Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in South Africa
South Africa: Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending was 61.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
In 2023, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in South Africa stood at 61.6%.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 20.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in South Africa peaked at 64.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 33.7%, in 2001.
South Africa ranks 82nd 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.
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 36.6% | — |
| 2001 | 33.7% | -7.8% |
| 2002 | 34.5% | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 39.6% | +14.8% |
| 2004 | 39.4% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 40.0% | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 47.0% | +17.4% |
| 2007 | 47.8% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 47.4% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 49.7% | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 51.3% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 51.9% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 51.7% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 51.2% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 55.6% | +8.6% |
| 2015 | 57.1% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 56.6% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 57.2% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 57.0% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 58.2% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 64.8% | +11.3% |
| 2021 | 63.4% | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 61.6% | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 61.6% | +0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 61.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 59.4%, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 61.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.1%, 2.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41.6% | 33.7% | 49.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.8% | 51.2% | 58.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.8% | 61.6% | 64.8% | 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)
- 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 public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in South Africa?
- Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in South Africa was 61.6% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 64.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.7% in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending?
- South Africa ranks 82nd out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.4%. 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 spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from domestic public sources for health.