Army comparison: Ethiopia vs South Africa
Overview
Ethiopia's army fields 4,753 active vehicles — 2.3x South Africa's 2,043. Additionally, Ethiopia has 0 and South Africa has 2,442 vehicles in storage.
The breakdown includes 1,531 vs 200 tanks, 20 vs 608 infantry fighting vehicles, 622 vs 1,070 armored personnel carriers, 142 vs 52 self-propelled artillery, 887 vs 72 towed artillery, 79 vs 35 rocket launchers (Ethiopia vs South Africa).
Ethiopian Army 🇪🇹
| Total vehicles | 4753 as of 2026 |
South African Army 🇿🇦
| Total vehicles | 2043 as of 2026 |
| In storage | 2442 |
| On order | 232 |
Ethiopian vehicles by category
| Vehicle category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Main Battle Tank | 1531 | |
| Infantry Fighting Vehicle | 20 | |
| Armored Personnel Carrier | 622 | |
| Light Armoured Vehicle | 1472 | |
| Tank Destroyer | 0 | |
| Self-Propelled Artillery | 142 | |
| Towed Artillery | 887 | |
| Multiple Launch Rocket System | 79 | |
South African vehicles by category
| Vehicle category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Main Battle Tank | 200 | |
| Infantry Fighting Vehicle | 608 | |
| Armored Personnel Carrier | 1070 | |
| Light Armoured Vehicle | 6 | |
| Tank Destroyer | 0 | |
| Self-Propelled Artillery | 52 | |
| Towed Artillery | 72 | |
| Multiple Launch Rocket System | 35 | |
Vehicle Categories Radar Comparison
Ground Forces Analysis
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more armored vehicles, Ethiopia or South Africa?
Ethiopia has a larger ground force with 4,753 vehicles compared to South Africa's 2,043 vehicles.
Which country has more tanks, Ethiopia or South Africa?
Ethiopia operates more main battle tanks with 1,531 compared to South Africa's 200.
Which army has more infantry fighting vehicles, Ethiopia or South Africa?
South Africa has 608 infantry fighting vehicles compared to Ethiopia's 20.
Which country has more armored personnel carriers, Ethiopia or South Africa?
South Africa operates 1,070 APCs compared to Ethiopia's 622.
Which country has more artillery systems, Ethiopia or South Africa?
Ethiopia fields 1,108 artillery systems (self-propelled, towed, and MLRS) compared to South Africa's 159.
How do the Ethiopia and South Africa armies compare in size?
Ethiopia's army is 2.3 times larger than South Africa's in terms of total vehicles (4,753 vs 2,043).