Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre in South Africa
South Africa: Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre was 24.73 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
24.73 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
126th
of 170 countries
All-time high
753.45 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre
in 2007
All-time low
0.8243 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre
in 2013
Years of data
52
1962–2023
Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre in South Africa, 1962–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, arms imports (sipri trend indicator values), per square kilometre in South Africa stood at 24.73 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre.
The figure is up 2,900.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports (sipri trend indicator values), per square kilometre in South Africa peaked at 753.45 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0.8243 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre, in 2013.
That places South Africa 126th out of 170 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre in South Africa, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 191.25 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | — |
| 1963 | 427.01 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +123.3% |
| 1964 | 248.13 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -41.9% |
| 1965 | 318.2 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +28.2% |
| 1966 | 408.87 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +28.5% |
| 1967 | 246.48 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -39.7% |
| 1968 | 178.06 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -27.8% |
| 1969 | 173.94 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -2.3% |
| 1970 | 420.41 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +141.7% |
| 1971 | 254.72 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -39.4% |
| 1972 | 239.88 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -5.8% |
| 1973 | 304.18 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +26.8% |
| 1974 | 145.91 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -52.0% |
| 1975 | 193.72 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +32.8% |
| 1976 | 345.4 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +78.3% |
| 1977 | 412.17 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +19.3% |
| 1978 | 320.67 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -22.2% |
| 1979 | 103.04 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -67.9% |
| 1980 | 158.27 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +53.6% |
| 1981 | 100.57 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -36.5% |
| 1982 | 36.27 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -63.9% |
| 1983 | 176.41 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +386.4% |
| 1984 | 100.57 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -43.0% |
| 1985 | 20.61 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -79.5% |
| 1986 | 157.45 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +664.0% |
| 1987 | 16.49 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -89.5% |
| 1988 | 14.01 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -15.0% |
| 1989 | 9.07 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -35.3% |
| 1990 | 9.07 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 21.43 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +136.4% |
| 1992 | 297.59 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +1288.5% |
| 1993 | 201.14 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -32.4% |
| 1994 | 197.02 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 31.32 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -84.1% |
| 1996 | 31.32 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 9.07 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -71.1% |
| 1999 | 17.31 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +90.9% |
| 2000 | 4.95 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -71.4% |
| 2001 | 14.84 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +200.0% |
| 2005 | 215.98 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +1355.6% |
| 2006 | 610.84 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +182.8% |
| 2007 | 753.45 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +23.3% |
| 2008 | 406.4 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -46.1% |
| 2009 | 110.46 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -72.8% |
| 2010 | 146.73 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +32.8% |
| 2011 | 171.46 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +16.9% |
| 2012 | 104.69 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -38.9% |
| 2013 | 0.8243 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -99.2% |
| 2014 | 41.22 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +4900.0% |
| 2015 | 1.65 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | -96.0% |
| 2022 | 24.73 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +1400.0% |
| 2023 | 24.73 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 24.73 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 75.18 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre, 33% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 24.73 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 32.99 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre, 75% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +4900.0% | 0.8243 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 41.22 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre |
| 2022 | +1400.0% | 1.65 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 24.73 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre |
| 2005 | +1355.6% | 14.84 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 215.98 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre |
| 1992 | +1288.5% | 21.43 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 297.59 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre |
| 1986 | +664.0% | 20.61 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 157.45 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 273.99 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 173.94 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 427.01 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 8 |
| 1970s | 274.01 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 103.04 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 420.41 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 78.97 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 9.07 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 176.41 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 90.59 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 9.07 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 297.59 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 9 |
| 2000s | 302.42 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 4.95 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 753.45 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 7 |
| 2010s | 77.76 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 0.8243 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 171.46 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 6 |
| 2020s | 24.73 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 24.73 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 24.73 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 123 Bulgaria 27.63 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre compare
- 124 Panama 26.9 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre compare
- 125 Chad 25.41 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre compare
- 127 Bolivia 24 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre compare
- 128 Guyana 23.68 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre compare
- 129 Brazil 22.13 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre 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 arms imports (sipri trend indicator values), per square kilometre in South Africa?
- Arms imports (sipri trend indicator values), per square kilometre in South Africa was 24.73 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest arms imports (sipri trend indicator values), per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 753.45 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre in 2007.
- What is the lowest arms imports (sipri trend indicator values), per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8243 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for arms imports (sipri trend indicator values), per square kilometre?
- South Africa ranks 126th out of 170 countries with data for 2023.
- Is arms imports (sipri trend indicator values), per square kilometre rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,900.0%. 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 Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 52 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Arms imports Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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
Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.