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South Africa: Military expenditure (% of GDP)

In , South Africa's Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 0.70.

That's down 7.2% from 2023, the highest value since .

The global average for this indicator in 2024 was 2.20 . South Africa ranks #129 globally out of 147 reporting countries. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #35 of 43.

Source: World Bank Open Data (MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS) • Data as of 2024

Trend (2005–2024)

South Africa Military expenditure (% of GDP) trend

Highlights

Peak
1.23
Trough
0.70
1-year change
-7.2%
5-year change
-20.7%
-4.5% / yr
10-year change
-31.5%
-3.7% / yr

Historical Data — Last 10 Years

Year Military expenditure (% of GDP)
0.7002
0.7546
0.7985
0.8060
0.9565
0.8824
0.8948
0.9436
0.9710
1.0069

About Military expenditure (% of GDP)

Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product

Indicator code: MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZSCategory: Public Sector

Frequently asked questions

What was South Africa's Military expenditure (% of GDP) in 2024?
In 2024, South Africa's Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 0.70, according to World Bank Open Data.
Is South Africa's Military expenditure (% of GDP) rising or falling?
South Africa's Military expenditure (% of GDP) fell 7.2% from 2023 to 2024.
How does South Africa rank globally on Military expenditure (% of GDP)?
In 2024, South Africa ranked #129 out of 147 countries reporting Military expenditure (% of GDP).
How does South Africa's Military expenditure (% of GDP) compare to the world average?
The global average for Military expenditure (% of GDP) in 2024 was 2.20, so South Africa is below the world average. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #35 of 43.
What is Military expenditure (% of GDP) and how is it measured?
Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product
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Source: World Bank Open Data (MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS), CC BY 4.0.