Military spending per military personnel in South Africa
South Africa: Military spending per military personnel was 53,689 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
53,689
Change on year
down 3.1%
World rank
64th
of 170 countries
All-time high
106,954
in 1976
All-time low
14,062
in 1941
Years of data
96
1923–2022
Military spending per military personnel in South Africa, 1923–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending per military personnel in South Africa is 53,689, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and down 38.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per military personnel in South Africa peaked at 106,954 in 1976 and was at its lowest, 14,062, in 1941.
That places South Africa 64th out of 170 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 96 years of available data.
Military spending per military personnel in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1923 | 33,113 | — |
| 1925 | 35,087 | +6.0% |
| 1926 | 35,680 | +1.7% |
| 1927 | 37,767 | +5.8% |
| 1928 | 36,849 | -2.4% |
| 1929 | 33,988 | -7.8% |
| 1930 | 65,910 | +93.9% |
| 1931 | 30,798 | -53.3% |
| 1932 | 32,876 | +6.7% |
| 1933 | 35,862 | +9.1% |
| 1934 | 35,816 | -0.1% |
| 1935 | 31,200 | -12.9% |
| 1936 | 35,509 | +13.8% |
| 1937 | 41,714 | +17.5% |
| 1938 | 54,123 | +29.7% |
| 1939 | 26,465 | -51.1% |
| 1941 | 14,062 | -46.9% |
| 1943 | 19,168 | +36.3% |
| 1944 | 18,510 | -3.4% |
| 1946 | 30,415 | +64.3% |
| 1947 | 29,514 | -3.0% |
| 1948 | 71,126 | +141.0% |
| 1949 | 91,614 | +28.8% |
| 1950 | 43,181 | -52.9% |
| 1951 | 42,159 | -2.4% |
| 1952 | 43,185 | +2.4% |
| 1953 | 40,142 | -7.0% |
| 1954 | 34,909 | -13.0% |
| 1955 | 31,864 | -8.7% |
| 1956 | 33,902 | +6.4% |
| 1957 | 32,481 | -4.2% |
| 1958 | 28,846 | -11.2% |
| 1959 | 21,568 | -25.2% |
| 1960 | 22,453 | +4.1% |
| 1961 | 29,731 | +32.4% |
| 1962 | 47,020 | +58.2% |
| 1963 | 29,166 | -38.0% |
| 1964 | 33,593 | +15.2% |
| 1965 | 34,046 | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 41,110 | +20.7% |
| 1967 | 46,137 | +12.2% |
| 1968 | 42,864 | -7.1% |
| 1969 | 42,860 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | 61,048 | +42.4% |
| 1971 | 44,688 | -26.8% |
| 1972 | 35,055 | -21.6% |
| 1973 | 85,812 | +144.8% |
| 1974 | 90,234 | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 105,602 | +17.0% |
| 1976 | 106,954 | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 99,980 | -6.5% |
| 1978 | 83,473 | -16.5% |
| 1979 | 91,267 | +9.3% |
| 1980 | 93,808 | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 84,405 | -10.0% |
| 1982 | 87,288 | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 90,133 | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 65,476 | -27.4% |
| 1985 | 62,278 | -4.9% |
| 1986 | 65,528 | +5.2% |
| 1987 | 68,730 | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 71,829 | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 73,919 | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 82,114 | +11.1% |
| 1991 | 81,727 | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 80,434 | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 74,906 | -6.9% |
| 1994 | 71,514 | -4.5% |
| 1995 | 66,050 | -7.6% |
| 1996 | 54,452 | -17.6% |
| 1997 | 50,394 | -7.5% |
| 1998 | 44,996 | -10.7% |
| 1999 | 44,866 | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 47,991 | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 48,474 | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 52,775 | +8.9% |
| 2003 | 65,708 | +24.5% |
| 2004 | 79,194 | +20.5% |
| 2005 | 81,540 | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 82,165 | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 72,513 | -11.7% |
| 2008 | 70,225 | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 78,171 | +11.3% |
| 2010 | 82,487 | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 90,039 | +9.2% |
| 2012 | 87,033 | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 78,188 | -10.2% |
| 2014 | 74,509 | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 67,322 | -9.6% |
| 2016 | 60,756 | -9.8% |
| 2017 | 63,710 | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 69,349 | +8.9% |
| 2019 | 69,697 | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 58,499 | -16.1% |
| 2021 | 55,425 | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 53,689 | -3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 35,414 | 33,113 | 37,767 | 6 |
| 1930s | 39,027 | 26,465 | 65,910 | 10 |
| 1940s | 39,201 | 14,062 | 91,614 | 7 |
| 1950s | 35,224 | 21,568 | 43,185 | 10 |
| 1960s | 36,898 | 22,453 | 47,020 | 10 |
| 1970s | 80,411 | 35,055 | 106,954 | 10 |
| 1980s | 76,339 | 62,278 | 93,808 | 10 |
| 1990s | 65,145 | 44,866 | 82,114 | 10 |
| 2000s | 67,876 | 47,991 | 82,165 | 10 |
| 2010s | 74,309 | 60,756 | 90,039 | 10 |
| 2020s | 55,871 | 53,689 | 58,499 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 military personnel in South Africa?
- Military spending per military personnel in South Africa was 53,689 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per military personnel recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 106,954 in 1976.
- What is the lowest military spending per military personnel recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 14,062 in 1941.
- How does South Africa rank for military spending per military personnel?
- South Africa ranks 64th out of 170 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military spending per military personnel rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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