Army comparison: Nigeria vs South Africa
Overview
Nigeria operates 2,050 active military vehicles vs 2,043 for South Africa. Additionally, Nigeria has 31 and South Africa has 2,442 vehicles in storage.
The breakdown includes 299 vs 200 tanks, 62 vs 608 infantry fighting vehicles, 978 vs 1,070 armored personnel carriers, 25 vs 52 self-propelled artillery, 304 vs 72 towed artillery, 25 vs 35 rocket launchers (Nigeria vs South Africa).
Nigerian Army 🇳🇬
| Total vehicles | 2050 as of 2026 |
| In storage | 31 |
South African Army 🇿🇦
| Total vehicles | 2043 as of 2026 |
| In storage | 2442 |
| On order | 232 |
Nigerian vehicles by category
| Vehicle category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Main Battle Tank | 299 | |
| Infantry Fighting Vehicle | 62 | |
| Armored Personnel Carrier | 978 | |
| Light Armoured Vehicle | 357 | |
| Tank Destroyer | 0 | |
| Self-Propelled Artillery | 25 | |
| Towed Artillery | 304 | |
| Multiple Launch Rocket System | 25 | |
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, Nigeria or South Africa?
Nigeria has a larger ground force with 2,050 vehicles compared to South Africa's 2,043 vehicles.
Which country has more tanks, Nigeria or South Africa?
Nigeria operates more main battle tanks with 299 compared to South Africa's 200.
Which army has more infantry fighting vehicles, Nigeria or South Africa?
South Africa has 608 infantry fighting vehicles compared to Nigeria's 62.
Which country has more armored personnel carriers, Nigeria or South Africa?
South Africa operates 1,070 APCs compared to Nigeria's 978.
Which country has more artillery systems, Nigeria or South Africa?
Nigeria fields 354 artillery systems (self-propelled, towed, and MLRS) compared to South Africa's 159.