South Africa vs United Arab Emirates: Military spending, annual growth rate

South Africa
-8.55 % change on previous year
in 2023
United Arab Emirates
-6.5 % change on previous year
in 2020
South Africa rank
169th
United Arab Emirates rank
168th

Military spending, annual growth rate over time

  • South Africa
  • United Arab Emirates
0100200300192119722023

How they compare

United Arab Emirates currently reports -6.5 % change on previous year against -8.55 % change on previous year in South Africa, a difference of 2.05 % change on previous year.

The two have swapped places 15 times across 47 shared years of data; in 1972 it was United Arab Emirates ahead.

South Africa ranks 169th and United Arab Emirates ranks 168th of 172 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 2 and United Arab Emirates in 4.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa United Arab Emirates Difference Ahead
1970s 12.24 % change on previous year 67.91 % change on previous year 55.67 % change on previous year United Arab Emirates
1980s 1.7 % change on previous year -0.1494 % change on previous year 1.85 % change on previous year South Africa
1990s -8.4 % change on previous year 9.09 % change on previous year 17.49 % change on previous year United Arab Emirates
2000s 5.02 % change on previous year 10.72 % change on previous year 5.7 % change on previous year United Arab Emirates
2010s -2.08 % change on previous year 10.04 % change on previous year 12.13 % change on previous year United Arab Emirates
2020s -3.15 % change on previous year -6.5 % change on previous year 3.34 % change on previous year South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher military spending, annual growth rate, South Africa or United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates, at -6.5 % change on previous year against -8.55 % change on previous year in South Africa as of 2020.
What is the difference in military spending, annual growth rate between South Africa and United Arab Emirates?
2.05 % change on previous year, with United Arab Emirates ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United Arab Emirates?
47 years are reported by both, from 1972 to 2020.
How do South Africa and United Arab Emirates rank globally for military spending, annual growth rate?
South Africa ranks 169th and United Arab Emirates ranks 168th of 172 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Statizoid (derived), published as Military spending, annual growth rate. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs United Arab Emirates: Military spending, annual growth rate. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/military-spending-annual-growth-rate-2/south-africa/united-arab-emirates/

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About this data

Indicator
Military spending, annual growth rate
Unit
% change on previous year
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
172 places, 15,188 data points, 1817–2023
Last refreshed

The year-on-year percentage change in Military spending. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.