Share of total public education spending allocated to staff compensation in South Africa
South Africa: Share of total public education spending allocated to staff compensation was 70.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of total public education spending allocated to staff compensation in South Africa, 2003–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of total public education spending allocated to staff compensation in South Africa is 70.7%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of total public education spending allocated to staff compensation in South Africa peaked at 86.6% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 66.3%, in 2005.
That places South Africa 60th out of 116 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Share of total public education spending allocated to staff compensation in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 86.6% | — |
| 2005 | 66.3% | -23.5% |
| 2006 | 69.8% | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 67.2% | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 67.5% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 67.0% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 72.4% | +8.1% |
| 2019 | 70.6% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 69.4% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 69.7% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 71.0% | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 69.4% | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 70.7% | +2.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 70.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 72.7%, 97% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 70.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 69.5%, 1.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 74.2% | 66.3% | 86.6% | 3 |
| 2010s | 68.9% | 67.0% | 72.4% | 5 |
| 2020s | 70.0% | 69.4% | 71.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 share of total public education spending allocated to staff compensation in South Africa?
- Share of total public education spending allocated to staff compensation in South Africa was 70.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of total public education spending allocated to staff compensation recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 86.6% in 2003.
- What is the lowest share of total public education spending allocated to staff compensation recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.3% in 2005.
- How does South Africa rank for share of total public education spending allocated to staff compensation?
- South Africa ranks 60th out of 116 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of total public education spending allocated to staff compensation rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of total public education spending allocated to staff compensation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Compensation for staff across all levels of education, both teaching and non-teaching, covers salaries, retirement contributions by employers, and additional benefits.