South Africa—Military Spending (% of govt expenditure)
Category: MilitarySource: World Bank World Development Indicators ↗Global Rank: #133 of 151Updated April 2026
Latest Value
2.1%
2024
YoY Change
-8.8%
2023 → 2024
Global Rank
#133
of 151 countries
Maximum
6.2%
2002
Minimum
2.1%
2024
CAGR
-3.9%
25 years
Last
2.1%
Previous
2.3%
Highest
6.2%
Lowest
2.1%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
South Africa's military spending (% of govt expenditure) was 2.1% in 2024, ranking #133 out of 151 countries. This represents a -8.8% change from 2023. Over the past 25 years, the highest recorded value was 6.2% (2002) and the lowest was 2.1% (2024). Data sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators.
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2.1% | -8.8% |
| 2023 | 2.3% | -7.6% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | -10.4% |
| 2020 | 2.8% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 2.8% | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | -6.1% |
| 2017 | 3.2% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 3.6% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 3.6% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 3.6% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | -7.5% |
| 2009 | 3.8% | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 4.0% | -7.8% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | -7.4% |
| 2006 | 4.7% | -4.8% |
| 2005 | 4.9% | -7.9% |
| 2004 | 5.3% | -7.6% |
| 2003 | 5.8% | -6.2% |
| 2002 | 6.2% | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 5.9% | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 5.5% |
Top Countries — Military Spending (% of govt expenditure)
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ukraine | 54.0% | 2024 |
| 2 | Belarus | 50.7% | 2024 |
| 3 | Myanmar | 29.1% | 2024 |
| 4 | Qatar | 26.9% | 2022 |
| 5 | Saudi Arabia | 22.3% | 2024 |
| 6 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 21.6% | 2024 |
| 7 | Algeria | 21.4% | 2024 |
| 8 | Oman | 20.1% | 2024 |
| 9 | Singapore | 20.1% | 2024 |
| 10 | Israel | 20.0% | 2024 |