Military spending, per unit of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Military spending, per unit of GDP was 0.0095 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.0095 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
134th
of 170 countries
All-time high
0.1533 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1976
All-time low
0.0095 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2023
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Military spending, per unit of GDP in South Africa, 1960–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending, per unit of gdp in South Africa is 0.0095 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 64 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 21.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per unit of gdp in South Africa peaked at 0.1533 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1976 and was at its lowest, 0.0095 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 134th of 170 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, per unit of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.0565 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1961 | 0.0773 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +37.0% |
| 1962 | 0.115 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +48.7% |
| 1963 | 0.1209 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.2% |
| 1964 | 0.1405 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +16.2% |
| 1965 | 0.1433 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.0% |
| 1966 | 0.1446 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 0.1458 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.8% |
| 1968 | 0.1377 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.6% |
| 1969 | 0.1224 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.1% |
| 1970 | 0.1151 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.0% |
| 1971 | 0.1145 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.5% |
| 1972 | 0.1072 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.4% |
| 1973 | 0.1032 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.8% |
| 1974 | 0.0981 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.9% |
| 1975 | 0.1231 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +25.4% |
| 1976 | 0.1533 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +24.6% |
| 1977 | 0.1478 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.6% |
| 1978 | 0.1262 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -14.6% |
| 1979 | 0.1013 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -19.7% |
| 1980 | 0.0734 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -27.5% |
| 1981 | 0.0707 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.8% |
| 1982 | 0.0793 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +12.1% |
| 1983 | 0.0721 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.0% |
| 1984 | 0.0748 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 0.0918 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +22.7% |
| 1986 | 0.0804 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.4% |
| 1987 | 0.0726 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.7% |
| 1988 | 0.0691 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.9% |
| 1989 | 0.0684 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 0.0554 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -19.1% |
| 1991 | 0.0484 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.7% |
| 1992 | 0.0411 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -15.1% |
| 1993 | 0.0382 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.0% |
| 1994 | 0.0349 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.5% |
| 1995 | 0.0288 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -17.4% |
| 1996 | 0.025 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.3% |
| 1997 | 0.0224 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.6% |
| 1998 | 0.0221 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 0.0201 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.7% |
| 2000 | 0.0199 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 0.0222 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +11.4% |
| 2002 | 0.0245 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.5% |
| 2003 | 0.0187 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -23.9% |
| 2004 | 0.0173 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.2% |
| 2005 | 0.0158 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.8% |
| 2006 | 0.0151 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.2% |
| 2007 | 0.0135 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.9% |
| 2008 | 0.0138 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 0.0147 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.7% |
| 2010 | 0.0123 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -16.6% |
| 2011 | 0.0122 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 0.0124 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 0.0121 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 0.0121 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 0.012 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 0.0126 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.5% |
| 2017 | 0.0112 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.0% |
| 2018 | 0.0113 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 0.0116 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 0.013 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | +11.6% |
| 2021 | 0.0098 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -24.8% |
| 2022 | 0.0097 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 0.0095 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.0095 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0152 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP, 63% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.0095 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0159 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP, 60% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.1204 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0565 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1458 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.119 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0981 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1533 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0753 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0684 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0918 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0336 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0201 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0554 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0176 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0135 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0245 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.012 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0112 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0126 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0105 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0095 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.013 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 131 Malawi 0.0106 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 132 Cote d'Ivoire 0.0099 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 133 Austria 0.0099 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 135 Barbados 0.0094 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 136 Democratic Republic of Congo 0.0092 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 137 Liberia 0.009 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP 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 unit of gdp in South Africa?
- Military spending, per unit of gdp in South Africa was 0.0095 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1533 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1976.
- What is the lowest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0095 constant 2022 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for military spending, per unit of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 134th out of 170 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, per unit of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.2%. 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, per unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ GDP (current US$)
Computed from
- Military spending Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
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 GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.