Military expenditure share of the budget — all countries

Military expenditure share of the budget — Southern Africa

Military expenditure share of the budget in Southern Africa in 2024 — 2.73%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 2.99 pp.

2024 2.73% −0.13 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 6.38%2002
Period minimum 2.73%2024

Trend over time

2000–2024 · % of government expenditure

Military expenditure share of the budget — Southern Africa, 2000–20242345672000200320062009201220152018202120242000: 5.72%2001: 6.14%2002: 6.38%2003: 6.01%2004: 5.56%2005: 5.17%2006: 5%2007: 4.7%2008: 4.34%2009: 4.17%2010: 3.93%2011: 3.88%2012: 3.93%2013: 3.9%2014: 3.94%2015: 3.87%2016: 3.95%2017: 3.79%2018: 3.54%2019: 3.42%2020: 3.41%2021: 3.11%2022: 3.12%2023: 2.86%2024: 2.73%
Change over the period: −2.99 pp Annual average: -0.12 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Southern Africa

Southern Africa 2.73%
World 6.75%
Military expenditure share of the budget — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 2.73 −0.13 pp
2023 2.86 −0.26 pp
2022 3.12 +0.01 pp
2021 3.11 −0.29 pp
2020 3.41 −0.01 pp
2019 3.42 −0.13 pp
2018 3.54 −0.24 pp
2017 3.79 −0.16 pp
2016 3.95 +0.08 pp
2015 3.87 −0.07 pp
2014 3.94 +0.03 pp
2013 3.9 −0.02 pp
2012 3.93 +0.04 pp
2011 3.88 −0.04 pp
2010 3.93 −0.24 pp
2009 4.17 −0.17 pp
2008 4.34 −0.37 pp
2007 4.7 −0.3 pp
2006 5 −0.17 pp
2005 5.17 −0.39 pp
2004 5.56 −0.45 pp
2003 6.01 −0.37 pp
2002 6.38 +0.24 pp
2001 6.14 +0.42 pp
2000 5.72

About the indicator

Military expenditure as a percent of total general government expenditure. Unlike the share of GDP it shows priorities inside the budget: a country can spend little on defense as a percent of GDP, yet with a small state that will be a substantial part of all government spending — and the other way round.

Important: The aggregate for country groups is weighted by government consumption in dollars: it makes up about two thirds of all budget spending, and the source does not publish budget expenditure in absolute terms.

Source: Military Expenditure Database (SIPRI), license SIPRI terms of use.