Military personnel as a share of total population in South Africa
South Africa: Military personnel as a share of total population was 0.1% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.1%
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
139th
of 194 countries
All-time high
1.3%
in 1943
All-time low
0.0%
in 1930
Years of data
96
1923–2022
Military personnel as a share of total population in South Africa, 1923–2022
Source: Correlates of War - National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, military personnel as a share of total population in South Africa stood at 0.1%.
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 1.3% in 1943 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, 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 | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1923 | 0.0% | — |
| 1925 | 0.0% | -4.6% |
| 1926 | 0.0% | -2.3% |
| 1927 | 0.0% | -2.2% |
| 1928 | 0.0% | -2.1% |
| 1929 | 0.0% | -2.1% |
| 1930 | 0.0% | -51.0% |
| 1931 | 0.0% | +95.9% |
| 1932 | 0.0% | -2.0% |
| 1933 | 0.0% | -1.9% |
| 1934 | 0.0% | +47.1% |
| 1935 | 0.0% | +30.8% |
| 1936 | 0.0% | -1.9% |
| 1937 | 0.0% | -1.9% |
| 1938 | 0.0% | -1.8% |
| 1939 | 0.0% | +22.7% |
| 1941 | 1.1% | +2216.6% |
| 1943 | 1.3% | +12.8% |
| 1944 | 1.3% | -1.6% |
| 1946 | 0.3% | -72.4% |
| 1947 | 0.3% | -26.5% |
| 1948 | 0.1% | -67.4% |
| 1949 | 0.1% | -11.9% |
| 1950 | 0.1% | +1.9% |
| 1951 | 0.1% | +7.6% |
| 1952 | 0.1% | +15.6% |
| 1953 | 0.1% | +5.3% |
| 1954 | 0.1% | +4.7% |
| 1955 | 0.1% | +4.2% |
| 1956 | 0.1% | +3.8% |
| 1957 | 0.1% | +9.2% |
| 1958 | 0.1% | +2.8% |
| 1959 | 0.1% | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 0.1% | +0.3% |
| 1961 | 0.1% | +6.3% |
| 1962 | 0.1% | -2.6% |
| 1963 | 0.2% | +82.5% |
| 1964 | 0.3% | +8.0% |
| 1965 | 0.3% | +7.0% |
| 1966 | 0.2% | -11.6% |
| 1967 | 0.2% | -2.7% |
| 1968 | 0.3% | +7.1% |
| 1969 | 0.3% | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 0.2% | -29.1% |
| 1971 | 0.3% | +46.1% |
| 1972 | 0.3% | +21.7% |
| 1973 | 0.2% | -48.1% |
| 1974 | 0.2% | +9.5% |
| 1975 | 0.2% | +8.2% |
| 1976 | 0.2% | +15.0% |
| 1977 | 0.2% | +10.7% |
| 1978 | 0.3% | +13.5% |
| 1979 | 0.2% | -12.5% |
| 1980 | 0.2% | -2.5% |
| 1981 | 0.3% | +8.6% |
| 1982 | 0.3% | -2.5% |
| 1983 | 0.2% | -3.7% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | +22.9% |
| 1985 | 0.3% | -4.4% |
| 1986 | 0.3% | -7.5% |
| 1987 | 0.3% | +10.7% |
| 1988 | 0.3% | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 0.3% | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 0.2% | -16.9% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | -8.2% |
| 1992 | 0.2% | -8.2% |
| 1993 | 0.2% | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 0.2% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | -2.7% |
| 1997 | 0.2% | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | +10.1% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | -10.6% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | -8.4% |
| 2001 | 0.1% | -11.6% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | -5.9% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | -8.0% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | +9.2% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | +13.5% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | -1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6 |
| 1930s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.6% | 0.1% | 1.3% | 7 |
| 1950s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 136 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 0.1% compare
- 137 Niger 0.1% compare
- 138 Philippines 0.1% compare
- 140 Libya 0.1% compare
- 141 Sierra Leone 0.1% compare
- 142 Yemen 0.1% 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)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (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 0.1% in 2022, according to Correlates of War - National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by 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 1.3% in 1943.
- What is the lowest military personnel as a share of total population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% 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 Correlates of War - National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by 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
CSV · JSON — 96 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Ratio of military personnel to total population, expressed as a percentage.