Private health spending per person in South Africa
South Africa: Private health spending per person was 491.81 current international $ in 2023. ▲ Rising
Private health spending per person in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current international $.
Analysis
The most recent figure for private health spending per person in South Africa is 491.81 current international $, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.3% on the previous year and up 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, private health spending per person in South Africa peaked at 491.81 current international $ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 345.41 current international $, in 2005.
South Africa ranks 83rd of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Private health spending per person in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current international $ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 372.75 current international $ | — |
| 2001 | 394.01 current international $ | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 380.63 current international $ | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 352.73 current international $ | -7.3% |
| 2004 | 371.9 current international $ | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 345.41 current international $ | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 360.49 current international $ | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 373.57 current international $ | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 399.17 current international $ | +6.9% |
| 2009 | 395.5 current international $ | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 404.1 current international $ | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 428.48 current international $ | +6.0% |
| 2012 | 432.84 current international $ | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 456.15 current international $ | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 449.06 current international $ | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 445.06 current international $ | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 451.75 current international $ | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 456.79 current international $ | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 451.14 current international $ | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 448.15 current international $ | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 382.67 current international $ | -14.6% |
| 2021 | 418.52 current international $ | +9.4% |
| 2022 | 471.68 current international $ | +12.7% |
| 2023 | 491.81 current international $ | +4.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 374.62 current international $ | 345.41 current international $ | 399.17 current international $ | 10 |
| 2010s | 442.35 current international $ | 404.1 current international $ | 456.79 current international $ | 10 |
| 2020s | 441.17 current international $ | 382.67 current international $ | 491.81 current international $ | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 80 Antigua and Barbuda 509.21 current international $ compare
- 81 Kazakhstan 496.18 current international $ compare
- 82 Qatar 492.47 current international $ compare
- 84 Uzbekistan 483.34 current international $ compare
- 85 Tunisia 475.89 current international $ compare
- 86 Ecuador 467.79 current international $ 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 60-64, female, annual growth rate 1.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0197 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 0.6835 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.015 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is private health spending per person in South Africa?
- Private health spending per person in South Africa was 491.81 current international $ in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest private health spending per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 491.81 current international $ in 2023.
- What is the lowest private health spending per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 345.41 current international $ in 2005.
- How does South Africa rank for private health spending per person?
- South Africa ranks 83rd out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is private health spending per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.8%. 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, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Private health spending per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This data is adjusted for differences in living costs between countries, but it is not adjusted for inflation.