South Africa vs Switzerland: Military spending, per unit of GDP
South Africa
0.007 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2025
Switzerland
0.0069 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2025
South Africa rank
135th
Switzerland rank
136th
Military spending, per unit of GDP over time
- South Africa
- Switzerland
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 0.007 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP against 0.0069 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in Switzerland, a difference of 0.0001 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP.
The two have swapped places 9 times across 66 shared years of data; in 1960 it was Switzerland ahead.
South Africa ranks 135th and Switzerland ranks 136th of 160 countries.
Across the 7 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 2 and Switzerland in 5.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | Switzerland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0754 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3729 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2974 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | Switzerland |
| 1970s | 0.0718 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1393 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0675 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | Switzerland |
| 1980s | 0.0493 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0572 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0079 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | Switzerland |
| 1990s | 0.0213 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0252 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0039 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | Switzerland |
| 2000s | 0.014 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0143 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0003 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | Switzerland |
| 2010s | 0.0093 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0077 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0016 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | South Africa |
| 2020s | 0.0084 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0073 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0011 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher military spending, per unit of gdp, South Africa or Switzerland?
- South Africa, at 0.007 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP against 0.0069 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in Switzerland as of 2025.
- What is the difference in military spending, per unit of gdp between South Africa and Switzerland?
- 0.0001 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Switzerland?
- 66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
- How do South Africa and Switzerland rank globally for military spending, per unit of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 135th and Switzerland ranks 136th of 160 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Statizoid (derived), published as Military spending, per unit of GDP. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Military spending divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.