Ranked:
N/A (2012)

South African Military Budget

See the chart below for a yearly breakdown of military spending in South Africa. (2001 to 2012)

Military Spending in South Africa

Our latest data shows that South Africa spent $4,785,000,000 on their military in 2012 which amounted to 1.1% of the country's GDP that year. Check out the chart below for more South African military budget data. We can only publish the past 12 years, but SIPRI has data as far back as 1988 on their site.

Total Spent: $52,692,000,000 (Last 12 years)

Year Dollars Spent % GDP
2001 $3,795,000,000 1.5%
2002 $4,171,000,000 1.6%
2003 $4,122,000,000 1.5%
2004 $4,179,000,000 1.4%
2005 $4,580,000,000 1.4%
2006 $4,581,000,000 1.3%
Year Dollars Spent % GDP
2007 $4,475,000,000 1.2%
2008 $4,384,000,000 1.2%
2009 $4,590,000,000 1.3%
2010 $4,434,000,000 1.2%
2011 $4,596,000,000 1.1%
2012 $4,785,000,000 1.1%

Note on Data: Constant (2011) US Dollars are used. For more information about this data visit SIPRI.org.

Other Countries in the Region

Malawian Flag Malawi
$54 Million (2012)
Zambian Flag Zambia
$319 Million (2012)
Swazi Flag Swaziland
$125 Million (2012)
Ethiopian Flag Ethiopia
$329 Million (2012)
Guinean Flag Guinea
No Data (2012)
Kenyan Flag Kenya
$694 Million (2012)
Senegalese Flag Senegal
No Data (2012)
South African Flag South Africa
$4,785 Million (2012)

South Africa's Military Branches

South African Army, South African Navy, South African Air Force, South African Military Health Services.

Military Service Age in South Africa

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve in noncombat roles; 2-year service obligation.