South Africa vs Sweden: Government expenditure on education, PPP$

South Africa
48,594 millions
in 2019
Sweden
40,148 millions
in 2017
South Africa rank
20th
Sweden rank
23rd

Government expenditure on education, PPP$ over time

  • South Africa
  • Sweden
10.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k50.0k199120052019

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 48,594 millions against 40,148 millions in Sweden, a difference of 8,446 millions.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.2 times Sweden's.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 18 shared years of data; in 1991 it was South Africa ahead.

South Africa ranks 20th and Sweden ranks 23rd of 163 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Sweden Difference Ahead
1990s 15,434 millions 12,635 millions 2,800 millions South Africa
2000s 22,145 millions 20,899 millions 1,246 millions South Africa
2010s 39,553 millions 34,986 millions 4,567 millions South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher government expenditure on education, ppp$, South Africa or Sweden?
South Africa, at 48,594 millions against 40,148 millions in Sweden as of 2019.
What is the difference in government expenditure on education, ppp$ between South Africa and Sweden?
8,446 millions, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sweden?
18 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2017.
How do South Africa and Sweden rank globally for government expenditure on education, ppp$?
South Africa ranks 20th and Sweden ranks 23rd of 163 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Government expenditure on education, PPP$ (millions). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs Sweden: Government expenditure on education, PPP$. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/government-expenditure-on-education-ppp-millions/south-africa/sweden/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on education, PPP$ (millions)
Unit
millions
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
163 places, 2,668 data points, 1990–2019
Last refreshed

Total general (local, regional and central) government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers), in millions PPP$ (at purchasing power parity), in nominal value. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. Total government expenditure for a given level of education (e.g. primary, secondary, or all levels combined) in national currency is converted to PPP$. Limitations: In some instances data on total government expenditure on education refers only to the Ministry of Education, excluding other ministries which may also spend a part of their budget on educational activities. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/