Poland vs South Africa
Poland vs South Africa: Military spending per person
Military spending per person in 2025: $1,219 in Poland and $49 in South Africa, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Poland, by $1,170, or 25 times that in South Africa.
US dollars per person · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- Poland has been higher since 1996, when it overtook South Africa.
- In 2025, Poland ranked 18 and South Africa ranked 100 of 151 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
US dollars per person · SIPRI
| Year | Poland | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,219 | $49 |
| 2024 | $890 | $48 |
| 2023 | $682 | $49 |
| 2022 | $404 | $56 |
| 2021 | $401 | $58 |
| 2020 | $359 | $54 |
| 2019 | $308 | $58 |
| 2018 | $315 | $62 |
| 2017 | $261 | $63 |
| 2016 | $239 | $55 |
| 2015 | $267 | $62 |
| 2014 | $270 | $71 |
| 2013 | $243 | $76 |
| 2012 | $235 | $84 |
| 2011 | $248 | $87 |
| 2010 | $231 | $81 |
| 2009 | $208 | $70 |
| 2008 | $246 | $65 |
| 2007 | $226 | $70 |
| 2006 | $174 | $70 |
| 2005 | $155 | $72 |
| 2004 | $125 | $64 |
| 2003 | $109 | $53 |
| 2002 | $99 | $37 |
| 2001 | $95 | $38 |
| 2000 | $82 | $40 |
| 1999 | $84 | $37 |
| 1998 | $91 | $41 |
| 1997 | $83 | $53 |
| 1996 | $80 | $58 |
| 1995 | $71 | $74 |
| 1994 | $59 | $79 |
| 1993 | $55 | $76 |
| 1992 | $49 | $87 |
| 1991 | $45 | $94 |
| 1990 | $41 | $109 |
| 1989 | $39 | $107 |
| 1988 | $47 | $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
Poland vs South Africa
Health
- Life expectancyPoland: 78.6 years in 2023South Africa: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityPoland: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityPoland: 3.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionPoland: 2.25% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide ratePoland: 14 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationPoland: 38.8 million people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthPoland: -0.26% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility ratePoland: 1.3 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationPoland: 60.1% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median agePoland: 41.3 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overPoland: 19.6% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration ratePoland: -0.2 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingPoland: 4.5% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsPoland: $42.5B in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military share of state spendingPoland: 9% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelPoland: 189,000 people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerPoland: 0.52% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersPoland: 1.04% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsPoland: 2.17 billion TIV in 2025South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsPoland: 59 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025