Military spending, per unit of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Military spending, per unit of GDP was 0.007 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.007 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 7.2%
World rank
135th
of 160 countries
All-time high
0.0973 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1977
All-time low
0.007 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2025
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military spending, per unit of GDP in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending, per unit of gdp in South Africa is 0.007 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is down 7.2% on the previous year and down 35.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per unit of gdp in South Africa peaked at 0.0973 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1977 and was at its lowest, 0.007 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, in 2025.
That places South Africa 135th out of 160 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, per unit of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.0351 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1961 | 0.0529 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +50.9% |
| 1962 | 0.0805 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +52.0% |
| 1963 | 0.0729 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.4% |
| 1964 | 0.0927 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +27.2% |
| 1965 | 0.0869 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.3% |
| 1966 | 0.0865 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.4% |
| 1967 | 0.0863 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 0.0838 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.0% |
| 1969 | 0.0768 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.3% |
| 1970 | 0.0658 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -14.4% |
| 1971 | 0.0657 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 0.0642 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.3% |
| 1973 | 0.0596 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.2% |
| 1974 | 0.0615 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 0.0745 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +21.2% |
| 1976 | 0.0964 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +29.4% |
| 1977 | 0.0973 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 0.0767 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -21.2% |
| 1979 | 0.0561 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -26.9% |
| 1980 | 0.0396 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -29.3% |
| 1981 | 0.0421 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.2% |
| 1982 | 0.0449 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.6% |
| 1983 | 0.0407 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.3% |
| 1984 | 0.0497 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +22.1% |
| 1985 | 0.065 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +30.7% |
| 1986 | 0.0583 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.4% |
| 1987 | 0.0489 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -16.1% |
| 1988 | 0.0533 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.0% |
| 1989 | 0.0506 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.1% |
| 1990 | 0.039 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -22.8% |
| 1991 | 0.0299 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -23.4% |
| 1992 | 0.0237 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -20.8% |
| 1993 | 0.0218 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.7% |
| 1994 | 0.0223 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 0.0178 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -20.5% |
| 1996 | 0.0162 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.6% |
| 1997 | 0.0144 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.2% |
| 1998 | 0.0141 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 0.0137 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 0.016 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +17.2% |
| 2001 | 0.02 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +25.3% |
| 2002 | 0.023 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +15.0% |
| 2003 | 0.0149 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -35.1% |
| 2004 | 0.0119 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -20.3% |
| 2005 | 0.0117 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 0.0113 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 0.0102 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.1% |
| 2008 | 0.0106 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 0.0107 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 0.0082 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -23.5% |
| 2011 | 0.0077 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 0.0085 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.2% |
| 2013 | 0.0094 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.5% |
| 2014 | 0.0099 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 0.0109 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.8% |
| 2016 | 0.0114 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 0.0095 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -16.4% |
| 2018 | 0.0086 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.8% |
| 2019 | 0.0089 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 0.0106 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +19.6% |
| 2021 | 0.0081 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -24.2% |
| 2022 | 0.0084 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 0.0084 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 0.0076 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.3% |
| 2025 | 0.007 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.007 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0132 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, 53% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.007 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0119 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, 59% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0754 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0351 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0927 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0718 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0561 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0973 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0493 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0396 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.065 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0213 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0137 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.039 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.014 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0102 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.023 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0093 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0077 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0114 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0084 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.007 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0106 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 132 Mexico 0.0075 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 133 Peru 0.0072 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 134 Cote d'Ivoire 0.0072 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 136 Switzerland 0.0069 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 137 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.0065 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 138 Ethiopia 0.0062 constant 2024 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 0.007 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.0973 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1977.
- What is the lowest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.007 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025.
- How does South Africa rank for military spending, per unit of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 135th out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per unit of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.9%. 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.
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 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 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – 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.