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