Proportion of total government spending on essential services, health in South Africa
South Africa: Proportion of total government spending on essential services, health was 10.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, health in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 10.7% for proportion of total government spending on essential services, health in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.0% on the previous year and up 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services, health in South Africa peaked at 12.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2007.
That places South Africa 70th out of 129 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, health in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.3% | — |
| 2001 | 10.7% | +14.5% |
| 2002 | 10.6% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 9.9% | -5.8% |
| 2004 | 10.1% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 10.6% | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 11.1% | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | -79.4% |
| 2008 | 11.4% | +396.7% |
| 2009 | 10.5% | -7.3% |
| 2010 | 11.3% | +7.4% |
| 2011 | 11.1% | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 11.7% | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 10.5% | -10.4% |
| 2014 | 10.3% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 11.3% | +9.2% |
| 2016 | 9.8% | -13.1% |
| 2017 | 11.6% | +18.4% |
| 2018 | 11.5% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 11.9% | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 12.7% | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 12.5% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 11.7% | -6.8% |
| 2023 | 11.2% | -4.3% |
| 2024 | 10.7% | -4.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 10.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.3%, 1.0× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 10.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.4%, 1.3× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Proportion of total government spending on essential services, health in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +396.7% | 2.3% | 11.4% |
| 2007 | -79.4% | 11.1% | 2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.6% | 2.3% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.1% | 9.8% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.8% | 10.7% | 12.7% | 5 |
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 proportion of total government spending on essential services, health in South Africa?
- Proportion of total government spending on essential services, health in South Africa was 10.7% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of total government spending on essential services, health recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services, health recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2007.
- How does South Africa rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services, health?
- South Africa ranks 70th out of 129 countries with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of total government spending on essential services, health rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of total government spending on essential services, health (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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