Health expenditure, private in South Africa
South Africa: Health expenditure, private was 52.3% in 2011. ▼ Falling
Health expenditure, private in South Africa, 1995–2011
Source: World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (see http://apps.who.int/nha/database for the most recent updates). Measured in % of total health expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for health expenditure, private in South Africa is 52.3%, measured in 2011. That is the lowest value across all 17 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.1% on the previous year and down 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, health expenditure, private in South Africa peaked at 64.1% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 52.3%, in 2011.
That places South Africa 23rd out of 53 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Health expenditure, private in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 60.4% | — |
| 1996 | 64.1% | +6.1% |
| 1997 | 61.2% | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 60.6% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 59.9% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 58.7% | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 59.6% | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 60.3% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 59.7% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 63.4% | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 61.6% | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 60.1% | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 55.5% | -7.6% |
| 2008 | 54.2% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 53.3% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 53.4% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 52.3% | -2.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 52.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 36.5%, 1.4× the median. (8 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 52.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.1%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 61.2% | 59.9% | 64.1% | 5 |
| 2000s | 58.7% | 53.3% | 63.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.9% | 52.3% | 53.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 20 Mozambique 58.3% compare
- 21 Somalia 55.4% compare
- 22 Mali 54.6% compare
- 24 Eritrea 51.2% compare
- 25 Burkina Faso 49.7% compare
- 26 Central African Republic 48.1% 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)
- 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 health expenditure, private in South Africa?
- Health expenditure, private in South Africa was 52.3% in 2011, according to World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (see http://apps.who.int/nha/database for the most recent updates).
- What is the highest health expenditure, private recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 64.1% in 1996.
- What is the lowest health expenditure, private recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.3% in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for health expenditure, private?
- South Africa ranks 23rd out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is health expenditure, private rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (see http://apps.who.int/nha/database for the most recent updates), published as part of Health expenditure, private (% of total health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (see http://apps.who.int/nha/database for the most recent updates).