Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa

South Africa: Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in was 27.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
27.7%
Change on year
up 5.3%
World rank
53rd
of 68 countries
All-time high
84.3%
in 2003
All-time low
23.5%
in 2021
Years of data
10
2001–2024

Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa, 2001–2024

204060802001201220242001: 75.2 %2003: 84.3 %2017: 53.2 %2018: 25.1 %2019: 24.7 %2020: 29 %2021: 23.5 %2022: 27.3 %2023: 26.3 %2024: 27.7 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa is 27.7%, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.3% on the previous year and down 47.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa peaked at 84.3% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 23.5%, in 2021.

That places South Africa 53rd out of 68 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary public institutions (%) in South Africa, 2001 to 2024.
Year % Change
2001 75.2%
2003 84.3% +12.1%
2017 53.2% -36.9%
2018 25.1% -52.7%
2019 24.7% -1.9%
2020 29.0% +17.6%
2021 23.5% -19.0%
2022 27.3% +16.2%
2023 26.3% -3.6%
2024 27.7% +5.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 79.8% 75.2% 84.3% 2
2010s 34.3% 24.7% 53.2% 3
2020s 26.8% 23.5% 29.0% 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 50 Senegal 28.6% compare
  2. 51 Malta 28.5% compare
  3. 52 United States of America 28.3% compare
  4. 54 Chile 26.5% compare
  5. 55 Slovakia 26.3% compare
  6. 56 Côte d'Ivoire 25.6% compare

See the full ranking of 68 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa?
Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa was 27.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 84.3% in 2003.
What is the lowest teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 23.5% in 2021.
How does South Africa rank for teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in?
South Africa ranks 53rd out of 68 countries with data for 2024.
Is teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 47.9%. 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 Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary public institutions (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/teaching-staff-compensation-as-a-percentage-of-total-expenditure-in-tertiary-public-2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary public institutions (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
68 places, 797 data points, 1998–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release