Current health expenditure (CHE) as percentage of gross domestic in South Africa
South Africa: Current health expenditure (CHE) as percentage of gross domestic was 8.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Current health expenditure (CHE) as percentage of gross domestic in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for current health expenditure (che) as percentage of gross domestic in South Africa is 8.9%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, current health expenditure (che) as percentage of gross domestic in South Africa peaked at 9.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 6.7%, in 2002.
That places South Africa 47th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Current health expenditure (CHE) as percentage of gross domestic in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.3% | — |
| 2001 | 7.1% | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 6.7% | -6.3% |
| 2003 | 7.0% | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 6.9% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 6.9% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 6.9% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 6.9% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 7.1% | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 7.6% | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 7.8% | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 7.9% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 8.0% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 8.1% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 7.9% | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 8.1% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 8.1% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 8.0% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 8.1% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 8.2% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 9.0% | +9.4% |
| 2021 | 8.7% | -4.0% |
| 2022 | 8.7% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 8.9% | +1.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 8.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.3%, 1.4× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 8.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.4%, 2.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.1% | 6.7% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.0% | 7.8% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.8% | 8.7% | 9.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is current health expenditure (che) as percentage of gross domestic in South Africa?
- Current health expenditure (che) as percentage of gross domestic in South Africa was 8.9% in 2023, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest current health expenditure (che) as percentage of gross domestic recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest current health expenditure (che) as percentage of gross domestic recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.7% in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for current health expenditure (che) as percentage of gross domestic?
- South Africa ranks 47th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is current health expenditure (che) as percentage of gross domestic rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Current health expenditure (CHE) as percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).