Military expenditure in South Africa
South Africa: Military expenditure was 0.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.7%
Change on year
down 7.2%
World rank
145th
of 165 countries
All-time high
5.3%
in 1977
All-time low
0.7%
in 2024
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 % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in South Africa is 0.7%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.2% on the previous year and down 31.5% 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 2024.
South Africa ranks 145th of 165 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 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% | -15.7% |
| 2022 | 0.8% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 0.8% | -5.5% |
| 2024 | 0.7% | -7.2% |
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% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 142 Switzerland 0.7% compare
- 143 Liberia 0.7% compare
- 144 Madagascar 0.7% compare
- 146 Egypt 0.7% compare
- 147 Ethiopia 0.7% compare
- 148 Cape Verde 0.6% 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), 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 0.7% 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 5.3% in 1977.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for military expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 145th out of 165 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.5%. 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 (% 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