African Defense Spending Continues to Rise in 2025
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Trends in World Military Expenditure 2025 report, African countries collectively spent $58.2 billion on defense in 2025. This marks the third straight year of growth, with an 8.5 percent increase over 2024 and a 45 percent rise compared with 2016 levels.
The upward trend reflects evolving security challenges across the continent, though the increase is not uniform. North Africa drives most of the growth, while sub‑Saharan states show a more mixed picture.
North Africa’s Military Outlay
Total military spending in the North African region reached $35 billion in 2025, up 9.3 percent year‑on‑year and 67 percent higher than in 2016. The surge underscores the severity of regional security concerns, particularly the long‑standing dispute over Western Sahara.
Algeria: the continent’s top spender
Algeria led African defense budgets with a $25.4 billion allocation in 2025, an 11 percent increase from 2024. This figure represents roughly 25 percent of the Algerian government’s total expenditure, the second‑largest share globally after Ukraine, highlighting how security priorities dominate fiscal planning.
Morocco’s steady climb
Morocco also boosted its defense outlay, spending $6.3 billion in 2025, a 6.6 percent rise over the previous year. The simultaneous increases in Algeria and Morocco are largely attributed to heightened tensions over the Western Sahara territory, which flared again in 2025.
SIPRI notes: “The spending by both Morocco and Algeria is largely due to long‑standing tensions between the two, particularly over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, which further escalated in 2025.”
Sub‑Saharan Africa: varied trajectories
In sub‑Saharan Africa, military expenditures totaled $23.3 billion in 2025, reflecting a 7.4 percent increase from 2024 and a 21 percent rise since 2016. The growth is driven by multiple conflict zones and internal security challenges.
Nigeria: sharp rise amid insurgency
Nigeria recorded one of the biggest jumps, with defense spending climbing 55 percent to $2.1 billion in 2025. SIPRI links this surge to the deteriorating security situation caused by insurgent groups and extremist violence in the country’s northeast and northwest regions.
South Africa: budget pressures and oversight
South Africa, historically the region’s largest defense spender, allocated $3.2 billion in 2025—a slight decline from 2024 and notably below its 2016 level. The reduction reflects tighter fiscal constraints and shifting economic priorities. Meanwhile, the country’s auditor general is investigating approximately $900 million in potentially improper defense expenditures from previous years, adding a layer of scrutiny to military financing.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: short‑term spike
In the first half of 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s defense spending rose 20 percent to $1.2 billion as fighting intensified with a Rwandan‑backed armed group. A ceasefire agreement reached in July 2025 temporarily eased hostilities, but the episode illustrates how localized conflicts can prompt rapid budget adjustments.
Somalia: long‑term growth despite recent dip
Somalia allocated $199 million for defense in the first half of 2025. While this figure is lower than the comparable 2024 amount, it represents a 173 percent increase since 2016, underscoring the enduring pressure posed by the al‑Shabab insurgency, which continues to control parts of the country.
Takeaways
- African defense spending grew for the third consecutive year, driven primarily by North Africa.
- Algeria’s budget now consumes a quarter of government spending, second only to Ukraine worldwide.
- Morocco’s rise mirrors Algeria’s, both linked to the Western Sahara dispute.
- In sub‑Saharan Africa, Nigeria’s spending surged amid worsening insurgency, while South Africa faces budget cuts and financial audits.
- Localized conflicts, such as those in the DRC and Somalia, can cause sharp, short‑term spikes in military outlays.
These trends highlight how security perceptions—whether regional rivalries, internal insurgencies, or transnational threats—continue to shape fiscal decisions across the continent. Policymakers and analysts will need to balance defense imperatives with developmental needs as Africa navigates a complex security landscape.
