Military expenditure (% of GDP) in South Africa
South Africa: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 0.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.7%
Change on year
down 2.5%
World rank
143rd
of 167 countries
All-time high
5.3%
in 1977
All-time low
0.7%
in 2025
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 % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in South Africa is 0.7%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 26.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in South Africa peaked at 5.3% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 2025.
South Africa ranks 143rd of 167 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.0% | — |
| 1961 | 1.5% | +54.4% |
| 1962 | 2.3% | +53.6% |
| 1963 | 2.1% | -8.4% |
| 1964 | 2.7% | +30.6% |
| 1965 | 2.6% | -2.4% |
| 1966 | 2.7% | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 2.8% | +3.1% |
| 1968 | 2.8% | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 2.6% | -5.5% |
| 1970 | 2.3% | -10.5% |
| 1971 | 2.5% | +5.3% |
| 1972 | 2.4% | -3.5% |
| 1973 | 2.6% | +11.6% |
| 1974 | 3.1% | +16.6% |
| 1975 | 3.9% | +25.6% |
| 1976 | 4.7% | +22.0% |
| 1977 | 5.3% | +11.3% |
| 1978 | 4.6% | -13.3% |
| 1979 | 3.9% | -15.3% |
| 1980 | 3.3% | -14.5% |
| 1981 | 3.6% | +10.1% |
| 1982 | 3.6% | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 3.6% | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 3.7% | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 3.7% | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 3.8% | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 4.2% | +9.7% |
| 1988 | 4.6% | +10.3% |
| 1989 | 4.4% | -5.8% |
| 1990 | 3.9% | -10.6% |
| 1991 | 3.2% | -17.3% |
| 1992 | 2.8% | -12.6% |
| 1993 | 2.5% | -11.4% |
| 1994 | 2.6% | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 2.1% | -17.3% |
| 1996 | 1.8% | -17.1% |
| 1997 | 1.6% | -9.9% |
| 1998 | 1.4% | -12.6% |
| 1999 | 1.3% | -8.0% |
| 2000 | 1.4% | +9.1% |
| 2001 | 1.5% | +6.9% |
| 2002 | 1.5% | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 1.5% | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | -7.7% |
| 2005 | 1.2% | -8.9% |
| 2006 | 1.2% | -6.6% |
| 2007 | 1.1% | -8.3% |
| 2008 | 1.0% | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | -7.9% |
| 2011 | 1.0% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 1.0% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 1.0% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 1.0% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 0.9% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 0.9% | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 0.9% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 1.0% | +8.4% |
| 2021 | 0.8% | -11.7% |
| 2022 | 0.8% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 0.8% | -5.5% |
| 2024 | 0.8% | -5.7% |
| 2025 | 0.7% | -2.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.4%, 52% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.3%, 57% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.3% | 1.0% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.5% | 2.3% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.9% | 3.3% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.3% | 1.3% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.3% | 1.0% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 1.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 140 Dominican Republic 0.8% compare
- 141 Cote d'Ivoire 0.8% compare
- 142 Switzerland 0.8% compare
- 144 Mexico 0.7% compare
- 145 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.7% compare
- 146 Cape Verde 0.7% compare
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 0.7% 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 5.3% in 1977.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2025.
- How does South Africa rank for military expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 143rd out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.8%. 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 (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product