Durban – Among the Brics bloc countries, South Africa spends the highest percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on education (6.8%), followed by Brazil at 4.3%.
This was revealed in the 2013 Brics joint statistical publication, released on Wednesday at the Fifth Brics Summit on Durban, by Statistics SA, together with the respective statistical agencies of Brazil, Russia, India and China.
The publication contains 16 chapters, including on population, living standards, the economy, economic sectors, the environment and tourist arrivals.
The publication also reveals that South Africa had the highest tourist arrivals in 2011 – at over 8.3 million, followed by India with 6.3 million arrivals in the same year.
On other social spending, South Africa ranks third among the Brics countries in spending on health per GDP – with China leading with health expenditure amounting to 5.2% of GDP.
South Africa has the second highest percentage of women in the general population, at 51.5% in 2011, behind Russia at 53.7% in 2012.
The publication also reveals that India has the highest infant mortality rate (at 47 per 1 000 persons), followed by South Africa with 37.9 per 1 000 persons.
China has the lowest infant mortality rate – at 12.1 per 1 000 persons.
South Africa is ranked third when it comes to GDP per capita – at $7 790 (in 2011), behind Russia ($14 015) and Brazil ($11 463), and ahead of China ($6 091) and India ($1 440). – SAnews.gov.za
