Africa · Southern Africa. Figures are educated estimates from open reporting or, where marked, formula-modeled. Blank fields are not estimated, not assumed zero.
Overview
South Africa is located in Africa (Southern Africa). It has an estimated population of 63,000,000, with a nominal GDP of roughly $400 billion (about $6,349 per capita). Its armed forces field an estimated 75,000 active-duty personnel, backed by roughly 15,000 reservists, ranking #54 of 174 countries in this dataset by active personnel. Estimated annual defense spending is around $3B, roughly 0.8% of GDP. Its inventory includes an estimated 220 military aircraft, 190 tanks, 45 naval vessels. South Africa's air fleet is assessed as aging and its armored fleet as aging in this dataset's modernity model.
Auto-generated from the figures on this page — not independently researched prose.
Active Conflicts
No tracked active conflicts involving South Africa.
Category Shape vs. world, log scale
Economy & Demographics
👥Population
63,000,000#24 of 196
📈GDP (Nominal)
$400B#39 of 194
💵GDP Per Capita
$6,349#104 of 194
Manpower
🪖Active Personnel
75,000#54 of 174
🎖️Reserve Personnel
15,000#77 of 141
👮Paramilitary Forces
n/a
Financials & Strategic
💰Defense Budget
$3B#59 of 178
☢️Nuclear Warheads
None declared
🛰️Drone / UAV Capability
Undocumented
Airpower
✈️Total Aircraft
220#43 of 98
🛩️Fighter Aircraft
25#54 of 78
🛫Bombers & Other Aircraft
195
🚁Helicopters (Total)
n/a
✈️Air Fleet Modernity
LIKELY AGING
Heuristic: defense spend per soldier ~$40k/yr — estimated from defense spending per soldier, not a fleet inspection.
Land Power
🛡️Tank Strength
190#58 of 93
🚚Armored Vehicles
n/a
💥Towed Artillery
n/a
🛡️Armor Fleet Modernity
LIKELY AGING
Naval Power
⚓Fleet Strength
45#52 of 84
🌊Submarines
3
🛳️Aircraft Carriers
n/a
⚓Naval Fleet Modernity
LIKELY AGING
Compare South Africa
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Economic confidence: High. Military confidence: Low.