Government expenditure per student, tertiary in South Africa

South Africa: Government expenditure per student, tertiary was 48.0% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
48.0%
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
26th
of 111 countries
All-time high
48.0%
in 2018
All-time low
38.2%
in 2014
Years of data
5
2013–2018

Government expenditure per student, tertiary in South Africa, 2013–2018

010203040502013201520182013: 39.2 % of GDP per capita2014: 38.2 % of GDP per capita2015: 40 % of GDP per capita2017: 46.8 % of GDP per capita2018: 48 % of GDP per capita

Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of GDP per capita.

Analysis

The most recent figure for government expenditure per student, tertiary in South Africa is 48.0%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 22.4% over ten years.

That places South Africa 26th out of 111 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.

Government expenditure per student, tertiary in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Government expenditure per student, tertiary (% of GDP per capita) in South Africa, 2013 to 2018.
Year % of GDP per capita Change
2013 39.2%
2014 38.2% -2.6%
2015 40.0% +4.8%
2017 46.8% +17.0%
2018 48.0% +2.4%

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 23 Tunisia 54.7%
  2. 24 Syrian Arab Republic 49.4%
  3. 25 India 49.3%
  4. 27 Lesotho 44.7% compare
  5. 28 Malta 44.4%
  6. 29 Oman 43.6%

See the full ranking of 126 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure per student, tertiary in South Africa?
Government expenditure per student, tertiary in South Africa was 48.0% in 2018, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest government expenditure per student, tertiary recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 48.0% in 2018.
What is the lowest government expenditure per student, tertiary recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 38.2% in 2014.
How does South Africa rank for government expenditure per student, tertiary?
South Africa ranks 26th out of 111 countries with data for 2018.
Is government expenditure per student, tertiary rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 22.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Government expenditure per student, tertiary (% of GDP per capita). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government expenditure per student, tertiary in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/government-expenditure-per-student-tertiary-percent-of-gdp-per-capita/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure per student, tertiary (% of GDP per capita)
Unit
% of GDP per capita
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
126 places, 1,539 data points, 1984–2018
Last refreshed

Government expenditure per student is the average general government expenditure (current, capital, and transfers) per student in the given level of education, expressed as a percentage of GDP per capita.