Philippines vs South Africa: Military spending in US dollars
Military spending in US dollars in 2025: $6.3B in Philippines and $3B in South Africa, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Philippines, by $3.3B, or 2.1 times that in South Africa.
PhilippinesSouth Africa
Watch it change on the mapUS dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
Latest figures
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | $6.3B 2025 | $3.66B | 41 of 151 |
| South Africa | $3B 2025 | $3.79B | 53 of 151 |
What the numbers say
- Philippines has been higher since 2016, when it overtook South Africa.
- In 2025, Philippines ranked 41 and South Africa ranked 53 of 151 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
| Year | Philippines | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6.3B | $3B |
| 2024 | $5.49B | $3.03B |
| 2023 | $5.15B | $3.21B |
| 2022 | $5.54B | $3.42B |
| 2021 | $5.52B | $3.39B |
| 2020 | $4.89B | $3.6B |
| 2019 | $4.75B | $3.47B |
| 2018 | $4.76B | $3.49B |
| 2017 | $4.48B | $3.64B |
| 2016 | $3.77B | $3.69B |
| 2015 | $3.66B | $3.79B |
| 2014 | $3.35B | $3.76B |
| 2013 | $3.61B | $3.76B |
| 2012 | $3.16B | $3.68B |
| 2011 | $3.11B | $3.53B |
| 2010 | $3.07B | $3.4B |
| 2009 | $2.92B | $3.52B |
| 2008 | $3.03B | $3.36B |
| 2007 | $3.03B | $3.38B |
| 2006 | $2.77B | $3.43B |
| 2005 | $2.68B | $3.39B |
| 2004 | $2.63B | $3.05B |
| 2003 | $2.79B | $2.95B |
| 2002 | $2.5B | $2.98B |
| 2001 | $2.38B | $2.72B |
| 2000 | $2.52B | $2.43B |
| 1999 | $2.39B | $2.07B |
| 1998 | $2.42B | $2.16B |
| 1997 | $2.45B | $2.44B |
| 1996 | $2.74B | $2.65B |
| 1995 | $2.61B | $3.05B |
| 1994 | $2.35B | $3.43B |
| 1993 | $2.24B | $3.22B |
| 1992 | $2.07B | $3.48B |
| 1991 | $2.05B | $4.04B |
| 1990 | $2.26B | $4.92B |
| 1989 | $2.27B | $5.46B |
| 1988 | $2.41B | $5.54B |
| 1987 | $1.88B | $4.72B |
| 1986 | $1.76B | $4.27B |
| 1985 | $1.67B | $4.19B |
| 1984 | $1.55B | $4.22B |
| 1983 | $2.42B | $3.92B |
| 1982 | $2.47B | $3.86B |
| 1981 | $2.56B | $3.92B |
| 1980 | $2.47B | $3.54B |
| 1979 | $2.85B | $3.54B |
| 1978 | $2.38B | $3.96B |
| 1977 | $3.11B | $4.41B |
| 1976 | $3.25B | $3.97B |
| 1975 | – | $3.2B |
| 1974 | $2.53B | $2.55B |
| 1973 | $1.95B | $1.98B |
| 1972 | $1.46B | $1.57B |
| 1971 | $1.25B | $1.54B |
| 1970 | $1.34B | $1.4B |
| 1969 | $1.24B | $1.48B |
| 1968 | $1.03B | $1.44B |
| 1967 | $884M | $1.37B |
| 1966 | $795M | $1.23B |
| 1965 | $713M | $1.14B |
| 1964 | $736M | $1.11B |
| 1963 | $801M | $791M |
| 1962 | $710M | $790M |
| 1961 | $632M | $489M |
| 1960 | $616M | $307M |
| 1959 | $620M | $269M |
| 1958 | $600M | $286M |
| 1957 | – | $381M |
| 1956 | – | $264M |
| 1955 | – | $235M |
| 1954 | – | $227M |
| 1953 | – | $242M |
| 1952 | – | $284M |
| 1951 | – | $268M |
- Estimate
Each country on its own
Good to know
- What the country spends on its armed forces and defence, in constant 2024 US dollars so that years compare, by SIPRI’s count.
- 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