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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Saudi Arabia

Armed forces personnel in Saudi Arabia in 2020 — 282,000 people. Ranked 25 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 351.2%.

2020 282,000 people +11.9% vs 2019
World rank 25of 170
Period maximum 282,000 people2020
Period minimum 62,500 people1985

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Saudi Arabia, 1985–20200100,000200,000300,00019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 62,500 people1989: 82,000 people1990: 146,000 people1991: 191,000 people1992: 172,000 people1993: 172,000 people1994: 164,000 people1995: 177,500 people1996: 178,500 people1997: 178,000 people1998: 178,000 people1999: 178,000 people2000: 217,000 people2001: 217,200 people2002: 215,000 people2003: 215,000 people2004: 214,000 people2005: 216,000 people2006: 240,000 people2007: 238,000 people2008: 238,000 people2009: 249,000 people2010: 249,000 people2011: 249,000 people2012: 249,000 people2013: 251,500 people2014: 251,500 people2015: 251,500 people2016: 251,500 people2017: 252,000 people2018: 252,000 people2019: 252,000 people2020: 282,000 people
Change over the period: +219,500 (+351.2%) Average annual rate: 4.4 %

Comparison, 2020

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia 282,000 people
World 27.41M people
Middle East & North Africa 4.83M people
Western Asia computed 2.28M people
High-income countries computed 6.77M people
Armed forces personnel — Saudi Arabia, by year Saudi Arabia All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 282,000 +30,000 +11.9%
2019 252,000 +0 +0%
2018 252,000 +0 +0%
2017 252,000 +500 +0.2%
2016 251,500 +0 +0%
2015 251,500 +0 +0%
2014 251,500 +0 +0%
2013 251,500 +2,500 +1%
2012 249,000 +0 +0%
2011 249,000 +0 +0%
2010 249,000 +0 +0%
2009 249,000 +11,000 +4.62%
2008 238,000 +0 +0%
2007 238,000 −2,000 −0.83%
2006 240,000 +24,000 +11.11%
2005 216,000 +2,000 +0.93%
2004 214,000 −1,000 −0.47%
2003 215,000 +0 +0%
2002 215,000 −2,200 −1.01%
2001 217,200 +200 +0.09%
2000 217,000 +39,000 +21.91%
1999 178,000 +0 +0%
1998 178,000 +0 +0%
1997 178,000 −500 −0.28%
1996 178,500 +1,000 +0.56%
1995 177,500 +13,500 +8.23%
1994 164,000 −8,000 −4.65%
1993 172,000 +0 +0%
1992 172,000 −19,000 −9.95%
1991 191,000 +45,000 +30.82%
1990 146,000 +64,000 +78.05%
1989 82,000 — —
1985 62,500 — —

Western Asia, 2020

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

TR Türkiye 512,000 IQ Iraq 459,000 SA Saudi Arabia 282,000 SY Syria 269,000 IL Israel 178,000 JO Jordan 116,000 AZ Azerbaijan 82,000 LB Lebanon 80,000 AE United Arab Emirates 63,000 AM Armenia 47,000 OM Oman 47,000 YE Yemen 40,000 GE Georgia 26,000 KW Kuwait 25,000 QA Qatar 22,000 BH Bahrain 19,000 CY Cyprus 13,000 PS Palestine 0
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The total number of active military personnel: all branches of the armed forces, as well as paramilitary forces if their training, structure and equipment allow them to be used in support of the regular forces. Reservists are not counted. Estimates of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

Source: Military Expenditure Database (SIPRI), license SIPRI terms of use.

Other indicators for Saudi Arabia

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Saudi Arabia by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Saudi Arabia by year Demography Population

Resident population of every country as of mid-year — series from 1960 onward.

Saudi Arabia by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Saudi Arabia by year Defense Arms exports

Transfers of major conventional weapons abroad, in SIPRI trend-indicator values (TIV).

Saudi Arabia by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Saudi Arabia by year
All indicators for Saudi Arabia