Proportion of total government spending on essential services in South Africa
South Africa: Proportion of total government spending on essential services was 19.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of total government spending on essential services in South Africa, 2000–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 19.1% for proportion of total government spending on essential services in 2025.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services in South Africa peaked at 20.5% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 23rd of 170 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Proportion of total government spending on essential services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.0% | — |
| 2001 | 20.5% | — |
| 2002 | 20.1% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 19.6% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 19.9% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 19.9% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 18.0% | -9.6% |
| 2007 | 18.0% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 17.9% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 18.3% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 18.0% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 18.7% | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 19.7% | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 18.7% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 19.0% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 18.7% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 18.0% | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 18.7% | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 18.9% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 19.6% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 19.7% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 18.9% | -3.7% |
| 2022 | 18.9% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 19.2% | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 18.5% | -3.4% |
| 2025 | 19.1% | +3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.2% | 0.0% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.8% | 18.0% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.1% | 18.5% | 19.7% | 6 |
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 proportion of total government spending on essential services in South Africa?
- Proportion of total government spending on essential services in South Africa was 19.1% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 20.5% in 2001.
- What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services?
- South Africa ranks 23rd out of 170 countries with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of total government spending on essential services rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education [UIS methodology] (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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