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 24.7% in 2019. ▼ Falling

Latest (2019)
24.7%
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
43rd
of 54 countries
All-time high
84.3%
in 2003
All-time low
24.7%
in 2019
Years of data
5
2001–2019

Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa, 2001–2019

204060802001201020192001: 75.2 %2003: 84.3 %2017: 53.2 %2018: 25.1 %2019: 24.7 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa is 24.7%, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.

The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year.

Over the whole period, teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in in South Africa peaked at 84.3% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 24.7%, in 2019.

South Africa ranks 43rd of 54 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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 tertiary public institutions (%) in South Africa, 2001 to 2019.
Year % Change
2001 75.2%
2003 84.3% +12.1%
2017 53.2% -36.9%
2018 25.1% -52.7%
2019 24.7% -1.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 79.8% 75.2% 84.3% 2
2010s 34.3% 24.7% 53.2% 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 40 Australia 29.0% compare
  2. 41 United States of America 28.5% compare
  3. 42 Peru 26.4% compare
  4. 44 Estonia 22.5% compare
  5. 45 Guinea 20.6% compare
  6. 46 Senegal 16.3% compare

See the full ranking of 54 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 24.7% 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 84.3% in 2003.
What is the lowest teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 24.7% in 2019.
How does South Africa rank for teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in?
South Africa ranks 43rd out of 54 countries with data for 2019.
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 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 04 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/teaching-staff-compensation-as-a-percentage-of-total-expenditure-in-tertiary-public/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Teaching staff compensation as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary public institutions (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
54 places, 566 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/