Arms imports in South Africa
South Africa: Arms imports was 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
77th
of 172 countries
All-time high
914.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2007
All-time low
1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2013
Years of data
53
1960–2023
Arms imports in South Africa, 1960–2023
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
In 2023, arms imports in South Africa stood at 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2,900.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in South Africa peaked at 914.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2007 and was at its lowest, 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 2013.
South Africa ranks 77th of 172 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arms imports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1962 | 232.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1684.6% |
| 1963 | 518.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +123.3% |
| 1964 | 301.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -41.9% |
| 1965 | 386.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +28.2% |
| 1966 | 496.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +28.5% |
| 1967 | 299.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -39.7% |
| 1968 | 216.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -27.8% |
| 1969 | 211.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -2.3% |
| 1970 | 510.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +141.7% |
| 1971 | 309.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -39.4% |
| 1972 | 291.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -5.8% |
| 1973 | 369.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +26.8% |
| 1974 | 177.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -52.0% |
| 1975 | 235.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +32.8% |
| 1976 | 419.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +78.3% |
| 1977 | 500.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +19.3% |
| 1978 | 389.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -22.2% |
| 1979 | 125.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -67.9% |
| 1980 | 192.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +53.6% |
| 1981 | 122.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -36.5% |
| 1982 | 44.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -63.9% |
| 1983 | 214.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +386.4% |
| 1984 | 122.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -43.0% |
| 1985 | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -79.5% |
| 1986 | 191.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +664.0% |
| 1987 | 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -89.5% |
| 1988 | 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -15.0% |
| 1989 | 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -35.3% |
| 1990 | 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +136.4% |
| 1992 | 361.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1288.5% |
| 1993 | 244.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -32.4% |
| 1994 | 239.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 38.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -84.1% |
| 1996 | 38.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -71.1% |
| 1999 | 21.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +90.9% |
| 2000 | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -71.4% |
| 2001 | 18.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +200.0% |
| 2005 | 262.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1355.6% |
| 2006 | 741.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +182.8% |
| 2007 | 914.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +23.3% |
| 2008 | 493.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -46.1% |
| 2009 | 134.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -72.8% |
| 2010 | 178.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +32.8% |
| 2011 | 208.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +16.9% |
| 2012 | 127.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -38.9% |
| 2013 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -99.2% |
| 2014 | 50.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +4900.0% |
| 2015 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -96.0% |
| 2022 | 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1400.0% |
| 2023 | 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 296.89 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 518.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 9 |
| 1970s | 332.40 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 125.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 510.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 95.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 214.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 109.89 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 361.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 9 |
| 2000s | 366.86 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 914.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 7 |
| 2010s | 94.33 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 208.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 6 |
| 2020s | 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 74 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 35.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 75 Switzerland 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 76 Trinidad and Tobago 32.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 78 Azerbaijan 28.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 78 Brunei Darussalam 28.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 80 Ecuador 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for South Africa
- 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)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 44.31 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0071 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate -1.41 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 2.84 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 24.73 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per square kilometre 2,371 current USD per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in South Africa?
- Arms imports in South Africa was 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2023, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 914.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2007.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for arms imports?
- South Africa ranks 77th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is arms imports 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 Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.