Military personnel as a share of total population in South Africa
South Africa: Military personnel as a share of total population was 0.1186 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.1186
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
139th
of 194 countries
All-time high
1.28
in 1943
All-time low
0.0117
in 1930
Years of data
96
1923–2022
Military personnel as a share of total population in South Africa, 1923–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2022, military personnel as a share of total population in South Africa stood at 0.1186.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel as a share of total population in South Africa peaked at 1.28 in 1943 and was at its lowest, 0.0117, in 1930.
South Africa ranks 139th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military personnel as a share of total population in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1923 | 0.0274 | — |
| 1925 | 0.0261 | -4.6% |
| 1926 | 0.0255 | -2.3% |
| 1927 | 0.025 | -2.2% |
| 1928 | 0.0244 | -2.1% |
| 1929 | 0.0239 | -2.1% |
| 1930 | 0.0117 | -51.0% |
| 1931 | 0.0229 | +95.9% |
| 1932 | 0.0225 | -2.0% |
| 1933 | 0.022 | -1.9% |
| 1934 | 0.0324 | +47.1% |
| 1935 | 0.0424 | +30.8% |
| 1936 | 0.0416 | -1.9% |
| 1937 | 0.0408 | -1.9% |
| 1938 | 0.0401 | -1.8% |
| 1939 | 0.0492 | +22.7% |
| 1941 | 1.14 | +2216.6% |
| 1943 | 1.28 | +12.8% |
| 1944 | 1.26 | -1.6% |
| 1946 | 0.3493 | -72.4% |
| 1947 | 0.2566 | -26.5% |
| 1948 | 0.0836 | -67.4% |
| 1949 | 0.0737 | -11.9% |
| 1950 | 0.0751 | +1.9% |
| 1951 | 0.0808 | +7.6% |
| 1952 | 0.0934 | +15.6% |
| 1953 | 0.0983 | +5.3% |
| 1954 | 0.103 | +4.7% |
| 1955 | 0.1073 | +4.2% |
| 1956 | 0.1114 | +3.8% |
| 1957 | 0.1217 | +9.2% |
| 1958 | 0.125 | +2.8% |
| 1959 | 0.1282 | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 0.1285 | +0.3% |
| 1961 | 0.1365 | +6.3% |
| 1962 | 0.133 | -2.6% |
| 1963 | 0.2426 | +82.5% |
| 1964 | 0.2621 | +8.0% |
| 1965 | 0.2805 | +7.0% |
| 1966 | 0.248 | -11.6% |
| 1967 | 0.2413 | -2.7% |
| 1968 | 0.2583 | +7.1% |
| 1969 | 0.2514 | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 0.1781 | -29.1% |
| 1971 | 0.2602 | +46.1% |
| 1972 | 0.3167 | +21.7% |
| 1973 | 0.1644 | -48.1% |
| 1974 | 0.18 | +9.5% |
| 1975 | 0.1948 | +8.2% |
| 1976 | 0.2239 | +15.0% |
| 1977 | 0.2479 | +10.7% |
| 1978 | 0.2813 | +13.5% |
| 1979 | 0.2461 | -12.5% |
| 1980 | 0.24 | -2.5% |
| 1981 | 0.2607 | +8.6% |
| 1982 | 0.2542 | -2.5% |
| 1983 | 0.2447 | -3.7% |
| 1984 | 0.3007 | +22.9% |
| 1985 | 0.2875 | -4.4% |
| 1986 | 0.266 | -7.5% |
| 1987 | 0.2946 | +10.7% |
| 1988 | 0.2823 | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 0.276 | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 0.2293 | -16.9% |
| 1991 | 0.2105 | -8.2% |
| 1992 | 0.1932 | -8.2% |
| 1993 | 0.1893 | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 0.1855 | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 0.1818 | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 0.1769 | -2.7% |
| 1997 | 0.1731 | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 0.1906 | +10.1% |
| 1999 | 0.1704 | -10.6% |
| 2000 | 0.156 | -8.4% |
| 2001 | 0.138 | -11.6% |
| 2002 | 0.1299 | -5.9% |
| 2003 | 0.1195 | -8.0% |
| 2004 | 0.1178 | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 0.1161 | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 0.1145 | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 0.125 | +9.2% |
| 2008 | 0.1233 | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 0.1218 | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 0.1205 | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 0.1193 | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 0.1184 | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 0.1153 | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 0.1137 | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 0.1121 | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 0.1196 | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 0.1162 | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 0.1126 | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1091 | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 0.1238 | +13.5% |
| 2021 | 0.1203 | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 0.1186 | -1.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.1186 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.2891, 41% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.1186 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.1245, 95% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military personnel as a share of total population in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | +2216.6% | 0.0492 | 1.14 |
| 1931 | +95.9% | 0.0117 | 0.0229 |
| 1963 | +82.5% | 0.133 | 0.2426 |
| 1946 | -72.4% | 1.26 | 0.3493 |
| 1948 | -67.4% | 0.2566 | 0.0836 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 0.0254 | 0.0239 | 0.0274 | 6 |
| 1930s | 0.0326 | 0.0117 | 0.0492 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.6357 | 0.0737 | 1.28 | 7 |
| 1950s | 0.1044 | 0.0751 | 0.1282 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.2182 | 0.1285 | 0.2805 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.2293 | 0.1644 | 0.3167 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.2707 | 0.24 | 0.3007 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1901 | 0.1704 | 0.2293 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1262 | 0.1145 | 0.156 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1157 | 0.1091 | 0.1205 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1209 | 0.1186 | 0.1238 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 136 Democratic Republic of Congo 0.1309 compare
- 137 Niger 0.1304 compare
- 138 Philippines 0.1272 compare
- 140 Libya 0.1123 compare
- 141 Sierra Leone 0.1087 compare
- 142 Yemen 0.1046 compare
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.23 (2100)
- Population density 77.75 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.55 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel as a share of total population in South Africa?
- Military personnel as a share of total population in South Africa was 0.1186 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel as a share of total population recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.28 in 1943.
- What is the lowest military personnel as a share of total population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0117 in 1930.
- How does South Africa rank for military personnel as a share of total population?
- South Africa ranks 139th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Military personnel as a share of total population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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