Military spending, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Military spending, annual growth rate was -1.22 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-1.22 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 78.4%
World rank
121st
of 159 countries
All-time high
61.68 % change on previous year
in 1962
All-time low
-24.86 % change on previous year
in 1958
Years of data
74
1952–2025
Military spending, annual growth rate in South Africa, 1952–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending, annual growth rate in South Africa is -1.22 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 78.4% on the previous year and down 248.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 61.68 % change on previous year in 1962 and was at its lowest, -24.86 % change on previous year, in 1958.
That places South Africa 121st out of 159 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 5.68 % change on previous year | — |
| 1953 | -14.71 % change on previous year | -358.7% |
| 1954 | -6.06 % change on previous year | -58.8% |
| 1955 | 3.47 % change on previous year | -157.2% |
| 1956 | 12.44 % change on previous year | +258.9% |
| 1957 | 44.22 % change on previous year | +255.3% |
| 1958 | -24.86 % change on previous year | -156.2% |
| 1959 | -6.05 % change on previous year | -75.7% |
| 1960 | 14.09 % change on previous year | -332.9% |
| 1961 | 59.15 % change on previous year | +319.7% |
| 1962 | 61.68 % change on previous year | +4.3% |
| 1963 | 0.1636 % change on previous year | -99.7% |
| 1964 | 40.15 % change on previous year | +24443.2% |
| 1965 | 2.4 % change on previous year | -94.0% |
| 1966 | 8.31 % change on previous year | +245.7% |
| 1967 | 11.06 % change on previous year | +33.1% |
| 1968 | 5.04 % change on previous year | -54.4% |
| 1969 | 3.14 % change on previous year | -37.7% |
| 1970 | -5.64 % change on previous year | -279.6% |
| 1971 | 10.12 % change on previous year | -279.6% |
| 1972 | 2.31 % change on previous year | -77.2% |
| 1973 | 25.96 % change on previous year | +1023.4% |
| 1974 | 28.4 % change on previous year | +9.4% |
| 1975 | 25.62 % change on previous year | -9.8% |
| 1976 | 24.08 % change on previous year | -6.0% |
| 1977 | 11.23 % change on previous year | -53.4% |
| 1978 | -10.27 % change on previous year | -191.4% |
| 1979 | -10.69 % change on previous year | +4.1% |
| 1980 | 0.2401 % change on previous year | -102.2% |
| 1981 | 10.63 % change on previous year | +4327.4% |
| 1982 | -1.65 % change on previous year | -115.5% |
| 1983 | 1.62 % change on previous year | -198.0% |
| 1984 | 7.74 % change on previous year | +379.3% |
| 1985 | -0.7082 % change on previous year | -109.1% |
| 1986 | 1.94 % change on previous year | -373.4% |
| 1987 | 10.43 % change on previous year | +438.5% |
| 1988 | 17.38 % change on previous year | +66.6% |
| 1989 | -1.37 % change on previous year | -107.9% |
| 1990 | -9.94 % change on previous year | +627.3% |
| 1991 | -17.85 % change on previous year | +79.6% |
| 1992 | -13.91 % change on previous year | -22.1% |
| 1993 | -7.59 % change on previous year | -45.5% |
| 1994 | 6.62 % change on previous year | -187.3% |
| 1995 | -11.04 % change on previous year | -266.8% |
| 1996 | -13.08 % change on previous year | +18.5% |
| 1997 | -8.07 % change on previous year | -38.3% |
| 1998 | -11.39 % change on previous year | +41.2% |
| 1999 | -4.17 % change on previous year | -63.4% |
| 2000 | 17.37 % change on previous year | -516.3% |
| 2001 | 11.81 % change on previous year | -32.0% |
| 2002 | 9.57 % change on previous year | -18.9% |
| 2003 | -1.02 % change on previous year | -110.6% |
| 2004 | 3.52 % change on previous year | -446.2% |
| 2005 | 11.02 % change on previous year | +213.1% |
| 2006 | 1.38 % change on previous year | -87.5% |
| 2007 | -1.46 % change on previous year | -206.2% |
| 2008 | -0.5702 % change on previous year | -61.0% |
| 2009 | 4.58 % change on previous year | -902.9% |
| 2010 | -3.22 % change on previous year | -170.3% |
| 2011 | 3.61 % change on previous year | -212.3% |
| 2012 | 4.5 % change on previous year | +24.5% |
| 2013 | 1.98 % change on previous year | -56.0% |
| 2014 | 0.1035 % change on previous year | -94.8% |
| 2015 | 0.8189 % change on previous year | +691.0% |
| 2016 | -2.6 % change on previous year | -418.0% |
| 2017 | -1.44 % change on previous year | -44.9% |
| 2018 | -4.17 % change on previous year | +190.5% |
| 2019 | -0.6362 % change on previous year | -84.8% |
| 2020 | 3.84 % change on previous year | -702.9% |
| 2021 | -5.83 % change on previous year | -252.1% |
| 2022 | 0.9027 % change on previous year | -115.5% |
| 2023 | -6 % change on previous year | -765.0% |
| 2024 | -5.63 % change on previous year | -6.2% |
| 2025 | -1.22 % change on previous year | -78.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -1.22 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.73 % change on previous year. (46 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -1.22 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.97 % change on previous year. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | +24443.2% | 0.1636 % change on previous year | 40.15 % change on previous year |
| 1981 | +4327.4% | 0.2401 % change on previous year | 10.63 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.77 % change on previous year | -24.86 % change on previous year | 44.22 % change on previous year | 8 |
| 1960s | 20.52 % change on previous year | 0.1636 % change on previous year | 61.68 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.11 % change on previous year | -10.69 % change on previous year | 28.4 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.62 % change on previous year | -1.65 % change on previous year | 17.38 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | -9.04 % change on previous year | -17.85 % change on previous year | 6.62 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.62 % change on previous year | -1.46 % change on previous year | 17.37 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.1055 % change on previous year | -4.17 % change on previous year | 4.5 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.32 % change on previous year | -6 % change on previous year | 3.84 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 118 Oman -0.8917 % change on previous year compare
- 119 Colombia -0.9549 % change on previous year compare
- 120 Bosnia and Herzegovina -1.21 % change on previous year compare
- 122 Jordan -1.29 % change on previous year compare
- 123 Burundi -1.48 % change on previous year compare
- 124 Nepal -1.61 % change on previous year 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 spending, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Military spending, annual growth rate in South Africa was -1.22 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 61.68 % change on previous year in 1962.
- What is the lowest military spending, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -24.86 % change on previous year in 1958.
- How does South Africa rank for military spending, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 121st out of 159 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 248.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
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.
Computed from
- Military spending Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
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.