Malawi vs South Africa
Malawi vs South Africa: Military spending per person
Military spending per person in 2025: $7 in Malawi and $49 in South Africa, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in South Africa, by $42, or 6.64 times that in Malawi.
US dollars per person · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- South Africa has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1988.
- In 2025, Malawi ranked 143 and South Africa ranked 100 of 151 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
US dollars per person · SIPRI
| Year | Malawi | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7 | $49 |
| 2024 | $6 | $48 |
| 2023 | $7 | $49 |
| 2022 | $6 | $56 |
| 2021 | $5 | $58 |
| 2020 | $5 | $54 |
| 2019 | $4 | $58 |
| 2018 | $3 | $62 |
| 2017 | $3 | $63 |
| 2016 | $2 | $55 |
| 2015 | $2 | $62 |
| 2014 | $3 | $71 |
| 2013 | $4 | $76 |
| 2012 | $3 | $84 |
| 2011 | $4 | $87 |
| 2010 | $3 | $81 |
| 2009 | $4 | $70 |
| 2008 | $3 | $65 |
| 2007 | $3 | $70 |
| 2006 | $2 | $70 |
| 2005 | $3 | $72 |
| 2004 | $2 | $64 |
| 2003 | $1 | $53 |
| 2002 | $1 | $37 |
| 2001 | $1 | $38 |
| 2000 | $1 | $40 |
| 1999 | $1 | $37 |
| 1998 | $1 | $41 |
| 1997 | $3 | $53 |
| 1996 | $2 | $58 |
| 1995 | $1 | $74 |
| 1994 | $2 | $79 |
| 1993 | $3 | $76 |
| 1992 | $3 | $87 |
| 1991 | $2 | $94 |
| 1990 | $3 | $109 |
| 1989 | $3 | $107 |
| 1988 | $2 | $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
Malawi vs South Africa
Health
- Life expectancyMalawi: 67.4 years in 2023South Africa: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityMalawi: 4.9 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityMalawi: 29.6 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionMalawi: 3.45% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateMalawi: 12.1 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationMalawi: 21.1 million people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthMalawi: 2.57% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateMalawi: 3.65 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationMalawi: 17.6% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageMalawi: 17.6 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overMalawi: 2.6% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateMalawi: -0.3 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingMalawi: 1.15% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsMalawi: $128M in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military share of state spendingMalawi: 3.8% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelMalawi: 15,000 people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerMalawi: 0.07% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersMalawi: 0.2% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsMalawi: 2 million TIV in 2024South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsMalawi: 1 million TIV in 2000South Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025