International expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: International expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP was 0.0% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
International expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in South Africa, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 0.0% for international expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in 2023.
The figure is down 5.1% on the previous year and down 25.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in South Africa peaked at 0.1% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2000.
That places South Africa 130th out of 178 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
International expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 0.0% | — |
| 2000 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2001 | 0.0% | — |
| 2002 | 0.1% | — |
| 2003 | 0.0% | -13.9% |
| 2004 | 0.0% | -44.1% |
| 2005 | 0.0% | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 0.0% | +12.8% |
| 2007 | 0.0% | -26.1% |
| 2008 | 0.0% | +8.8% |
| 2009 | 0.0% | -13.0% |
| 2010 | 0.0% | +18.4% |
| 2011 | 0.0% | -84.4% |
| 2012 | 0.0% | +33.5% |
| 2013 | 0.0% | +138.2% |
| 2014 | 0.0% | -10.6% |
| 2015 | 0.0% | +113.6% |
| 2016 | 0.0% | -82.9% |
| 2017 | 0.0% | +283.7% |
| 2018 | 0.0% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 0.0% | +18.8% |
| 2020 | 0.0% | -9.5% |
| 2021 | 0.0% | -16.2% |
| 2022 | 0.0% | -28.5% |
| 2023 | 0.0% | -5.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.1%, 15% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.4%, 3% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where International expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +283.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 127 Thailand 0.0% compare
- 128 Argentina 0.0% compare
- 129 Turkmenistan 0.0% compare
- 131 Dominican Republic 0.0% compare
- 132 Malaysia 0.0% compare
- 133 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 0.0% compare
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 international expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in South Africa?
- International expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp in South Africa was 0.0% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest international expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1% in 2002.
- What is the lowest international expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for international expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 130th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is international expenditure on education as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of International expenditure on 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