Domestic general government health expenditure in South Africa
South Africa: Domestic general government health expenditure was 61.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Domestic general government health expenditure in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for domestic general government health expenditure in South Africa is 61.6%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 20.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic general government health expenditure in South Africa peaked at 64.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 33.7%, in 2001.
That places South Africa 82nd 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.
Domestic general government health expenditure in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 36.6% | — |
| 2001 | 33.7% | -7.8% |
| 2002 | 34.5% | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 39.6% | +14.8% |
| 2004 | 39.4% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 40.0% | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 47.0% | +17.4% |
| 2007 | 47.8% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 47.4% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 49.7% | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 51.3% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 51.9% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 51.7% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 51.2% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 55.6% | +8.6% |
| 2015 | 57.1% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 56.6% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 57.2% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 57.0% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 58.2% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 64.8% | +11.3% |
| 2021 | 63.4% | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 61.6% | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 61.6% | +0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 61.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 59.4%, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 61.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.1%, 2.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41.6% | 33.7% | 49.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.8% | 51.2% | 58.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.8% | 61.6% | 64.8% | 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 domestic general government health expenditure in South Africa?
- Domestic general government health expenditure in South Africa was 61.6% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest domestic general government health expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 64.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest domestic general government health expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.7% in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for domestic general government health expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 82nd out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is domestic general government health expenditure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.4%. 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, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Domestic general government health expenditure (% of current health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from domestic public sources for health. Domestic public sources include domestic revenue as internal transfers and grants, transfers, subsidies to voluntary health insurance beneficiaries, non-profit institutions serving households (NPISH) or enterprise financing schemes as well as compulsory prepayment and social health insurance contributions. They do not include external resources spent by governments on health.