Military spending in South Africa
South Africa: Military spending was 3.63 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.63 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
down 8.6%
World rank
58th
of 172 countries
All-time high
7.39 billion constant 2022 US$
in 1989
All-time low
58.18 million constant 2022 US$
in 1920
Years of data
104
1920–2023
Military spending in South Africa, 1920–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 3.63 billion constant 2022 US$ for military spending in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.6% on the previous year and down 25.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in South Africa peaked at 7.39 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1989 and was at its lowest, 58.18 million constant 2022 US$, in 1920.
South Africa ranks 58th of 172 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 58.18 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1921 | 74.77 million constant 2022 US$ | +28.5% |
| 1922 | 64.77 million constant 2022 US$ | -13.4% |
| 1923 | 66.23 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1924 | 63.74 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1925 | 70.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.1% |
| 1926 | 71.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1927 | 75.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1928 | 73.70 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.4% |
| 1929 | 67.98 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.8% |
| 1930 | 65.91 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.0% |
| 1931 | 61.60 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.5% |
| 1932 | 65.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1933 | 71.72 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.1% |
| 1934 | 107.45 million constant 2022 US$ | +49.8% |
| 1935 | 124.80 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.1% |
| 1936 | 142.04 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.8% |
| 1937 | 166.85 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.5% |
| 1938 | 216.49 million constant 2022 US$ | +29.7% |
| 1939 | 132.32 million constant 2022 US$ | -38.9% |
| 1940 | 449.23 million constant 2022 US$ | +239.5% |
| 1941 | 1.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | +275.6% |
| 1942 | 4.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | +145.1% |
| 1943 | 2.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | -35.1% |
| 1944 | 2.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.4% |
| 1945 | 1.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | -26.5% |
| 1946 | 1.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | -36.1% |
| 1947 | 885.42 million constant 2022 US$ | -27.2% |
| 1948 | 711.26 million constant 2022 US$ | -19.7% |
| 1949 | 824.52 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.9% |
| 1950 | 431.81 million constant 2022 US$ | -47.6% |
| 1951 | 463.75 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.4% |
| 1952 | 561.40 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.1% |
| 1953 | 561.99 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1954 | 523.64 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.8% |
| 1955 | 509.83 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1956 | 576.33 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.0% |
| 1957 | 617.14 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.1% |
| 1958 | 576.93 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.5% |
| 1959 | 452.93 million constant 2022 US$ | -21.5% |
| 1960 | 493.96 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.1% |
| 1961 | 713.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +44.5% |
| 1962 | 1.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | +58.2% |
| 1963 | 1.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.3% |
| 1964 | 1.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | +28.0% |
| 1965 | 1.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.5% |
| 1966 | 2.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.8% |
| 1967 | 2.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.2% |
| 1968 | 2.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 2.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.0% |
| 1970 | 2.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1971 | 2.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.8% |
| 1972 | 2.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 1973 | 3.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | +30.6% |
| 1974 | 4.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.3% |
| 1975 | 5.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | +30.0% |
| 1976 | 6.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +19.5% |
| 1977 | 6.70 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.2% |
| 1978 | 6.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.8% |
| 1979 | 6.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.9% |
| 1980 | 6.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 6.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 6.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 6.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 6.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.5% |
| 1985 | 5.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.8% |
| 1986 | 5.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 7.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.9% |
| 1988 | 7.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 7.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 6.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.6% |
| 1991 | 6.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.3% |
| 1992 | 6.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.7% |
| 1993 | 5.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.9% |
| 1994 | 5.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.5% |
| 1995 | 4.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.6% |
| 1996 | 4.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | -17.6% |
| 1997 | 3.78 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.5% |
| 1998 | 3.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.7% |
| 1999 | 3.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.6% |
| 2000 | 3.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 3.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 3.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 3.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.2% |
| 2004 | 4.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | +20.5% |
| 2005 | 4.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 4.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 4.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 4.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 4.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.3% |
| 2010 | 5.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 5.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.2% |
| 2012 | 5.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 4.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.2% |
| 2014 | 4.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 4.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.6% |
| 2016 | 4.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 4.27 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 4.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.2% |
| 2019 | 4.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 4.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 4.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.5% |
| 2022 | 3.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 3.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.63 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.25 billion constant 2022 US$, 2.9× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.63 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 350.64 million constant 2022 US$, 10.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | +275.6% | 449.23 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.69 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1940 | +239.5% | 132.32 million constant 2022 US$ | 449.23 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1942 | +145.1% | 1.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.14 billion constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 68.64 million constant 2022 US$ | 58.18 million constant 2022 US$ | 75.53 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 115.49 million constant 2022 US$ | 61.60 million constant 2022 US$ | 216.49 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | 449.23 million constant 2022 US$ | 4.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 527.57 million constant 2022 US$ | 431.81 million constant 2022 US$ | 617.14 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | 493.96 million constant 2022 US$ | 2.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.64 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.44 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.70 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | 7.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 55 Hungary 4.10 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 56 Nigeria 4.07 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 57 Azerbaijan 3.76 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 59 New Zealand 3.61 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 60 Peru 3.56 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 61 Myanmar 3.30 billion constant 2022 US$ 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 in South Africa?
- Military spending in South Africa was 3.63 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.39 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1989.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.18 million constant 2022 US$ in 1920.
- How does South Africa rank for military spending?
- South Africa ranks 58th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.