Health spending per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Health spending per capita was 1,228 international-$ in 2020 prices in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
1,228 international-$ in 2020 prices
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
53rd
of 59 countries
All-time high
1,231 international-$ in 2020 prices
in 2021
All-time low
714.35 international-$ in 2020 prices
in 2000
Years of data
24
2000–2023
Health spending per capita in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2020 prices.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1,228 international-$ in 2020 prices for health spending per capita in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, health spending per capita in South Africa peaked at 1,231 international-$ in 2020 prices in 2021 and was at its lowest, 714.35 international-$ in 2020 prices, in 2000.
That places South Africa 53rd out of 59 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Health spending per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2020 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 714.35 international-$ in 2020 prices | — |
| 2001 | 714.53 international-$ in 2020 prices | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 734.06 international-$ in 2020 prices | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 801.71 international-$ in 2020 prices | +9.2% |
| 2004 | 808.88 international-$ in 2020 prices | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 835.11 international-$ in 2020 prices | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 903.85 international-$ in 2020 prices | +8.2% |
| 2007 | 955.04 international-$ in 2020 prices | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 988.51 international-$ in 2020 prices | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 1,032 international-$ in 2020 prices | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 1,080 international-$ in 2020 prices | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 1,117 international-$ in 2020 prices | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 1,120 international-$ in 2020 prices | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 1,141 international-$ in 2020 prices | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 1,102 international-$ in 2020 prices | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 1,132 international-$ in 2020 prices | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 1,132 international-$ in 2020 prices | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 1,123 international-$ in 2020 prices | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 1,138 international-$ in 2020 prices | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 1,157 international-$ in 2020 prices | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 1,199 international-$ in 2020 prices | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 1,231 international-$ in 2020 prices | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 1,230 international-$ in 2020 prices | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 1,228 international-$ in 2020 prices | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 848.78 international-$ in 2020 prices | 714.35 international-$ in 2020 prices | 1,032 international-$ in 2020 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,124 international-$ in 2020 prices | 1,080 international-$ in 2020 prices | 1,157 international-$ in 2020 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,222 international-$ in 2020 prices | 1,199 international-$ in 2020 prices | 1,231 international-$ in 2020 prices | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 50 Georgia 1,389 international-$ in 2020 prices compare
- 51 Mexico 1,347 international-$ in 2020 prices compare
- 52 China 1,305 international-$ in 2020 prices compare
- 54 Albania 1,224 international-$ in 2020 prices compare
- 55 Republic of Moldova 1,218 international-$ in 2020 prices compare
- 56 Thailand 935.06 international-$ in 2020 prices 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 40-44, male, annual growth rate 3.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0371 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 4.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0295 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is health spending per capita in South Africa?
- Health spending per capita in South Africa was 1,228 international-$ in 2020 prices in 2023, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest health spending per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,231 international-$ in 2020 prices in 2021.
- What is the lowest health spending per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 714.35 international-$ in 2020 prices in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for health spending per capita?
- South Africa ranks 53rd out of 59 countries with data for 2023.
- Is health spending per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Health spending per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Health expenditure in total divided by population.