Military spending, per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Military spending, per capita was 46.28 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
46.28 constant 2024 US$ per person
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
106th
of 161 countries
All-time high
162.68 constant 2024 US$ per person
in 1977
All-time low
18.67 constant 2024 US$ per person
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military spending, per capita in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per person.
Analysis
In 2025, military spending, per capita in South Africa stood at 46.28 constant 2024 US$ per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 30.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in South Africa peaked at 162.68 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1977 and was at its lowest, 18.67 constant 2024 US$ per person, in 1960.
South Africa ranks 106th of 161 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Military spending, per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 18.67 constant 2024 US$ per person | — |
| 1961 | 28.89 constant 2024 US$ per person | +54.7% |
| 1962 | 45.34 constant 2024 US$ per person | +56.9% |
| 1963 | 44.06 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.8% |
| 1964 | 59.89 constant 2024 US$ per person | +35.9% |
| 1965 | 59.47 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.7% |
| 1966 | 62.45 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.0% |
| 1967 | 67.23 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.7% |
| 1968 | 68.46 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 68.46 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 62.67 constant 2024 US$ per person | -8.5% |
| 1971 | 67.02 constant 2024 US$ per person | +6.9% |
| 1972 | 66.63 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.6% |
| 1973 | 81.57 constant 2024 US$ per person | +22.4% |
| 1974 | 101.82 constant 2024 US$ per person | +24.8% |
| 1975 | 124.42 constant 2024 US$ per person | +22.2% |
| 1976 | 150.26 constant 2024 US$ per person | +20.8% |
| 1977 | 162.68 constant 2024 US$ per person | +8.3% |
| 1978 | 142.04 constant 2024 US$ per person | -12.7% |
| 1979 | 123.47 constant 2024 US$ per person | -13.1% |
| 1980 | 120.06 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 128.38 constant 2024 US$ per person | +6.9% |
| 1982 | 121.97 constant 2024 US$ per person | -5.0% |
| 1983 | 119.69 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 124.57 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 119.63 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.0% |
| 1986 | 118.11 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 126.42 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.0% |
| 1988 | 143.94 constant 2024 US$ per person | +13.9% |
| 1989 | 137.86 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.2% |
| 1990 | 120.75 constant 2024 US$ per person | -12.4% |
| 1991 | 96.95 constant 2024 US$ per person | -19.7% |
| 1992 | 81.98 constant 2024 US$ per person | -15.4% |
| 1993 | 74.26 constant 2024 US$ per person | -9.4% |
| 1994 | 77.91 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.9% |
| 1995 | 68.47 constant 2024 US$ per person | -12.1% |
| 1996 | 58.75 constant 2024 US$ per person | -14.2% |
| 1997 | 53.36 constant 2024 US$ per person | -9.2% |
| 1998 | 46.71 constant 2024 US$ per person | -12.5% |
| 1999 | 44.28 constant 2024 US$ per person | -5.2% |
| 2000 | 51.5 constant 2024 US$ per person | +16.3% |
| 2001 | 57.09 constant 2024 US$ per person | +10.9% |
| 2002 | 61.96 constant 2024 US$ per person | +8.5% |
| 2003 | 60.72 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 62.23 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 68.39 constant 2024 US$ per person | +9.9% |
| 2006 | 68.63 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 66.92 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 65.77 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 67.97 constant 2024 US$ per person | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 65.01 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 66.53 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 68.5 constant 2024 US$ per person | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 68.71 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 67.65 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 66.85 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 64.5 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 63.16 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 59.51 constant 2024 US$ per person | -5.8% |
| 2019 | 58.16 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 59.42 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 55.1 constant 2024 US$ per person | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 54.82 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 50.85 constant 2024 US$ per person | -7.2% |
| 2024 | 47.39 constant 2024 US$ per person | -6.8% |
| 2025 | 46.28 constant 2024 US$ per person | -2.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 46.28 constant 2024 US$ per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 101.55 constant 2024 US$ per person, 46% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 46.28 constant 2024 US$ per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.2 constant 2024 US$ per person, 2.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, per capita 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | +56.9% | 28.89 constant 2024 US$ per person | 45.34 constant 2024 US$ per person |
| 1961 | +54.7% | 18.67 constant 2024 US$ per person | 28.89 constant 2024 US$ per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 52.29 constant 2024 US$ per person | 18.67 constant 2024 US$ per person | 68.46 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 108.26 constant 2024 US$ per person | 62.67 constant 2024 US$ per person | 162.68 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 126.06 constant 2024 US$ per person | 118.11 constant 2024 US$ per person | 143.94 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 72.34 constant 2024 US$ per person | 44.28 constant 2024 US$ per person | 120.75 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.12 constant 2024 US$ per person | 51.5 constant 2024 US$ per person | 68.63 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.86 constant 2024 US$ per person | 58.16 constant 2024 US$ per person | 68.71 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.31 constant 2024 US$ per person | 46.28 constant 2024 US$ per person | 59.42 constant 2024 US$ per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 103 Philippines 53.94 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 104 Indonesia 53.65 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 105 Honduras 52.86 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 107 Bolivia 45.28 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 108 Pakistan 44.98 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 109 Moldova 43.5 constant 2024 US$ per person 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, per capita in South Africa?
- Military spending, per capita in South Africa was 46.28 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 162.68 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1977.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.67 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for military spending, per capita?
- South Africa ranks 106th out of 161 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military spending Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
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
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.