Military spending in South Africa
South Africa: Military spending was 3.00 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3.00 billion constant 2024 US$
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
57th
of 162 countries
All-time high
5.54 billion constant 2024 US$
in 1988
All-time low
227.12 million constant 2024 US$
in 1954
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Military spending in South Africa, 1951–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
In 2025, military spending in South Africa stood at 3.00 billion constant 2024 US$.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 21.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in South Africa peaked at 5.54 billion constant 2024 US$ in 1988 and was at its lowest, 227.12 million constant 2024 US$, in 1954.
That places South Africa 57th out of 162 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 268.21 million constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1952 | 283.46 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.7% |
| 1953 | 241.77 million constant 2024 US$ | -14.7% |
| 1954 | 227.12 million constant 2024 US$ | -6.1% |
| 1955 | 234.99 million constant 2024 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1956 | 264.23 million constant 2024 US$ | +12.4% |
| 1957 | 381.07 million constant 2024 US$ | +44.2% |
| 1958 | 286.34 million constant 2024 US$ | -24.9% |
| 1959 | 269.01 million constant 2024 US$ | -6.1% |
| 1960 | 306.92 million constant 2024 US$ | +14.1% |
| 1961 | 488.48 million constant 2024 US$ | +59.2% |
| 1962 | 789.76 million constant 2024 US$ | +61.7% |
| 1963 | 791.05 million constant 2024 US$ | +0.2% |
| 1964 | 1.11 billion constant 2024 US$ | +40.2% |
| 1965 | 1.14 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 1.23 billion constant 2024 US$ | +8.3% |
| 1967 | 1.37 billion constant 2024 US$ | +11.1% |
| 1968 | 1.43 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.0% |
| 1969 | 1.48 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 1.40 billion constant 2024 US$ | -5.6% |
| 1971 | 1.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | +10.1% |
| 1972 | 1.57 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1973 | 1.98 billion constant 2024 US$ | +26.0% |
| 1974 | 2.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | +28.4% |
| 1975 | 3.20 billion constant 2024 US$ | +25.6% |
| 1976 | 3.97 billion constant 2024 US$ | +24.1% |
| 1977 | 4.41 billion constant 2024 US$ | +11.2% |
| 1978 | 3.96 billion constant 2024 US$ | -10.3% |
| 1979 | 3.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | -10.7% |
| 1980 | 3.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 3.92 billion constant 2024 US$ | +10.6% |
| 1982 | 3.86 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1983 | 3.92 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1984 | 4.22 billion constant 2024 US$ | +7.7% |
| 1985 | 4.19 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 4.27 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 4.72 billion constant 2024 US$ | +10.4% |
| 1988 | 5.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | +17.4% |
| 1989 | 5.46 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 4.92 billion constant 2024 US$ | -9.9% |
| 1991 | 4.04 billion constant 2024 US$ | -17.9% |
| 1992 | 3.48 billion constant 2024 US$ | -13.9% |
| 1993 | 3.22 billion constant 2024 US$ | -7.6% |
| 1994 | 3.43 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.6% |
| 1995 | 3.05 billion constant 2024 US$ | -11.0% |
| 1996 | 2.65 billion constant 2024 US$ | -13.1% |
| 1997 | 2.44 billion constant 2024 US$ | -8.1% |
| 1998 | 2.16 billion constant 2024 US$ | -11.4% |
| 1999 | 2.07 billion constant 2024 US$ | -4.2% |
| 2000 | 2.43 billion constant 2024 US$ | +17.4% |
| 2001 | 2.72 billion constant 2024 US$ | +11.8% |
| 2002 | 2.98 billion constant 2024 US$ | +9.6% |
| 2003 | 2.95 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 3.05 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 3.38 billion constant 2024 US$ | +11.0% |
| 2006 | 3.43 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 3.38 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 3.36 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 3.52 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 3.40 billion constant 2024 US$ | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 3.53 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 3.68 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 3.76 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 3.76 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 3.79 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 3.69 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 3.64 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 3.49 billion constant 2024 US$ | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 3.47 billion constant 2024 US$ | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 3.60 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 3.39 billion constant 2024 US$ | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 3.42 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 3.21 billion constant 2024 US$ | -6.0% |
| 2024 | 3.03 billion constant 2024 US$ | -5.6% |
| 2025 | 3.00 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.00 billion constant 2024 US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.62 billion constant 2024 US$, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.00 billion constant 2024 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 336.91 million constant 2024 US$, 8.9× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 272.91 million constant 2024 US$ | 227.12 million constant 2024 US$ | 381.07 million constant 2024 US$ | 9 |
| 1960s | 1.01 billion constant 2024 US$ | 306.92 million constant 2024 US$ | 1.48 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.81 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1.40 billion constant 2024 US$ | 4.41 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.36 billion constant 2024 US$ | 3.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | 5.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.15 billion constant 2024 US$ | 2.07 billion constant 2024 US$ | 4.92 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.12 billion constant 2024 US$ | 2.43 billion constant 2024 US$ | 3.52 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.62 billion constant 2024 US$ | 3.40 billion constant 2024 US$ | 3.79 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.28 billion constant 2024 US$ | 3.00 billion constant 2024 US$ | 3.60 billion constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 54 Malaysia 4.55 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 55 Argentina 3.73 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 56 Bangladesh 3.66 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 58 New Zealand 2.89 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 59 Slovakia 2.87 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 60 Sudan 2.77 billion constant 2024 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 3.00 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.54 billion constant 2024 US$ in 1988.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 227.12 million constant 2024 US$ in 1954.
- How does South Africa rank for military spending?
- South Africa ranks 57th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – 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
CSV · JSON — 75 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.