Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in South Africa
South Africa: Armed forces personnel as a share of total population was 0.1% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in South Africa, 1985–2020
Source: The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 0.1% for armed forces personnel as a share of total population in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel as a share of total population in South Africa peaked at 0.6% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2004.
That places South Africa 138th out of 173 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 0.3% | — |
| 1989 | 0.3% | -16.9% |
| 1990 | 0.2% | -17.3% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | -8.0% |
| 1992 | 0.2% | -7.9% |
| 1993 | 0.2% | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | +264.7% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 0.5% | -22.7% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | -3.8% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | -63.5% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | -9.2% |
| 2001 | 0.1% | -7.2% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | -11.3% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | -8.1% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | +82.1% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | -40.4% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | +23.0% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | -21.1% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | +22.2% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | +10.2% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -2.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5%, 33% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.1%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +264.7% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| 2006 | +82.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 1999 | -63.5% | 0.5% | 0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 135 Gambia 0.2% compare
- 136 Luxembourg 0.2% compare
- 137 East Timor 0.2% compare
- 139 Sweden 0.1% compare
- 140 Philippines 0.1% compare
- 141 Democratic Republic of Congo 0.1% compare
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel as a share of total population in South Africa?
- Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in South Africa was 0.1% in 2020, according to The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.6% in 1995.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2004.
- How does South Africa rank for armed forces personnel as a share of total population?
- South Africa ranks 138th out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Armed forces personnel as a share of total population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if their training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.