Military expenditure in South Africa
South Africa: Military expenditure was 51.97 billion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
51.97 billion current LCU
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
83rd
of 167 countries
All-time high
53.21 billion current LCU
in 2020
All-time low
50.00 million current LCU
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Military expenditure in South Africa, 1960–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2024, military expenditure in South Africa stood at 51.97 billion current LCU.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and up 23.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in South Africa peaked at 53.21 billion current LCU in 2020 and was at its lowest, 50.00 million current LCU, in 1960.
South Africa ranks 83rd of 167 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 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 | 50.13 billion current LCU | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 53.14 billion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2023 | 53.00 billion current LCU | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 51.97 billion current LCU | -1.9% |
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 | 52.29 billion current LCU | 50.13 billion current LCU | 53.21 billion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More public sector data for South Africa
- Arms imports 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in South Africa?
- Military expenditure in South Africa was 51.97 billion current LCU in 2024, 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 53.21 billion current LCU in 2020.
- 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 83rd out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.0%. 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)