Adjusted savings: education expenditure in South Africa
South Africa: Adjusted savings: education expenditure was 6.5% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Adjusted savings: education expenditure in South Africa, 1970–2021
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 6.5% for adjusted savings: education expenditure in 2021.
The figure is up 7.4% on the previous year and up 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adjusted savings: education expenditure in South Africa peaked at 6.6% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 4.6%, in 1989.
South Africa ranks 23rd of 200 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Adjusted savings: education expenditure in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 5.0% | — |
| 1971 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 4.7% | -6.7% |
| 1988 | 4.8% | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 4.6% | -4.2% |
| 1990 | 4.8% | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 5.3% | +10.4% |
| 1992 | 6.4% | +21.4% |
| 1993 | 5.7% | -11.4% |
| 1994 | 5.5% | -3.5% |
| 1995 | 6.4% | +16.5% |
| 1996 | 5.5% | -14.2% |
| 1997 | 6.6% | +20.0% |
| 1998 | 6.1% | -7.8% |
| 1999 | 5.9% | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 5.2% | -11.0% |
| 2001 | 5.1% | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 5.1% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 4.9% | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 5.0% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 5.0% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 4.9% | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 4.9% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 5.2% | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 5.5% | +6.5% |
| 2011 | 5.9% | +6.1% |
| 2012 | 6.2% | +6.1% |
| 2013 | 5.9% | -5.1% |
| 2014 | 6.0% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 5.3% | -6.0% |
| 2017 | 5.5% | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 5.5% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 5.8% | +5.4% |
| 2020 | 6.0% | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 6.5% | +7.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.8% | 4.8% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.0% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.7% | 5.3% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.3% | 6.0% | 6.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adjusted savings: education expenditure in South Africa?
- Adjusted savings: education expenditure in South Africa was 6.5% in 2021, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest adjusted savings: education expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.6% in 1997.
- What is the lowest adjusted savings: education expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.6% in 1989.
- How does South Africa rank for adjusted savings: education expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 23rd out of 200 countries with data for 2021.
- Is adjusted savings: education expenditure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Adjusted savings: education expenditure (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Education expenditure refers to the current operating expenditures in education, including wages and salaries and excluding capital investments in buildings and equipment. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross National Income (GNI) which is the total income earned by all residents within an economic territory during an accounting period. It is equal to gross domestic product plus earned income receivable from abroad minus earned income payable abroad.