Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in South Africa
South Africa: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 2.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in South Africa, 2000–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in South Africa stood at 2.2%. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.4% on the previous year and down 34.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in South Africa peaked at 6.2% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 2025.
South Africa ranks 147th of 164 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.5% | — |
| 2001 | 5.9% | +6.9% |
| 2002 | 6.2% | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 5.8% | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 5.3% | -7.6% |
| 2005 | 4.9% | -7.9% |
| 2006 | 4.7% | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 4.0% | -7.8% |
| 2009 | 3.8% | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 3.6% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 3.6% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 3.6% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 3.2% | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 2.8% | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 2.8% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 2.6% | -6.4% |
| 2022 | 2.7% | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 2.5% | -7.2% |
| 2024 | 2.3% | -7.2% |
| 2025 | 2.2% | -4.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.9%, 45% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.9%, 37% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.0% | 3.8% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3% | 2.8% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 2.2% | 2.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 144 Switzerland 2.4% compare
- 145 Cape Verde 2.3% compare
- 146 Brazil 2.2% compare
- 148 Gambia 2.2% compare
- 149 Kazakhstan 2.1% compare
- 150 Nicaragua 2.0% 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 2.2% 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 6.2% in 2002.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 2025.
- How does South Africa rank for military expenditure?
- South Africa ranks 147th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 general government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure