China vs South Africa
China vs South Africa: Military spending per person
Military spending per person in 2025: $237 in China and $49 in South Africa, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in China, by $187, or 4.8 times that in South Africa.
US dollars per person · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- China has been higher since 2011, when it overtook South Africa.
- In 2025, China ranked 56 and South Africa ranked 100 of 151 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
US dollars per person · SIPRI
| Year | China | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $237 | $49 |
| 2024 | $220 | $48 |
| 2023 | $208 | $49 |
| 2022 | $205 | $56 |
| 2021 | $201 | $58 |
| 2020 | $181 | $54 |
| 2019 | $169 | $58 |
| 2018 | $164 | $62 |
| 2017 | $150 | $63 |
| 2016 | $142 | $55 |
| 2015 | $141 | $62 |
| 2014 | $132 | $71 |
| 2013 | $119 | $76 |
| 2012 | $106 | $84 |
| 2011 | $92 | $87 |
| 2010 | $78 | $81 |
| 2009 | $72 | $70 |
| 2008 | $59 | $65 |
| 2007 | $47 | $70 |
| 2006 | $39 | $70 |
| 2005 | $33 | $72 |
| 2004 | $29 | $64 |
| 2003 | $26 | $53 |
| 2002 | $24 | $37 |
| 2001 | $21 | $38 |
| 2000 | $18 | $40 |
| 1999 | $16 | $37 |
| 1998 | $14 | $41 |
| 1997 | $13 | $53 |
| 1996 | $12 | $58 |
| 1995 | $10 | $74 |
| 1994 | $8 | $79 |
| 1993 | $10 | $76 |
| 1992 | $10 | $87 |
| 1991 | $8 | $94 |
| 1990 | $9 | $109 |
| 1989 | $10 | $107 |
| 1988 | – | $113 |
- Estimate
Each country on its own
Good to know
- What the country spends on its armed forces and defence for each person living there, in US dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation.
- Source: Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure Database, https://doi.org/10.55163/CQGC9685.
- Marked points are SIPRI’s own: a dot where it gives the figure as its estimate, a ring where it calls the figure highly uncertain.
- Ranks count the 151 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
China vs South Africa
Health
- Life expectancyChina: 78 years in 2023South Africa: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityChina: 0.6 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityChina: 5.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionChina: 3.31% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateChina: 7.2 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationChina: 1.42 billion people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthChina: -0.24% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateChina: 1 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationChina: 66.3% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageChina: 39.1 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overChina: 14.3% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateChina: -0.4 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingChina: 1.73% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsChina: $335B in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military share of state spendingChina: 5.1% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelChina: 2.54 million people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerChina: 23.41% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersChina: 0.33% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsChina: 207 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsChina: 880 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025