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

South Africa: Government expenditure on education not specified by level, US$ was 2,782 millions in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
2,782 millions
Change on year
up 7.2%
World rank
5th
of 154 countries
All-time high
4,145 millions
in 2012
All-time low
0 millions
in 1987
Years of data
27
1987–2019

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

01.0k2.0k3.0k4.0k1987200320191987: 0 millions1988: 0 millions1989: 0 millions1990: 0 millions1993: 0 millions1994: 0 millions1996: 0 millions1999: 491.6 millions2000: 518.2 millions2001: 455.4 millions2002: 386.6 millions2003: 471.6 millions2004: 914.3 millions2005: 977 millions2006: 1.1k millions2007: 1.1k millions2008: 1.8k millions2009: 1.8k millions2010: 1.9k millions2011: 2.9k millions2012: 4.1k millions2013: 2.7k millions2014: 2.9k millions2015: 2.9k millions2017: 2.2k millions2018: 2.6k millions2019: 2.8k millions

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

The most recent figure for government expenditure on education not specified by level, us$ in South Africa is 2,782 millions, measured in 2019.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.2% on the previous year and up 52.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on education not specified by level, us$ in South Africa peaked at 4,145 millions in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0 millions, in 1987.

That places South Africa 5th out of 154 countries with data for 2019, putting it 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, US$ in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Government expenditure on education not specified by level, 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 491.62 millions
2000 518.16 millions +5.4%
2001 455.35 millions -12.1%
2002 386.63 millions -15.1%
2003 471.64 millions +22.0%
2004 914.26 millions +93.8%
2005 976.97 millions +6.9%
2006 1,134 millions +16.1%
2007 1,106 millions -2.5%
2008 1,765 millions +59.6%
2009 1,830 millions +3.7%
2010 1,851 millions +1.2%
2011 2,880 millions +55.6%
2012 4,145 millions +43.9%
2013 2,658 millions -35.9%
2014 2,946 millions +10.9%
2015 2,867 millions -2.7%
2017 2,238 millions -21.9%
2018 2,594 millions +15.9%
2019 2,782 millions +7.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 0 millions 0 millions 0 millions 3
1990s 98.33 millions 0 millions 491.62 millions 5
2000s 955.79 millions 386.63 millions 1,830 millions 10
2010s 2,773 millions 1,851 millions 4,145 millions 9

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Russian Federation 6,317 millions compare
  2. 3 Indonesia 3,944 millions compare
  3. 4 Germany 3,055 millions compare
  4. 6 Mexico 1,530 millions compare
  5. 7 Thailand 1,406 millions compare
  6. 8 Hong Kong, China 1,215 millions compare

See the full ranking of 154 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, us$ in South Africa?
Government expenditure on education not specified by level, us$ in South Africa was 2,782 millions in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on education not specified by level, us$ recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 4,145 millions in 2012.
What is the lowest government expenditure on education not specified by level, us$ 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, us$?
South Africa ranks 5th out of 154 countries with data for 2019.
Is government expenditure on education not specified by level, us$ rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 52.0%. 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, US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government expenditure on education not specified by level, US$ 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-us-millions/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on education not specified by level, US$ (millions)
Unit
millions
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
154 places, 2,349 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$ (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 US$. 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/