Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in South Sudan
South Sudan: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 18.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in South Sudan, 2011–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.
Analysis
South Sudan recorded 18.4% for military expenditure in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 47.6% on the previous year and down 29.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in South Sudan peaked at 35.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 2021.
That places South Sudan 11th out of 164 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 29.0% | — |
| 2012 | 27.7% | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 25.9% | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 23.7% | -8.7% |
| 2015 | 25.9% | +9.6% |
| 2016 | 9.0% | -65.3% |
| 2017 | 6.2% | -30.7% |
| 2018 | 9.8% | +57.4% |
| 2019 | 7.9% | -19.3% |
| 2020 | 5.5% | -31.0% |
| 2021 | 3.4% | -37.4% |
| 2022 | 5.7% | +66.8% |
| 2023 | 10.8% | +88.3% |
| 2024 | 35.1% | +226.0% |
| 2025 | 18.4% | -47.6% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 18.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.3%, 2.0× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 18.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.9%, 3.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 18.4% | 6.2% | 29.0% | 9 |
| 2020s | 13.1% | 3.4% | 35.1% | 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 18.4% 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 35.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 2021.
- How does South Sudan rank for military expenditure?
- South Sudan ranks 11th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 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