South Africa: Military expenditure (current USD)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, South Africa's military expenditure (current USD) rose 4.6% on 2024 (from 3.03 billion to 3.17 billion).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +0.3% and a typical year strayed about 13.4% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 63.7% in 1962 and the biggest yearly fall was 23.6% in 1985. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 24% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, South Africa had the 52nd highest value of the 150 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to South Africa in the 2025 ranking

• Malaysia — 49th of 150: 4.93 billion
• Argentina — 50th of 150: 3.88 billion
• Bangladesh — 51st of 150: 3.83 billion
• Slovak Republic — 53rd of 150: 3.12 billion
• Lithuania — 54th of 150: 2.95 billion
• New Zealand — 55th of 150: 2.86 billion

What this measures

Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)

Limitations: SIPRI strives to compile reliable, consistent military expenditure data by assessing multiple sources, but accuracy depends on the quality and transparency of those sources. Challenges arise from two key issues: whether reported figures reflect actual spending and how closely they match SIPRI’s definition. While data is generally accurate in developed and many developing countries, weak governance, corruption, and secret transfers in others can lead to major discrepancies. SIPRI sometimes makes estimates, when sources conflict or lack coverage, introducing uncertainty, especially for countries like China or the UAE.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 66 values

Military expenditure (current USD) in nearby economies

• Angola — 1.46 billion (2025)
• Benin — 216.91 million (2025)
• Botswana — 614.35 million (2025)
• Burkina Faso — 891.56 million (2025)
• Burundi — 226.62 million (2025)
• Cabo Verde — 20.08 million (2025)
• Cameroon — 627.47 million (2025)
• Central African Republic — 74.19 million (2025)
• Chad — 648.81 million (2025)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — 1.23 billion (2025)
• Congo, Rep.

More public sector data for South Africa

• Military expenditure (current LCU) — 56.76 billion (2025)
• Military expenditure (% of GDP) — 0.74% (2025)
• Arms exports (SIPRI trend indicator values) — 115 million (2025)
• Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) — 30 million (2025)
• Net incurrence of liabilities, total (current LCU) — 414.86 billion (2024)
• Net incurrence of liabilities, total (% of GDP) — 5.64% (2024)
• Net investment in nonfinancial assets (current LCU) — 98.59 billion (2024)
• Net investment in nonfinancial assets (% of GDP) — 1.34% (2024)
• Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is South Africa's military expenditure (current USD)?

3.17 billion in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is up 4,434% from 70 million in 1960 (6.04% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 4.59 billion in 2011 and the lowest 70 million in 1960.

How does South Africa rank?

52nd highest of 150 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in military expenditure (current USD) unusual for South Africa?

In 2025, South Africa's military expenditure (current USD) rose 4.6% on 2024 (from 3.03 billion to 3.17 billion). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +0.3% and a typical year strayed about 13.4% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator MS.MIL.XPND.CD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), uri: https://www.sipri.org/databases Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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