Tax revenue per capita and public health spending per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Tax revenue per capita and public health spending per capita was 834.1 current international $ in 2023. ▲ Rising
Tax revenue per capita and public health spending per capita 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
South Africa recorded 834.1 current international $ for tax revenue per capita and public health spending per capita in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 5.0% on the previous year and up 50.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tax revenue per capita and public health spending per capita in South Africa peaked at 834.1 current international $ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 202.53 current international $, in 2001.
That places South Africa 79th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Tax revenue per capita and public health spending per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current international $ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 217.34 current international $ | — |
| 2001 | 202.53 current international $ | -6.8% |
| 2002 | 202.72 current international $ | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 255.04 current international $ | +25.8% |
| 2004 | 265.33 current international $ | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 286.6 current international $ | +8.0% |
| 2006 | 363.39 current international $ | +26.8% |
| 2007 | 397.55 current international $ | +9.4% |
| 2008 | 423.97 current international $ | +6.6% |
| 2009 | 466.52 current international $ | +10.0% |
| 2010 | 505.53 current international $ | +8.4% |
| 2011 | 541.57 current international $ | +7.1% |
| 2012 | 537.7 current international $ | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 554.18 current international $ | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 584.26 current international $ | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 615.79 current international $ | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 618.24 current international $ | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 627.23 current international $ | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 615.35 current international $ | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 641.36 current international $ | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 740.64 current international $ | +15.5% |
| 2021 | 753.43 current international $ | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 794.52 current international $ | +5.5% |
| 2023 | 834.1 current international $ | +5.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 834.1 current international $ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 660.6 current international $, 1.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 834.1 current international $ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.5 current international $, 22.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 308.1 current international $ | 202.53 current international $ | 466.52 current international $ | 10 |
| 2010s | 584.12 current international $ | 505.53 current international $ | 641.36 current international $ | 10 |
| 2020s | 780.67 current international $ | 740.64 current international $ | 834.1 current international $ | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 76 Brazil 913.61 current international $ compare
- 77 China 848.98 current international $ compare
- 78 Libya 845.85 current international $ compare
- 80 Thailand 830.82 current international $ compare
- 81 Republic of Moldova 821.76 current international $ compare
- 82 Paraguay 814.37 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)
- 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 tax revenue per capita and public health spending per capita in South Africa?
- Tax revenue per capita and public health spending per capita in South Africa was 834.1 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 tax revenue per capita and public health spending per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 834.1 current international $ in 2023.
- What is the lowest tax revenue per capita and public health spending per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 202.53 current international $ in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for tax revenue per capita and public health spending per capita?
- South Africa ranks 79th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is tax revenue per capita and public health spending per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.5%. 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 Tax revenue per capita and public health spending per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Tax revenue is defined as compulsory transfers to the central government for public purposes. Public expenditure on health care is defined as all the recurrent and capital spending from government, external borrowing and grants, and social health insurance funds. Both variables are measured in current international $, which adjusts for price differences between countries.