions | +8.3% |
| 2019 | 4,168 millions | +21.6% |
| 2020 | 4,686 millions | +12.4% |
| 2021 | 4,870 millions | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 5,194 millions | +6.7% |
| 2023 | 5,478 millions | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 4,816 millions | -12.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,407 millions | 2,392 millions | 2,415 millions | 3 |
| 1990s | 2,085 millions | 1,699 millions | 2,634 millions | 6 |
| 2000s | 1,793 millions | 1,635 millions | 2,068 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,772 millions | 2,081 millions | 4,168 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,009 millions | 4,686 millions | 5,478 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 us$ in South Africa?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in South Africa was 4,816 millions in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5,478 millions in 2023.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,635 millions in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 159 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ 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 US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release