Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP was 0.0071 current USD per US$ of GDP in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.0071 current USD per US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 6.3%
World rank
140th
of 166 countries
All-time high
0.0457 current USD per US$ of GDP
in 1977
All-time low
0.0071 current USD per US$ of GDP
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP in South Africa, 1960–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current USD per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure (current usd), per unit of gdp in South Africa is 0.0071 current USD per US$ of GDP, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is down 6.3% on the previous year and down 30.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure (current usd), per unit of gdp in South Africa peaked at 0.0457 current USD per US$ of GDP in 1977 and was at its lowest, 0.0071 current USD per US$ of GDP, in 2024.
That places South Africa 140th out of 166 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current USD per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.008 current USD per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1961 | 0.0123 current USD per US$ of GDP | +54.1% |
| 1962 | 0.019 current USD per US$ of GDP | +53.9% |
| 1963 | 0.0174 current USD per US$ of GDP | -8.2% |
| 1964 | 0.0227 current USD per US$ of GDP | +30.5% |
| 1965 | 0.0221 current USD per US$ of GDP | -2.5% |
| 1966 | 0.0228 current USD per US$ of GDP | +3.1% |
| 1967 | 0.0236 current USD per US$ of GDP | +3.3% |
| 1968 | 0.0233 current USD per US$ of GDP | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 0.0221 current USD per US$ of GDP | -5.3% |
| 1970 | 0.0197 current USD per US$ of GDP | -10.9% |
| 1971 | 0.0208 current USD per US$ of GDP | +5.4% |
| 1972 | 0.0201 current USD per US$ of GDP | -3.2% |
| 1973 | 0.0226 current USD per US$ of GDP | +12.7% |
| 1974 | 0.0266 current USD per US$ of GDP | +17.7% |
| 1975 | 0.0334 current USD per US$ of GDP | +25.3% |
| 1976 | 0.0408 current USD per US$ of GDP | +22.2% |
| 1977 | 0.0457 current USD per US$ of GDP | +12.2% |
| 1978 | 0.0401 current USD per US$ of GDP | -12.4% |
| 1979 | 0.0343 current USD per US$ of GDP | -14.5% |
| 1980 | 0.0298 current USD per US$ of GDP | -13.2% |
| 1981 | 0.0323 current USD per US$ of GDP | +8.6% |
| 1982 | 0.032 current USD per US$ of GDP | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 0.0317 current USD per US$ of GDP | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 0.0326 current USD per US$ of GDP | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 0.0328 current USD per US$ of GDP | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 0.0341 current USD per US$ of GDP | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 0.0373 current USD per US$ of GDP | +9.4% |
| 1988 | 0.041 current USD per US$ of GDP | +10.1% |
| 1989 | 0.0387 current USD per US$ of GDP | -5.6% |
| 1990 | 0.0346 current USD per US$ of GDP | -10.5% |
| 1991 | 0.0287 current USD per US$ of GDP | -17.2% |
| 1992 | 0.025 current USD per US$ of GDP | -12.7% |
| 1993 | 0.0221 current USD per US$ of GDP | -11.6% |
| 1994 | 0.0227 current USD per US$ of GDP | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 0.0192 current USD per US$ of GDP | -15.4% |
| 1996 | 0.0159 current USD per US$ of GDP | -17.2% |
| 1997 | 0.0143 current USD per US$ of GDP | -10.0% |
| 1998 | 0.0125 current USD per US$ of GDP | -12.8% |
| 1999 | 0.0115 current USD per US$ of GDP | -7.9% |
| 2000 | 0.0125 current USD per US$ of GDP | +8.7% |
| 2001 | 0.0133 current USD per US$ of GDP | +6.8% |
| 2002 | 0.0137 current USD per US$ of GDP | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 0.0131 current USD per US$ of GDP | -4.5% |
| 2004 | 0.0121 current USD per US$ of GDP | -7.3% |
| 2005 | 0.0123 current USD per US$ of GDP | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 0.0115 current USD per US$ of GDP | -6.6% |
| 2007 | 0.0106 current USD per US$ of GDP | -8.3% |
| 2008 | 0.0104 current USD per US$ of GDP | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 0.0109 current USD per US$ of GDP | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 0.01 current USD per US$ of GDP | -7.9% |
| 2011 | 0.01 current USD per US$ of GDP | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 0.0103 current USD per US$ of GDP | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 0.0103 current USD per US$ of GDP | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 0.0102 current USD per US$ of GDP | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 0.0101 current USD per US$ of GDP | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 0.0097 current USD per US$ of GDP | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 0.0094 current USD per US$ of GDP | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 0.0089 current USD per US$ of GDP | -5.1% |
| 2019 | 0.0088 current USD per US$ of GDP | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 0.0096 current USD per US$ of GDP | +8.3% |
| 2021 | 0.0081 current USD per US$ of GDP | -15.5% |
| 2022 | 0.008 current USD per US$ of GDP | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 0.0075 current USD per US$ of GDP | -5.3% |
| 2024 | 0.0071 current USD per US$ of GDP | -6.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0193 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.008 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0236 current USD per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0304 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0197 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0457 current USD per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0342 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0298 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.041 current USD per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0206 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0115 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0346 current USD per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.012 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0104 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0137 current USD per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0098 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0088 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0103 current USD per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.008 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0071 current USD per US$ of GDP | 0.0096 current USD per US$ of GDP | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 137 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.0073 current USD per US$ of GDP compare
- 138 Benin 0.0072 current USD per US$ of GDP compare
- 139 Liberia 0.0071 current USD per US$ of GDP compare
- 141 Switzerland 0.0069 current USD per US$ of GDP compare
- 142 Madagascar 0.0069 current USD per US$ of GDP compare
- 143 Argentina 0.0065 current USD per US$ of GDP compare
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), 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 military expenditure (current usd), per unit of gdp in South Africa?
- Military expenditure (current usd), per unit of gdp in South Africa was 0.0071 current USD per US$ of GDP in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military expenditure (current usd), per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.0457 current USD per US$ of GDP in 1977.
- What is the lowest military expenditure (current usd), per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0071 current USD per US$ of GDP in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for military expenditure (current usd), per unit of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 140th out of 166 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure (current usd), per unit of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.8%. 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 Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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How this figure is calculated
Military expenditure (current USD) divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military expenditure (current USD) ÷ GDP (current US$)
Computed from
- Military expenditure SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
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
Military expenditure (current USD) divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.