Germany vs South Africa
Germany vs South Africa: Military spending per person
Military spending per person in 2025: $1,346 in Germany and $49 in South Africa, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Germany, by $1,297, or 27 times that in South Africa.
US dollars per person · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- Germany has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1991.
- In 2025, Germany ranked 12 and South Africa ranked 100 of 151 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
US dollars per person · SIPRI
| Year | Germany | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,346 | $49 |
| 2024 | $1,017 | $48 |
| 2023 | $813 | $49 |
| 2022 | $670 | $56 |
| 2021 | $676 | $58 |
| 2020 | $639 | $54 |
| 2019 | $588 | $58 |
| 2018 | $559 | $62 |
| 2017 | $513 | $63 |
| 2016 | $484 | $55 |
| 2015 | $468 | $62 |
| 2014 | $551 | $71 |
| 2013 | $547 | $76 |
| 2012 | $541 | $84 |
| 2011 | $560 | $87 |
| 2010 | $533 | $81 |
| 2009 | $552 | $70 |
| 2008 | $558 | $65 |
| 2007 | $494 | $70 |
| 2006 | $438 | $70 |
| 2005 | $435 | $72 |
| 2004 | $435 | $64 |
| 2003 | $401 | $53 |
| 2002 | $337 | $37 |
| 2001 | $314 | $38 |
| 2000 | $323 | $40 |
| 1999 | $375 | $37 |
| 1998 | $377 | $41 |
| 1997 | $378 | $53 |
| 1996 | $445 | $58 |
| 1995 | $471 | $74 |
| 1994 | $417 | $79 |
| 1993 | $429 | $76 |
| 1992 | $488 | $87 |
| 1991 | $463 | $94 |
| 1990 | – | $109 |
| 1989 | – | $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
Germany vs South Africa
Health
- Life expectancyGermany: 81.4 years in 2023South Africa: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityGermany: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityGermany: 3 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionGermany: 3.96% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateGermany: 9.9 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationGermany: 84.6 million people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthGermany: 0.35% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateGermany: 1.44 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationGermany: 82.1% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageGermany: 45.2 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overGermany: 22.8% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateGermany: 7.2 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingGermany: 2.27% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsGermany: $107B in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military share of state spendingGermany: 4.5% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelGermany: 183,000 people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerGermany: 1.5% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersGermany: 0.42% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsGermany: 1.63 billion TIV in 2025South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsGermany: 1.7 billion TIV in 2025South Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025