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

South Africa: Government expenditure on education not specified by level, PPP$ was 5,642 millions in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
5,642 millions
Change on year
up 5.0%
World rank
4th
of 145 countries
All-time high
6,300 millions
in 2012
All-time low
0 millions
in 1987
Years of data
27
1987–2019

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

02.0k4.0k6.0k1987200320191987: 0 millions1988: 0 millions1989: 0 millions1990: 0 millions1993: 0 millions1994: 0 millions1996: 0 millions1999: 1.1k millions2000: 1.2k millions2001: 1.2k millions2002: 1.2k millions2003: 1.6k millions2004: 2.1k millions2005: 1.8k millions2006: 2.1k millions2007: 2.1k millions2008: 3.3k millions2009: 3.7k millions2010: 3.6k millions2011: 4.6k millions2012: 6.3k millions2013: 4.3k millions2014: 5.4k millions2015: 5.6k millions2017: 5.3k millions2018: 5.4k millions2019: 5.6k millions

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

In 2019, government expenditure on education not specified by level, ppp$ in South Africa stood at 5,642 millions.

The figure is up 5.0% on the previous year and up 52.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on education not specified by level, ppp$ in South Africa peaked at 6,300 millions in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0 millions, in 1987.

South Africa ranks 4th of 145 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, PPP$ in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Government expenditure on education not specified by level, PPP$ (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 1,119 millions
2000 1,235 millions +10.4%
2001 1,158 millions -6.2%
2002 1,158 millions +0.0%
2003 1,566 millions +35.2%
2004 2,098 millions +33.9%
2005 1,846 millions -12.0%
2006 2,063 millions +11.8%
2007 2,076 millions +0.7%
2008 3,252 millions +56.6%
2009 3,704 millions +13.9%
2010 3,603 millions -2.7%
2011 4,606 millions +27.8%
2012 6,300 millions +36.8%
2013 4,272 millions -32.2%
2014 5,369 millions +25.7%
2015 5,579 millions +3.9%
2017 5,344 millions -4.2%
2018 5,374 millions +0.6%
2019 5,642 millions +5.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 0 millions 0 millions 0 millions 3
1990s 223.73 millions 0 millions 1,119 millions 5
2000s 2,016 millions 1,158 millions 3,704 millions 10
2010s 5,121 millions 3,603 millions 6,300 millions 9

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Italy 29,440 millions compare
  2. 2 Russian Federation 15,324 millions compare
  3. 3 Indonesia 12,129 millions compare
  4. 5 Germany 3,651 millions compare
  5. 6 Thailand 3,511 millions compare
  6. 7 Mexico 3,265 millions compare

See the full ranking of 145 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, ppp$ in South Africa?
Government expenditure on education not specified by level, ppp$ in South Africa was 5,642 millions in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on education not specified by level, ppp$ recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 6,300 millions in 2012.
What is the lowest government expenditure on education not specified by level, ppp$ 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, ppp$?
South Africa ranks 4th out of 145 countries with data for 2019.
Is government expenditure on education not specified by level, ppp$ rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 52.3%. 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, PPP$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government expenditure on education not specified by level, PPP$ in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/government-expenditure-on-education-not-specified-by-level-ppp-millions/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on education not specified by level, PPP$ (millions)
Unit
millions
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
145 places, 2,036 data points, 1971–2019
Last refreshed

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