Military spending as a share of GDP in South Sudan
South Sudan: Military spending as a share of GDP was 3.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military spending as a share of GDP in South Sudan, 2008–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
South Sudan recorded 3.4% for military spending as a share of gdp in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 47.7% on the previous year and down 60.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of gdp in South Sudan peaked at 8.8% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 2021.
That places South Sudan 23rd out of 166 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Military spending as a share of GDP in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 5.8% | — |
| 2009 | 5.0% | -13.8% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | -16.7% |
| 2011 | 6.1% | +47.2% |
| 2012 | 8.8% | +43.9% |
| 2013 | 6.6% | -25.1% |
| 2014 | 8.6% | +30.5% |
| 2015 | 8.6% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | -43.7% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | -17.6% |
| 2018 | 4.8% | +19.6% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | -20.4% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | -50.9% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | -19.0% |
| 2022 | 1.6% | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 2.4% | +51.1% |
| 2024 | 6.5% | +175.3% |
| 2025 | 3.4% | -47.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.4% | 5.0% | 5.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | 3.8% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 1.5% | 6.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
More economy & growth data for South Sudan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.82 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.77 Percent per annum (2029)
- GDP (current LCU), annual growth rate 4.99 % change on previous year (2015)
- Gdp worldbank constant usd, per capita 1,080 units per person (2015)
- GDP (current LCU), per unit of GDP 3.6 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2015)
- GDP (current LCU), per capita 3,893 current LCU per person (2015)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate -10.79 % change on previous year (2015)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 1 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Manufacturing value added to gdp, per capita 0 units per person (2015)
- Services, value added (current LCU), annual growth rate 29.9 % change on previous year (2015)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of gdp in South Sudan?
- Military spending as a share of gdp in South Sudan was 3.4% in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 8.8% in 2012.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 2021.
- How does South Sudan rank for military spending as a share of gdp?
- South Sudan ranks 23rd out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Sudan data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total military expenditure divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.