Public healthcare spending as a share of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Public healthcare spending as a share of GDP was 5.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Public healthcare spending as a share of GDP in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for public healthcare spending as a share of gdp in South Africa is 5.5%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 32.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public healthcare spending as a share of gdp in South Africa peaked at 5.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2002.
That places South Africa 46th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Public healthcare spending as a share of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.7% | — |
| 2001 | 2.4% | -10.5% |
| 2002 | 2.3% | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 2.8% | +21.0% |
| 2004 | 2.7% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | +17.7% |
| 2007 | 3.3% | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 3.8% | +12.4% |
| 2010 | 4.0% | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 4.1% | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 4.1% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 4.1% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 4.4% | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 4.6% | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 4.6% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 4.6% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 4.6% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 4.8% | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 5.8% | +21.8% |
| 2021 | 5.5% | -6.0% |
| 2022 | 5.4% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 5.5% | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.9% | 2.3% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.4% | 4.0% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.6% | 5.4% | 5.8% | 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)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 2.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0116 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0115 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is public healthcare spending as a share of gdp in South Africa?
- Public healthcare spending as a share of gdp in South Africa was 5.5% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public healthcare spending as a share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest public healthcare spending as a share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for public healthcare spending as a share of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 46th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is public healthcare spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.4%. 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 Public healthcare spending as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Domestic general government expenditure on health from domestic sources, expressed as a share of GDP.