Russia vs South Africa
Russia vs South Africa: Military spending per person
Military spending per person in 2025: $1,318 in Russia and $49 in South Africa, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Russia, by $1,269, or 27 times that in South Africa.
US dollars per person · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- Russia has been higher since 1994, when it overtook South Africa.
- In 2025, Russia ranked 13 and South Africa ranked 100 of 151 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
US dollars per person · SIPRI
| Year | Russia | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,318 | $49 |
| 2024 | $1,029 | $48 |
| 2023 | $750 | $49 |
| 2022 | $718 | $56 |
| 2021 | $451 | $58 |
| 2020 | $422 | $54 |
| 2019 | $445 | $58 |
| 2018 | $421 | $62 |
| 2017 | $458 | $63 |
| 2016 | $476 | $55 |
| 2015 | $458 | $62 |
| 2014 | $585 | $71 |
| 2013 | $612 | $76 |
| 2012 | $565 | $84 |
| 2011 | $488 | $87 |
| 2010 | $408 | $81 |
| 2009 | $358 | $70 |
| 2008 | $391 | $65 |
| 2007 | $303 | $70 |
| 2006 | $239 | $70 |
| 2005 | $189 | $72 |
| 2004 | $144 | $64 |
| 2003 | $116 | $53 |
| 2002 | $96 | $37 |
| 2001 | $80 | $38 |
| 2000 | $63 | $40 |
| 1999 | $44 | $37 |
| 1998 | $54 | $41 |
| 1997 | $119 | $53 |
| 1996 | $107 | $58 |
| 1995 | $86 | $74 |
| 1994 | $92 | $79 |
| 1993 | $52 | $76 |
| 1992 | – | $87 |
| 1991 | – | $94 |
| 1990 | – | $109 |
| 1989 | – | $107 |
| 1988 | – | $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
Russia vs South Africa
Health
- Life expectancyRussia: 73.2 years in 2023South Africa: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityRussia: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityRussia: 3.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionRussia: 3.71% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateRussia: 25.1 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationRussia: 145 million people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthRussia: -0.32% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateRussia: 1.45 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationRussia: 75.3% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageRussia: 39.5 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overRussia: 16.6% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateRussia: 0.2 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingRussia: 7.5% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsRussia: $158B in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military share of state spendingRussia: 19.8% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelRussia: 1.45 million people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerRussia: 3.82% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersRussia: 1.98% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsRussia: 129 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsRussia: 1.94 billion TIV in 2025South Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025