Ireland vs South Africa
Ireland vs South Africa: Military spending per person
Military spending per person in 2025: $272 in Ireland and $49 in South Africa, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Ireland, by $223, or 5.52 times that in South Africa.
US dollars per person · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- Ireland has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1988.
- In 2025, Ireland ranked 53 and South Africa ranked 100 of 151 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
US dollars per person · SIPRI
| Year | Ireland | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $272 | $49 |
| 2024 | $255 | $48 |
| 2023 | $246 | $49 |
| 2022 | $230 | $56 |
| 2021 | $253 | $58 |
| 2020 | $231 | $54 |
| 2019 | $227 | $58 |
| 2018 | $229 | $62 |
| 2017 | $215 | $63 |
| 2016 | $212 | $55 |
| 2015 | $213 | $62 |
| 2014 | $257 | $71 |
| 2013 | $259 | $76 |
| 2012 | $252 | $84 |
| 2011 | $285 | $87 |
| 2010 | $280 | $81 |
| 2009 | $313 | $70 |
| 2008 | $356 | $65 |
| 2007 | $317 | $70 |
| 2006 | $283 | $70 |
| 2005 | $279 | $72 |
| 2004 | $274 | $64 |
| 2003 | $244 | $53 |
| 2002 | $208 | $37 |
| 2001 | $201 | $38 |
| 2000 | $184 | $40 |
| 1999 | $199 | $37 |
| 1998 | $201 | $41 |
| 1997 | $210 | $53 |
| 1996 | $207 | $58 |
| 1995 | $195 | $74 |
| 1994 | $177 | $79 |
| 1993 | $168 | $76 |
| 1992 | $190 | $87 |
| 1991 | $178 | $94 |
| 1990 | $169 | $109 |
| 1989 | $124 | $107 |
| 1988 | $128 | $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
Ireland vs South Africa
Health
- Life expectancyIreland: 82.4 years in 2023South Africa: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityIreland: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityIreland: 2.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionIreland: 4.25% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateIreland: 8.4 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationIreland: 5.2 million people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthIreland: 1.19% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateIreland: 1.6 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationIreland: 64.6% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageIreland: 38.4 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overIreland: 15.5% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateIreland: 8.4 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingIreland: 0.22% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsIreland: $1.46B in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military share of state spendingIreland: 0.9% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelIreland: 9,000 people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerIreland: 0.05% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersIreland: 0.37% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsIreland: 14 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsIreland: 24 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025