Military expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Military expenditure was 21.67 billion current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
21.67 billion current USD
Change on year
down 6.4%
Rank
34th
of 42 groups
All-time high
23.28 billion current USD
in 2014
All-time low
422.57 million current USD
in 1963
Years of data
62
1963–2024

Military expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1963–2024

05.0B10.0B15.0B20.0B25.0B196319932024

Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.

Analysis

The most recent figure for military expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) is 21.67 billion current USD, measured in 2024.

The figure is down 6.4% on the previous year and down 6.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, military expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 23.28 billion current USD in 2014 and was at its lowest, 422.57 million current USD, in 1963.

That places Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 34th out of 42 groups 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 in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year

Annual values for Military expenditure (current USD) in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1963 to 2024.
Year current USD Change
1963 422.57 million current USD
1964 558.69 million current USD +32.2%
1965 669.63 million current USD +19.9%
1966 713.83 million current USD +6.6%
1967 878.61 million current USD +23.1%
1968 1.12 billion current USD +27.5%
1969 1.54 billion current USD +37.5%
1970 1.61 billion current USD +4.8%
1971 1.73 billion current USD +7.1%
1972 2.05 billion current USD +18.7%
1973 2.57 billion current USD +25.1%
1974 3.48 billion current USD +35.6%
1975 5.68 billion current USD +63.3%
1976 5.68 billion current USD -0.0%
1977 7.05 billion current USD +24.1%
1978 7.97 billion current USD +13.0%
1979 8.81 billion current USD +10.6%
1980 9.51 billion current USD +7.9%
1981 8.82 billion current USD -7.3%
1982 7.92 billion current USD -10.2%
1983 8.23 billion current USD +3.9%
1984 7.89 billion current USD -4.1%
1985 7.05 billion current USD -10.7%
1986 7.14 billion current USD +1.3%
1987 8.29 billion current USD +16.0%
1988 9.34 billion current USD +12.8%
1989 9.27 billion current USD -0.8%
1990 10.84 billion current USD +16.9%
1991 9.36 billion current USD -13.6%
1992 7.43 billion current USD -20.6%
1993 8.35 billion current USD +12.4%
1994 6.51 billion current USD -22.0%
1995 6.20 billion current USD -4.8%
1996 5.72 billion current USD -7.7%
1997 6.10 billion current USD +6.7%
1998 5.77 billion current USD -5.5%
1999 6.76 billion current USD +17.2%
2000 6.36 billion current USD -5.9%
2001 5.76 billion current USD -9.5%
2002 6.57 billion current USD +14.2%
2003 7.44 billion current USD +13.2%
2004 9.32 billion current USD +25.3%
2005 10.41 billion current USD +11.6%
2006 12.51 billion current USD +20.2%
2007 14.18 billion current USD +13.3%
2008 17.97 billion current USD +26.7%
2009 17.84 billion current USD -0.7%
2010 16.60 billion current USD -7.0%
2011 18.23 billion current USD +9.8%
2012 18.76 billion current USD +2.9%
2013 21.75 billion current USD +15.9%
2014 23.28 billion current USD +7.0%
2015 20.40 billion current USD -12.4%
2016 19.23 billion current USD -5.7%
2017 21.68 billion current USD +12.7%
2018 18.60 billion current USD -14.2%
2019 17.86 billion current USD -4.0%
2020 18.64 billion current USD +4.4%
2021 22.25 billion current USD +19.4%
2022 21.73 billion current USD -2.3%
2023 23.16 billion current USD +6.6%
2024 21.67 billion current USD -6.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 843.38 million current USD 422.57 million current USD 1.54 billion current USD 7
1970s 4.66 billion current USD 1.61 billion current USD 8.81 billion current USD 10
1980s 8.35 billion current USD 7.05 billion current USD 9.51 billion current USD 10
1990s 7.30 billion current USD 5.72 billion current USD 10.84 billion current USD 10
2000s 10.84 billion current USD 5.76 billion current USD 17.97 billion current USD 10
2010s 19.64 billion current USD 16.60 billion current USD 23.28 billion current USD 10
2020s 21.49 billion current USD 18.64 billion current USD 23.16 billion current USD 5

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

  1. 31 Denmark 9.96 billion current USD compare
  2. 32 Romania 8.72 billion current USD compare
  3. 33 Belgium 8.56 billion current USD compare
  4. 34 Greece 8.02 billion current USD compare
  5. 35 Iran, Islamic Republic of 7.89 billion current USD compare
  6. 36 Kuwait 7.79 billion current USD compare
  7. 37 Finland 6.99 billion current USD compare

See the full ranking of 211 places →

More public sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) →

Frequently asked questions

What is military expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Military expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 21.67 billion current USD in 2024, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
The highest recorded value was 23.28 billion current USD in 2014.
What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
The lowest recorded value was 422.57 million current USD in 1963.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for military expenditure?
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 34th out of 42 groups with data for 2024.
Is military expenditure rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) data come from?
The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current USD). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Military expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries). Statizoid, drawing on SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/military-expenditure-current-usd/sub-saharan-africa-ida-and-ibrd-countries/

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About this data

Indicator
Military expenditure (current USD)
Unit
current USD
Source
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
211 places, 10,601 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed

Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)