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Health share of government spending — all countries

Health share of government spending — South Africa

Health share of government spending in South Africa in 2023 — 16.89%. Ranked 25 in the world out of 192. Since 2000, the indicator has risen by 5.03 pp.

2023 16.89% +0 pp vs 2022
World rank 25of 192
Period maximum 16.89%2020
Period minimum 10.38%2002

Trend over time

2000–2023 · % of government expenditure

Health share of government spending — South Africa, 2000–202310121416182000200320062009201220152018202120232000: 11.86%2001: 10.62%2002: 10.38%2003: 12.34%2004: 12.03%2005: 10.92%2006: 13.1%2007: 13.51%2008: 13.01%2009: 13.37%2010: 14.12%2011: 14.67%2012: 14.47%2013: 14.34%2014: 14.92%2015: 15.24%2016: 15.29%2017: 15.29%2018: 15.29%2019: 15.29%2020: 16.89%2021: 16.89%2022: 16.89%2023: 16.89%
Change over the period: +5.03 pp Annual average: 0.22 pp

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa

South Africa 16.89%
World computed 10.81%
Sub-Saharan Africa computed 6.86%
Southern Africa computed 13.79%
Upper-middle-income countries computed 11.98%
Health share of government spending — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 16.89 +0 pp
2022 16.89 +0 pp
2021 16.89 +0 pp
2020 16.89 +1.6 pp
2019 15.29 +0 pp
2018 15.29 +0 pp
2017 15.29 +0 pp
2016 15.29 +0.05 pp
2015 15.24 +0.32 pp
2014 14.92 +0.58 pp
2013 14.34 −0.13 pp
2012 14.47 −0.21 pp
2011 14.67 +0.56 pp
2010 14.12 +0.75 pp
2009 13.37 +0.36 pp
2008 13.01 −0.49 pp
2007 13.51 +0.41 pp
2006 13.1 +2.18 pp
2005 10.92 −1.11 pp
2004 12.03 −0.31 pp
2003 12.34 +1.96 pp
2002 10.38 −0.24 pp
2001 10.62 −1.23 pp
2000 11.86 —

Southern Africa, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

ZA South Africa 16.89 NA Namibia 14.99 BW Botswana 14.61 LS Lesotho 11.83 SZ Eswatini 10.64
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

Government spending on health as a percent of all spending of the state. The indicator answers a question about priorities, not about amounts: it shows what share of its money the state gives to health compared with defense, education and everything else. Data of the WHO national health accounts.

Important: The share of the budget and the share of GDP diverge: in a country with a small public sector, health can take a noticeable part of the budget while remaining modest relative to the economy.

Source: Global Health Observatory (WHO), license CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

Other indicators for South Africa

Healthcare Government health expenditure (% of GDP)

How much the state spends on health relative to the size of the economy.

South Africa by year Healthcare Government health expenditure per capita

How many dollars a year the state spends on the health of one person.

South Africa by year Education Education expenditure (% of GDP)

Government spending on education at all levels as a percentage of GDP.

South Africa by year Healthcare Health expenditure (% of GDP)

All current health spending — government and private — as a percent of GDP.

South Africa by year Healthcare Health expenditure per capita

How much is spent on health per person a year, in US dollars.

South Africa by year Healthcare Physicians per 1,000 people

The number of physicians per 1,000 people.

South Africa by year
All indicators for South Africa