Total health spending per person in South Africa
South Africa: Total health spending per person was 1,354 current international $ in 2023. ▲ Rising
Total health spending per person in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current international $.
Analysis
In 2023, total health spending per person in South Africa stood at 1,354 current international $. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.9% on the previous year and up 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total health spending per person in South Africa peaked at 1,354 current international $ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 587.13 current international $, in 2002.
That places South Africa 84th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Total health spending per person in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current international $ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 593.92 current international $ | — |
| 2001 | 600.37 current international $ | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 587.13 current international $ | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 643.46 current international $ | +9.6% |
| 2004 | 673.97 current international $ | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 716.45 current international $ | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 773.62 current international $ | +8.0% |
| 2007 | 831.83 current international $ | +7.5% |
| 2008 | 895.35 current international $ | +7.6% |
| 2009 | 937.93 current international $ | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 984.9 current international $ | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 1,044 current international $ | +6.0% |
| 2012 | 1,040 current international $ | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 1,083 current international $ | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 1,052 current international $ | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 1,079 current international $ | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 1,092 current international $ | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 1,096 current international $ | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 1,079 current international $ | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 1,102 current international $ | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 1,143 current international $ | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 1,188 current international $ | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 1,291 current international $ | +8.6% |
| 2023 | 1,354 current international $ | +4.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 725.4 current international $ | 587.13 current international $ | 937.93 current international $ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,065 current international $ | 984.9 current international $ | 1,102 current international $ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,244 current international $ | 1,143 current international $ | 1,354 current international $ | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 81 Seychelles 1,402 current international $ compare
- 82 Ukraine 1,382 current international $ compare
- 83 Mexico 1,368 current international $ compare
- 85 Guyana 1,331 current international $ compare
- 86 Botswana 1,310 current international $ compare
- 87 Turkmenistan 1,264 current international $ compare
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 15-19, male, annual growth rate 1.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per capita 0.0422 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, annual growth rate 0.5965 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.0391 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total health spending per person in South Africa?
- Total health spending per person in South Africa was 1,354 current international $ in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total health spending per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,354 current international $ in 2023.
- What is the lowest total health spending per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 587.13 current international $ in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for total health spending per person?
- South Africa ranks 84th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total health spending per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total health spending per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The sum of public and private annual health expenditure per person. This data is adjusted for differences in living costs between countries, but it is not adjusted for inflation.