Government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant in South Africa

South Africa: Government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant was 2,288 millions in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
2,288 millions
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
5th
of 149 countries
All-time high
2,721 millions
in 2012
All-time low
0 millions
in 1987
Years of data
27
1987–2019

Government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant in South Africa, 1987–2019

01.0k2.0k3.0k1987200320191987: 0 millions1988: 0 millions1989: 0 millions1990: 0 millions1993: 0 millions1994: 0 millions1996: 0 millions1999: 629.7 millions2000: 685.3 millions2001: 628.8 millions2002: 615.3 millions2003: 819 millions2004: 1.1k millions2005: 922.6 millions2006: 1.0k millions2007: 977 millions2008: 1.5k millions2009: 1.7k millions2010: 1.6k millions2011: 2.0k millions2012: 2.7k millions2013: 1.9k millions2014: 2.3k millions2015: 2.4k millions2017: 2.2k millions2018: 2.2k millions2019: 2.3k millions

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

The most recent figure for government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant in South Africa is 2,288 millions, measured in 2019.

That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 37.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant in South Africa peaked at 2,721 millions in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0 millions, in 1987.

South Africa ranks 5th of 149 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

Government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant US$ (millions) in South Africa, 1987 to 2019.
Year millions Change
1987 0 millions
1988 0 millions
1989 0 millions
1990 0 millions
1993 0 millions
1994 0 millions
1996 0 millions
1999 629.73 millions
2000 685.33 millions +8.8%
2001 628.81 millions -8.2%
2002 615.31 millions -2.1%
2003 819.04 millions +33.1%
2004 1,077 millions +31.5%
2005 922.57 millions -14.3%
2006 1,000 millions +8.4%
2007 977.02 millions -2.3%
2008 1,490 millions +52.5%
2009 1,665 millions +11.7%
2010 1,607 millions -3.5%
2011 2,031 millions +26.4%
2012 2,721 millions +34.0%
2013 1,874 millions -31.1%
2014 2,300 millions +22.8%
2015 2,383 millions +3.6%
2017 2,238 millions -6.1%
2018 2,230 millions -0.3%
2019 2,288 millions +2.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 0 millions 0 millions 0 millions 3
1990s 125.95 millions 0 millions 629.73 millions 5
2000s 988.05 millions 615.31 millions 1,665 millions 10
2010s 2,186 millions 1,607 millions 2,721 millions 9

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Russian Federation 6,317 millions compare
  2. 3 Indonesia 4,216 millions compare
  3. 4 Germany 3,055 millions compare
  4. 6 China 2,156 millions compare
  5. 7 Mexico 1,530 millions compare
  6. 8 Thailand 1,361 millions compare

See the full ranking of 149 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant in South Africa?
Government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant in South Africa was 2,288 millions in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 2,721 millions in 2012.
What is the lowest government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0 millions in 1987.
How does South Africa rank for government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant?
South Africa ranks 5th out of 149 countries with data for 2019.
Is government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 37.4%. 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 Government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/government-expenditure-on-education-not-specified-by-level-constant-us-millions/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on education not specified by level, constant US$ (millions)
Unit
millions
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
149 places, 2,288 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total general (local, regional and central) government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) not specified by level 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/