Domestic private health expenditure in South Africa
South Africa: Domestic private health expenditure was 36.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Domestic private 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
South Africa recorded 36.3% for domestic private health expenditure in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic private health expenditure in South Africa peaked at 65.6% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 33.5%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 93rd out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Domestic private health expenditure in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 62.8% | — |
| 2001 | 65.6% | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 64.8% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 54.8% | -15.4% |
| 2004 | 55.2% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 48.2% | -12.6% |
| 2006 | 46.6% | -3.3% |
| 2007 | 44.9% | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 44.6% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 42.2% | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 41.0% | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 41.0% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 41.6% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 42.1% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 42.7% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 41.3% | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 41.4% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 41.7% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 41.8% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 40.7% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 33.5% | -17.7% |
| 2021 | 35.2% | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 36.5% | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 36.3% | -0.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 36.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 37.1%, 98% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 36.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 45.0%, 81% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 53.0% | 42.2% | 65.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.5% | 40.7% | 42.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.4% | 33.5% | 36.5% | 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 private health expenditure in South Africa?
- Domestic private health expenditure in South Africa was 36.3% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest domestic private health expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 65.6% in 2001.
- What is the lowest domestic private health expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.5% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for domestic private health expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 93rd out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is domestic private health expenditure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 private 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 private sources. Domestic private sources include funds from households, corporations and non-profit organizations. Such expenditures can be either prepaid to voluntary health insurance or paid directly to healthcare providers.