Malaysia vs South Africa: Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$

Malaysia
3,299 millions
in 2019
South Africa
3,435 millions
in 2019
Malaysia rank
35th
South Africa rank
33rd

Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ over time

  • Malaysia
  • South Africa
01.0k2.0k3.0k4.0k5.0k197119952019

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 3,435 millions against 3,299 millions in Malaysia, a difference of 136 millions.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 19 shared years of data; in 1987 it was South Africa ahead.

Malaysia ranks 35th and South Africa ranks 33rd of 153 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, Malaysia averaged higher in 2 and South Africa in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade Malaysia South Africa Difference Ahead
1980s 601.16 millions 1,976 millions 1,375 millions South Africa
1990s 1,035 millions 1,483 millions 447.57 millions South Africa
2000s 3,524 millions 1,476 millions 2,048 millions Malaysia
2010s 3,832 millions 2,374 millions 1,458 millions Malaysia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$, Malaysia or South Africa?
South Africa, at 3,435 millions against 3,299 millions in Malaysia as of 2019.
What is the difference in government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ between Malaysia and South Africa?
136 millions, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malaysia and South Africa?
19 years are reported by both, from 1987 to 2019.
How do Malaysia and South Africa rank globally for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$?
Malaysia ranks 35th and South Africa ranks 33rd of 153 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Malaysia vs South Africa: Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/government-expenditure-on-tertiary-education-constant-us-millions/malaysia/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions)
Unit
millions
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
153 places, 3,093 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total general (local, regional and central) government expenditure on tertiary education (current, capital, and transfers) in millions US$ in constant value (taking into account inflation). 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 US$, and where it is expressed in constant value, uses a GDP deflator to account for inflation. The constant prices base year is normally three years before the year of the data release. For example, in the July 2017 data release, constant US$ values are expressed in 2014 prices. 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/