Social Security expenditure on health in South Africa
South Africa: Social Security expenditure on health was 2.8% in 2011. ▼ Falling
Social Security expenditure on health in South Africa, 1995–2011
Source: World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/nha/country/en/). Measured in % government expenditure on health.
Analysis
In 2011, social security expenditure on health in South Africa stood at 2.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, social security expenditure on health in South Africa peaked at 3.9% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 2008.
South Africa ranks 19th of 53 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Social Security expenditure on health in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % government expenditure on health | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 3.9% | — |
| 1996 | 3.8% | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 3.8% | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 3.1% | -17.3% |
| 1999 | 3.5% | +11.3% |
| 2000 | 3.3% | -4.9% |
| 2001 | 3.1% | -4.9% |
| 2002 | 3.8% | +20.4% |
| 2003 | 3.6% | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 3.9% | +8.0% |
| 2005 | 3.6% | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 3.4% | -6.6% |
| 2007 | 3.3% | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 2.7% | -18.2% |
| 2009 | 2.7% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | +6.6% |
| 2011 | 2.8% | -3.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.4%, 2.0× the median. (8 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.6% | 3.1% | 3.9% | 5 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 2.7% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 2 |
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 social security expenditure on health in South Africa?
- Social security expenditure on health in South Africa was 2.8% in 2011, according to World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/nha/country/en/).
- What is the highest social security expenditure on health recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.9% in 2004.
- What is the lowest social security expenditure on health recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 2008.
- How does South Africa rank for social security expenditure on health?
- South Africa ranks 19th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is social security expenditure on health rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. 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 (http://www.who.int/nha/country/en/), published as part of Social Security expenditure on health (% government expenditure on health). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 17 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Social security funds comprise the expenditure on health by social security institutions. Social security or national health insurance schemes are imposed and controlled by government units for the purpose of providing social benefits to members of the community as a whole or to particular segments of the community. They include direct outlays to medical care providers and to suppliers of medical goods as well as reimbursements to households and the supply of services in kind to the enrollees.