Africa - Countries with the Highest Military Spending

By  Vince J , views , updated
Categories: World General Africa
Dataset contains 51 data items (see table below).

Overview

Which country spends the most in defense in Africa?
The country with the highest defense budget in Africa is Algeria at US$10,304M. At second and third, are Egypt with a budget of US$3,744M and Morocco with a military spending of US$3,721M.
The average military spending by countries in Africa is around US$789.3M.

 Compare Algeria with Cape Verde

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Percentage of GDP on Defense. Algeria's defence budget makes up 6% of its GDP - the highest in Africa. On average, countries in Africa spend %1.6 of their GDPs on defense.


These are the countries with the highest defense budgets in Africa:

Algeria.

Algerian army, 116th operational maneuver regiment (Special Forces 2020)

Algeria's defence budget is the highest in Africa. Algeria allocates about 6% of its GDP (estimated at US$10,304M) for its defence budget. Its percentage of GDP allocated to defence spending is the third-highest worldwide.

Algeria has the second-largest military force in Africa. Algeria has a military that is composed of 130,000 active personnel, 150,000 in reserve and 187,200 from paramilitary forces, totalling 467,200 or 11.2 military personnel per 1000 in population.

Algeria's battle tank force is the second-largest in Africa. On land, Algeria has a mobile force of 1,195 tanks. For aerial defence, Algeria has an air force of 120 military aircrafts and 77 attack helicopters.

Algeria's naval fleet is the second-largest in Africa. Algeria has a naval fleet of 18 vessels, including 6 non-nuclear submarines. Other offensive warships in the naval arsenal include 5 frigates and 6 corvettes.

 

 Compare Algeria with Central African Republic

 Compare Algeria with Morocco


Egypt.

Egyptian Military Power 2020 (Credit: Youtube/Northrop Devonte)

The country with the second-highest defence budget in Africa is Egypt. Egypt's defence expenditure is estimated to be US$3,744M (1.20% of its GDP).

Egypt has the largest military force in Africa. With a 1,314,500-strong military, Egypt has a per-capita ratio of 13.2 military personnel per 1000 in population. Its total military consists of 438,500 active personnel (largest in Africa), 479,000 reserve personnel and 397,000 from paramilitary forces.

Egypt's battle tank force is the largest in Africa. On land, Egypt has a mobile force of 4,295 tanks. For aerial defence, Egypt has an air force of 569 military aircrafts and 132 attack helicopters.

Egypt has the largest naval fleet in Africa. Egypt has a naval fleet of 22 vessels, including 8 non-nuclear submarines. The naval fleet also possesses numerous warships, including 7 frigates and 7 corvettes.

 

 Compare Egypt with Mauritania

 Compare Egypt with Malawi


Morocco.

Royal Moroccan Navy | 2015 (Credit: Youtube/Moroccan Military Power)

Morocco has the third-highest defence budget in Africa. Morocco's defence expenditure is estimated to be US$3,721M (3.10% of its GDP). Its percentage of GDP allocated to defence spending is the third-highest in Africa.

Morocco's military force is the third-largest in Africa. Morocco has a military of 395,800 personnel, with 195,800 active (third-largest in Africa), 150,000 in reserve and 50,000 from paramilitary forces, making up 11.5 military personnel per 1000 in population.

On land, Morocco has a mobile force of 434 tanks. For aerial defence, Morocco has an air force of 92 military aircrafts and 33 attack helicopters.

Rounding up the fleet of warships are 5 frigates, 1 destroyers and 1 corvettes.

 

 Compare Morocco with Mauritius

 Compare Morocco with Egypt


South Africa.

How powerful is the South African military? (Credit: Youtube/African Defence Review)

The defence budget of South Africa is estimated at US$3,465M at around 1% of its GDP.

South Africa has a military of 80,400 personnel, with 65,350 active and 15,050 in reserve, making up 1.5 military personnel per 1000 in population.

On land, South Africa has a mobile force of 34 tanks. For aerial defence, South Africa has an air force of 105 military aircrafts and 15 attack helicopters.

South Africa has a naval fleet of 7 vessels, including 3 non-nuclear submarines.

 

 Compare South Africa with Kenya

 Compare South Africa with Zimbabwe


Sudan.

Sudanese Special Operations Forces (Credit: Youtube/Power of African military)

Sudan allocates about 1.60% of its GDP (estimated at US$722M) for its defence budget.

Sudan has a military of 209,300 personnel, with 104,300 active and 105,000 from paramilitary forces, making up 4.9 military personnel per 1000 in population.

Sudan has the third-largest battle tank force in Africa. On land, Sudan has a mobile force of 465 tanks. For aerial defence, Sudan has an air force of 63 military aircrafts and 45 attack helicopters.

 

 Compare Sudan with Benin

 Compare Sudan with Republic Of The Congo


Uganda.

Uganda People's Defence Force 2018 (Credit: Youtube/The Marine)

Uganda allocates about 2.10% of its GDP (estimated at US$646M) for its defence budget.

Uganda has a military of 56,400 personnel, with 45,000 active, 10,000 in reserve and 1,400 from paramilitary forces, making up 1.4 military personnel per 1000 in population.

On land, Uganda has a mobile force of 239 tanks. For aerial defence, Uganda has an air force of 16 military aircrafts and 6 attack helicopters.

 

 Compare Uganda with Benin

 Compare Uganda with Seychelles


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Gap Analysis - NATO & Russia | Ukraine & Russia | China & Taiwan

Highest Military Budgets - World | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | Africa | Middle East | N. America | S. America

Largest Navy - World | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | S. America

Most Submarines - World | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | S. America

Largest Air Force - World | Africa | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | Middle East | N. America | S. America

Most Battle Tanks - World | Africa | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | Middle East

Attributions