Government expenditure on education, PPP$ in South Africa

South Africa: Government expenditure on education, PPP$ was 48,594 millions in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
48,594 millions
Change on year
up 9.0%
World rank
20th
of 163 countries
All-time high
48,594 millions
in 2019
All-time low
13,557 millions
in 1991
Years of data
21
1991–2019

Government expenditure on education, PPP$ in South Africa, 1991–2019

10.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k50.0k1991200520191991: 13.6k millions1993: 14.2k millions1994: 14.6k millions1996: 15.5k millions1999: 18.4k millions2000: 17.7k millions2001: 17.9k millions2002: 18.4k millions2003: 18.7k millions2004: 20.4k millions2005: 21.9k millions2006: 23.8k millions2007: 25.4k millions2008: 26.9k millions2009: 30.5k millions2010: 33.0k millions2015: 40.7k millions2016: 41.3k millions2017: 43.3k millions2018: 44.6k millions2019: 48.6k millions

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 48,594 millions for government expenditure on education, ppp$ in 2019. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.

That represents a change of up 9.0% on the previous year and up 59.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, ppp$ in South Africa peaked at 48,594 millions in 2019 and was at its lowest, 13,557 millions, in 1991.

South Africa ranks 20th of 163 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.

Government expenditure on education, PPP$ in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Government expenditure on education, PPP$ (millions) in South Africa, 1991 to 2019.
Year millions Change
1991 13,557 millions
1993 14,245 millions +5.1%
1994 14,562 millions +2.2%
1996 15,516 millions +6.5%
1999 18,419 millions +18.7%
2000 17,728 millions -3.8%
2001 17,899 millions +1.0%
2002 18,446 millions +3.1%
2003 18,659 millions +1.2%
2004 20,387 millions +9.3%
2005 21,864 millions +7.2%
2006 23,779 millions +8.8%
2007 25,370 millions +6.7%
2008 26,851 millions +5.8%
2009 30,468 millions +13.5%
2010 32,953 millions +8.2%
2015 40,678 millions +23.4%
2016 41,316 millions +1.6%
2017 43,265 millions +4.7%
2018 44,597 millions +3.1%
2019 48,594 millions +9.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 15,260 millions 13,557 millions 18,419 millions 5
2000s 22,145 millions 17,728 millions 30,468 millions 10
2010s 41,901 millions 32,953 millions 48,594 millions 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 17 Argentina 56,688 millions compare
  2. 18 Poland 52,209 millions compare
  3. 19 Netherlands 49,069 millions compare
  4. 21 Iran, Islamic Republic of 46,383 millions compare
  5. 22 Thailand 43,300 millions compare
  6. 23 Sweden 40,148 millions compare

See the full ranking of 163 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on education, ppp$ in South Africa?
Government expenditure on education, ppp$ in South Africa was 48,594 millions in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on education, ppp$ recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 48,594 millions in 2019.
What is the lowest government expenditure on education, ppp$ recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 13,557 millions in 1991.
How does South Africa rank for government expenditure on education, ppp$?
South Africa ranks 20th out of 163 countries with data for 2019.
Is government expenditure on education, ppp$ rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 59.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on education, PPP$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government expenditure on education, PPP$ in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/government-expenditure-on-education-ppp-millions/south-africa/

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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/