Military expenditure (current LCU) in South Africa
South Africa: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 56.76 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
56.76 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
82nd
of 168 countries
All-time high
56.76 billion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
50.00 million current LCU
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military expenditure in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in South Africa stood at 56.76 billion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 27.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in South Africa peaked at 56.76 billion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 50.00 million current LCU, in 1960.
South Africa ranks 82nd of 168 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.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 50.00 million current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 81.25 million current LCU | +62.5% |
| 1962 | 133.00 million current LCU | +63.7% |
| 1963 | 135.00 million current LCU | +1.5% |
| 1964 | 194.00 million current LCU | +43.7% |
| 1965 | 206.75 million current LCU | +6.6% |
| 1966 | 231.75 million current LCU | +12.1% |
| 1967 | 266.50 million current LCU | +15.0% |
| 1968 | 285.50 million current LCU | +7.1% |
| 1969 | 304.00 million current LCU | +6.5% |
| 1970 | 298.50 million current LCU | -1.8% |
| 1971 | 347.50 million current LCU | +16.4% |
| 1972 | 378.50 million current LCU | +8.9% |
| 1973 | 522.50 million current LCU | +38.0% |
| 1974 | 749.00 million current LCU | +43.3% |
| 1975 | 1.06 billion current LCU | +41.4% |
| 1976 | 1.46 billion current LCU | +37.8% |
| 1977 | 1.80 billion current LCU | +23.6% |
| 1978 | 1.80 billion current LCU | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 1.82 billion current LCU | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 2.07 billion current LCU | +13.9% |
| 1981 | 2.64 billion current LCU | +27.5% |
| 1982 | 2.98 billion current LCU | +12.7% |
| 1983 | 3.40 billion current LCU | +14.1% |
| 1984 | 4.09 billion current LCU | +20.2% |
| 1985 | 4.72 billion current LCU | +15.5% |
| 1986 | 5.71 billion current LCU | +21.0% |
| 1987 | 7.32 billion current LCU | +28.3% |
| 1988 | 9.69 billion current LCU | +32.4% |
| 1989 | 10.97 billion current LCU | +13.2% |
| 1990 | 11.29 billion current LCU | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 10.70 billion current LCU | -5.3% |
| 1992 | 10.49 billion current LCU | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 10.63 billion current LCU | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 12.35 billion current LCU | +16.2% |
| 1995 | 11.94 billion current LCU | -3.3% |
| 1996 | 11.14 billion current LCU | -6.7% |
| 1997 | 11.12 billion current LCU | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 10.54 billion current LCU | -5.3% |
| 1999 | 10.62 billion current LCU | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 13.13 billion current LCU | +23.6% |
| 2001 | 15.52 billion current LCU | +18.2% |
| 2002 | 18.62 billion current LCU | +20.0% |
| 2003 | 19.47 billion current LCU | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 20.02 billion current LCU | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 22.68 billion current LCU | +13.3% |
| 2006 | 23.74 billion current LCU | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 24.84 billion current LCU | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 27.15 billion current LCU | +9.3% |
| 2009 | 30.44 billion current LCU | +12.1% |
| 2010 | 30.66 billion current LCU | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 33.36 billion current LCU | +8.8% |
| 2012 | 36.86 billion current LCU | +10.5% |
| 2013 | 39.76 billion current LCU | +7.9% |
| 2014 | 42.24 billion current LCU | +6.2% |
| 2015 | 44.51 billion current LCU | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 46.22 billion current LCU | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 47.92 billion current LCU | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 47.99 billion current LCU | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 49.64 billion current LCU | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 53.21 billion current LCU | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 52.42 billion current LCU | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 56.61 billion current LCU | +8.0% |
| 2023 | 56.45 billion current LCU | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 55.60 billion current LCU | -1.5% |
| 2025 | 56.76 billion current LCU | +2.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 56.76 billion current LCU is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.44 billion current LCU, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 56.76 billion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 122.65 billion current LCU, 46% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 188.78 million current LCU | 50.00 million current LCU | 304.00 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.02 billion current LCU | 298.50 million current LCU | 1.82 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.36 billion current LCU | 2.07 billion current LCU | 10.97 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.08 billion current LCU | 10.49 billion current LCU | 12.35 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.56 billion current LCU | 13.13 billion current LCU | 30.44 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.92 billion current LCU | 30.66 billion current LCU | 49.64 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.18 billion current LCU | 52.42 billion current LCU | 56.76 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 military expenditure in South Africa?
- Military expenditure in South Africa was 56.76 billion current LCU in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 56.76 billion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.00 million current LCU in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for military expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 82nd out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)