Iran vs South Africa
Iran vs South Africa: Military spending per person
Military spending per person in 2025: $80 in Iran and $49 in South Africa, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Iran, by $31, or 1.63 times that in South Africa.
US dollars per person · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- Iran has been higher since 2021, when it overtook South Africa.
- In 2025, Iran ranked 83 and South Africa ranked 100 of 151 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
US dollars per person · SIPRI
| Year | Iran | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $80 | $49 |
| 2024 | $87 | $48 |
| 2023 | $82 | $49 |
| 2022 | $84 | $56 |
| 2021 | $65 | $58 |
| 2020 | $38 | $54 |
| 2019 | $57 | $58 |
| 2018 | $138 | $62 |
| 2017 | $165 | $63 |
| 2016 | $147 | $55 |
| 2015 | $129 | $62 |
| 2014 | $122 | $71 |
| 2013 | $150 | $76 |
| 2012 | $209 | $84 |
| 2011 | $183 | $87 |
| 2010 | $176 | $81 |
| 2009 | $166 | $70 |
| 2008 | $148 | $65 |
| 2007 | $126 | $70 |
| 2006 | $121 | $70 |
| 2005 | $96 | $72 |
| 2004 | $75 | $64 |
| 2003 | $55 | $53 |
| 2002 | $48 | $37 |
| 2001 | $155 | $38 |
| 2000 | $126 | $40 |
| 1999 | $102 | $37 |
| 1998 | $86 | $41 |
| 1997 | $73 | $53 |
| 1996 | $57 | $58 |
| 1995 | $40 | $74 |
| 1994 | $28 | $79 |
| 1993 | $23 | $76 |
| 1992 | $325 | $87 |
| 1991 | $296 | $94 |
| 1990 | $286 | $109 |
| 1989 | $292 | $107 |
| 1988 | $348 | $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
Iran vs South Africa
Health
- Life expectancyIran: 77.7 years in 2023South Africa: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityIran: 1.1 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityIran: 9.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionIran: 5.12% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateIran: 5.4 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationIran: 90.6 million people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthIran: 1.12% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateIran: 1.7 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationIran: 77.4% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageIran: 32.9 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overIran: 7.9% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateIran: 2.9 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingIran: 2.09% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsIran: $7.45B in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military share of state spendingIran: 11.2% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelIran: 650,000 people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerIran: 1.64% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersIran: 2.35% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsIran: 42 million TIV in 2024South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsIran: 80 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025