Armed forces personnel, total, per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Armed forces personnel, total, per capita was 0.0015 units per person in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Armed forces personnel, total, per capita in South Africa, 1985–2020
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per person.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 0.0015 units per person for armed forces personnel, total, per capita in 2020.
That represents a change of down 2.7% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total, per capita in South Africa peaked at 0.0062 units per person in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0.0011 units per person, in 2004.
South Africa ranks 138th of 173 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Armed forces personnel, total, per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | units per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 0.003 units per person | — |
| 1989 | 0.0025 units per person | -16.9% |
| 1990 | 0.0021 units per person | -17.3% |
| 1991 | 0.0019 units per person | -8.0% |
| 1992 | 0.0018 units per person | -7.9% |
| 1993 | 0.0017 units per person | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 0.0017 units per person | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 0.0062 units per person | +264.7% |
| 1996 | 0.0062 units per person | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 0.0048 units per person | -22.7% |
| 1998 | 0.0046 units per person | -3.8% |
| 1999 | 0.0017 units per person | -63.5% |
| 2000 | 0.0015 units per person | -9.2% |
| 2001 | 0.0014 units per person | -7.2% |
| 2002 | 0.0012 units per person | -11.3% |
| 2003 | 0.0011 units per person | -8.1% |
| 2004 | 0.0011 units per person | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 0.0011 units per person | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 0.0021 units per person | +82.1% |
| 2007 | 0.0012 units per person | -40.4% |
| 2008 | 0.0012 units per person | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 0.0015 units per person | +23.0% |
| 2010 | 0.0015 units per person | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 0.0015 units per person | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 0.0012 units per person | -21.1% |
| 2013 | 0.0014 units per person | +22.2% |
| 2014 | 0.0015 units per person | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 0.0014 units per person | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 0.0014 units per person | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 0.0014 units per person | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 0.0015 units per person | +10.2% |
| 2019 | 0.0015 units per person | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 0.0015 units per person | -2.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.0015 units per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0045 units per person, 33% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.0015 units per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0013 units per person, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Armed forces personnel, total, per capita in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +264.7% | 0.0017 units per person | 0.0062 units per person |
| 2006 | +82.1% | 0.0011 units per person | 0.0021 units per person |
| 1999 | -63.5% | 0.0046 units per person | 0.0017 units per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0028 units per person | 0.0025 units per person | 0.003 units per person | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.0033 units per person | 0.0017 units per person | 0.0062 units per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0014 units per person | 0.0011 units per person | 0.0021 units per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0014 units per person | 0.0012 units per person | 0.0015 units per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0015 units per person | 0.0015 units per person | 0.0015 units per person | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 135 Gambia 0.0016 units per person compare
- 136 Luxembourg 0.0016 units per person compare
- 137 East Timor 0.0015 units per person compare
- 139 Sweden 0.0014 units per person compare
- 140 Philippines 0.0014 units per person compare
- 141 Democratic Republic of Congo 0.0014 units per person compare
More public sector data for South Africa
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.4746 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel, total, per capita in South Africa?
- Armed forces personnel, total, per capita in South Africa was 0.0015 units per person in 2020, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest armed forces personnel, total, per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.0062 units per person in 1995.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total, per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0011 units per person in 2004.
- How does South Africa rank for armed forces personnel, total, per capita?
- South Africa ranks 138th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel, total, per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Armed forces personnel, total, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Armed forces personnel, total divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Armed forces personnel, total ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Armed forces personnel, total The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Armed forces personnel, total divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.