Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa

South Africa: Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in was 21.2% in 2019. ▼ Falling

Latest (2019)
21.2%
Change on year
down 30.1%
World rank
24th
of 35 countries
All-time high
63.7%
in 2006
All-time low
21.2%
in 2019
Years of data
7
2006–2019

Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa, 2006–2019

20304050602006201220192006: 63.7 %2007: 50.9 %2008: 45.2 %2009: 40.5 %2017: 32 %2018: 30.4 %2019: 21.2 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 21.2% for teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 30.1% on the previous year and down 47.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa peaked at 63.7% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 21.2%, in 2019.

South Africa ranks 24th of 35 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in post-secondary non-tertiary public institutions (%) in South Africa, 2006 to 2019.
Year % Change
2006 63.7%
2007 50.9% -20.1%
2008 45.2% -11.3%
2009 40.5% -10.3%
2017 32.0% -21.1%
2018 30.4% -5.0%
2019 21.2% -30.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 50.1% 40.5% 63.7% 4
2010s 27.9% 21.2% 32.0% 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 21 Australia 34.3% compare
  2. 22 Lao People's Democratic Republic 32.2% compare
  3. 23 Guyana 23.7% compare
  4. 25 Bulgaria 17.1% compare
  5. 26 Austria 15.6% compare
  6. 27 Sri Lanka 5.9% compare

See the full ranking of 35 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa?
Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa was 21.2% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 63.7% in 2006.
What is the lowest teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 21.2% in 2019.
How does South Africa rank for teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in?
South Africa ranks 24th out of 35 countries with data for 2019.
Is teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 47.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in post-secondary non-tertiary public institutions (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/teaching-staff-compensation-as-a-percentage-of-total-expenditure-in-post-secondary-non/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in post-secondary non-tertiary public institutions (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
35 places, 312 data points, 1995–2019
Last refreshed

Teacher compensation expressed as a percentage of direct expenditure in public educational institutions (instructional and non-instructional) of the specified level of education. Financial aid to students and other transfers are excluded from direct expenditure. Staff compensation includes salaries, contributions by employers for staff retirement programmes, and other allowances and benefits. To calculate this indicator, divide teacher compensation in public institutions of a given level of education (ex. primary, secondary, or all levels combined) by total expenditure (current and capital) in public institutions of the same level of education, and multiply by 100. Limitations: Although countries responding to the UIS questionnaire on educational expenditure are required to follow common definitions for staff compensation, in some cases government budget classifications may differ. It is also often difficult to separate staff compensation between teachers and non-teachers, as these are usually grouped together in country's accounting systems. In general, respondent countries must use estimation methods to separate teacher and non-teacher staff compensation. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/