Military expenditure (% of GDP) in South Sudan
South Sudan: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 3.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in South Sudan, 2008–2025
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 Sudan is 3.4%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 47.7% on the previous year and down 60.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in South Sudan peaked at 8.8% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 2021.
That places South Sudan 23rd out of 167 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 5.8% | — |
| 2009 | 5.0% | -13.8% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | -16.7% |
| 2011 | 6.1% | +47.2% |
| 2012 | 8.8% | +43.9% |
| 2013 | 6.6% | -25.1% |
| 2014 | 8.6% | +30.5% |
| 2015 | 8.6% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | -43.7% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | -17.6% |
| 2018 | 4.8% | +19.6% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | -20.4% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | -50.9% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | -19.0% |
| 2022 | 1.6% | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 2.4% | +51.1% |
| 2024 | 6.5% | +175.3% |
| 2025 | 3.4% | -47.7% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 3.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.8%, 1.9× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 3.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.3%, 2.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.4% | 5.0% | 5.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | 3.8% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 1.5% | 6.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
More public sector data for South Sudan
- 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)
- Arms imports 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2022)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.9073 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2022)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0016 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 25 % change on previous year (2022)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2022)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 169.79 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.096 current USD per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate 88.44 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in South Sudan?
- Military expenditure in South Sudan was 3.4% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 8.8% in 2012.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 2021.
- How does South Sudan rank for military expenditure?
- South Sudan ranks 23rd out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Sudan 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