Government expenditure on education, US$ in South Africa

South Africa: Government expenditure on education, US$ was 23,957 millions in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
23,957 millions
Change on year
up 11.3%
World rank
24th
of 174 countries
All-time high
23,957 millions
in 2019
All-time low
3,487 millions
in 1987
Years of data
25
1987–2019

Government expenditure on education, US$ in South Africa, 1987–2019

5.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k25.0k1987200320191987: 3.5k millions1988: 4.7k millions1989: 4.6k millions1990: 5.1k millions1991: 6.6k millions1993: 7.9k millions1994: 7.8k millions1996: 8.7k millions1999: 8.1k millions2000: 7.4k millions2001: 7.0k millions2002: 6.2k millions2003: 5.6k millions2004: 8.9k millions2005: 11.6k millions2006: 13.1k millions2007: 13.5k millions2008: 14.6k millions2009: 15.1k millions2010: 16.9k millions2015: 20.9k millions2016: 18.9k millions2017: 18.1k millions2018: 21.5k millions2019: 24.0k millions

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 23,957 millions for government expenditure on education, us$ in 2019. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.

The figure is up 11.3% on the previous year and up 59.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, us$ in South Africa peaked at 23,957 millions in 2019 and was at its lowest, 3,487 millions, in 1987.

South Africa ranks 24th of 174 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

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

Annual values for Government expenditure on education, US$ (millions) in South Africa, 1987 to 2019.
Year millions Change
1987 3,487 millions
1988 4,686 millions +34.4%
1989 4,618 millions -1.4%
1990 5,076 millions +9.9%
1991 6,630 millions +30.6%
1993 7,919 millions +19.5%
1994 7,798 millions -1.5%
1996 8,668 millions +11.2%
1999 8,095 millions -6.6%
2000 7,438 millions -8.1%
2001 7,036 millions -5.4%
2002 6,156 millions -12.5%
2003 5,618 millions -8.7%
2004 8,884 millions +58.1%
2005 11,574 millions +30.3%
2006 13,076 millions +13.0%
2007 13,512 millions +3.3%
2008 14,570 millions +7.8%
2009 15,052 millions +3.3%
2010 16,933 millions +12.5%
2015 20,900 millions +23.4%
2016 18,876 millions -9.7%
2017 18,116 millions -4.0%
2018 21,529 millions +18.8%
2019 23,957 millions +11.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 4,264 millions 3,487 millions 4,686 millions 3
1990s 7,364 millions 5,076 millions 8,668 millions 6
2000s 10,291 millions 5,618 millions 15,052 millions 10
2010s 20,052 millions 16,933 millions 23,957 millions 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 21 Saudi Arabia 26,706 millions compare
  2. 22 Denmark 25,748 millions compare
  3. 23 Poland 24,001 millions compare
  4. 25 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 22,672 millions compare
  5. 26 Austria 22,414 millions compare
  6. 27 Israel 21,522 millions compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on education, us$ in South Africa?
Government expenditure on education, us$ in South Africa was 23,957 millions in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on education, us$ recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 23,957 millions in 2019.
What is the lowest government expenditure on education, us$ recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 3,487 millions in 1987.
How does South Africa rank for government expenditure on education, us$?
South Africa ranks 24th out of 174 countries with data for 2019.
Is government expenditure on education, us$ rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 59.2%. 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, US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government expenditure on education, 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-us-millions/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on education, US$ (millions)
Unit
millions
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
174 places, 3,881 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total general (local, regional and central) government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) 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/