Military Expenditure in South Africa, 1960-2022

South Africa's military expenditure saw significant changes over the decades, largely influenced by its internal political and social dynamics. In the 1960s and 1970s, military spending hovered between 1-3% of GDP, reflecting the country’s military involvement in regional conflicts, particularly in Southern Africa. The 1980s saw a rise in military expenditure, peaking at 5.3% of GDP in 1977, as South Africa faced increased pressure from neighboring countries and the international community due to its apartheid policies.

In the 1990s, after the end of apartheid, South Africa's military expenditure dropped significantly, reaching as low as 1.0% by the 2010s, as the country shifted focus to post-apartheid reconstruction and economic growth. From 2016 onwards, military spending remained at or near 1.0%, signaling a period of fiscal restraint and prioritizing domestic issues over defense expansion. By 2022, defense spending had further declined to 0.7%, reflecting economic challenges and the country’s shifting defense priorities in a changing global landscape.