South Africa vs Switzerland: Arms imports

South Africa
30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2023
Switzerland
33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2023
South Africa rank
77th
Switzerland rank
75th

Arms imports over time

  • South Africa
  • Switzerland
0200.0M400.0M600.0M800.0M1.0B196019912023

How they compare

Switzerland currently reports 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values against 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in South Africa, a difference of 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values.

That makes Switzerland's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.

The two have swapped places 12 times across 53 shared years of data; in 1960 it was Switzerland ahead.

South Africa ranks 77th and Switzerland ranks 75th of 173 countries.

Across the 7 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 5 and Switzerland in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Switzerland Difference Ahead
1960s 296.89 million SIPRI trend indicator values 186.67 million SIPRI trend indicator values 110.22 million SIPRI trend indicator values South Africa
1970s 332.40 million SIPRI trend indicator values 139.60 million SIPRI trend indicator values 192.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values South Africa
1980s 95.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values 267.90 million SIPRI trend indicator values 172.10 million SIPRI trend indicator values Switzerland
1990s 109.89 million SIPRI trend indicator values 297.44 million SIPRI trend indicator values 187.56 million SIPRI trend indicator values Switzerland
2000s 366.86 million SIPRI trend indicator values 70.14 million SIPRI trend indicator values 296.71 million SIPRI trend indicator values South Africa
2010s 94.33 million SIPRI trend indicator values 15.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values 78.83 million SIPRI trend indicator values South Africa
2020s 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values 24.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher arms imports, South Africa or Switzerland?
Switzerland, at 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values against 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in South Africa as of 2023.
What is the difference in arms imports between South Africa and Switzerland?
3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, with Switzerland ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Switzerland?
53 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2023.
How do South Africa and Switzerland rank globally for arms imports?
South Africa ranks 77th and Switzerland ranks 75th of 173 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs Switzerland: Arms imports. Statizoid, drawing on Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/compare/arms-imports-sipri-trend-indicator-values/south-africa/switzerland/

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About this data

Indicator
Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values)
Unit
SIPRI trend indicator values
Source
Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
218 places, 9,426 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed

Arms transfers (imports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.