Military expenditure as a share of government spending in South Africa
South Africa: Military expenditure as a share of government spending was 2.19 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
2.19
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
146th
of 162 countries
All-time high
6.16
in 2002
All-time low
2.19
in 2025
Years of data
26
2000–2025
Military expenditure as a share of government spending in South Africa, 2000–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure as a share of government spending in South Africa is 2.19, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 34.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure as a share of government spending in South Africa peaked at 6.16 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 2.19, in 2025.
South Africa ranks 146th of 162 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 as a share of government spending in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.5 | — |
| 2001 | 5.88 | +6.9% |
| 2002 | 6.16 | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 5.78 | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 5.34 | -7.6% |
| 2005 | 4.91 | -7.9% |
| 2006 | 4.68 | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 4.33 | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 4 | -7.8% |
| 2009 | 3.83 | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 3.54 | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 3.57 | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 3.61 | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 3.56 | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 3.49 | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 3.34 | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 3.25 | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 3.16 | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 2.97 | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 2.81 | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 2.76 | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 2.59 | -6.4% |
| 2022 | 2.66 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 2.47 | -7.2% |
| 2024 | 2.29 | -7.2% |
| 2025 | 2.19 | -4.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.19 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.92, 45% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.19 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.9, 37% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.04 | 3.83 | 6.16 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.33 | 2.81 | 3.61 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.49 | 2.19 | 2.76 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 143 Switzerland 2.36 compare
- 144 Cape Verde 2.34 compare
- 145 Brazil 2.2 compare
- 147 Gambia 2.19 compare
- 148 Kazakhstan 2.12 compare
- 149 Nicaragua 2.05 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 military expenditure as a share of government spending in South Africa?
- Military expenditure as a share of government spending in South Africa was 2.19 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military expenditure as a share of government spending recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.16 in 2002.
- What is the lowest military expenditure as a share of government spending recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.19 in 2025.
- How does South Africa rank for military expenditure as a share of government spending?
- South Africa ranks 146th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure as a share of government spending 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Military expenditure as a share of government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).