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Military expenditure (% of GDP) — all countries

Military expenditure (% of GDP) — Saudi Arabia

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Saudi Arabia in 2024 — 7.3%. Ranked 4 in the world out of 147. Since 1963, the indicator has risen by 1.4 pp.

2024 7.3% +0.01 pp vs 2023
World rank 4of 147
Period maximum 19%1984
Period minimum 5.9%1963

Trend over time

1963–2024 · % of GDP

Military expenditure (% of GDP) — Saudi Arabia, 1963–20240510152019631970197719841991199820052012201920241963: 5.9%1964: 5.97%1965: 7.69%1966: 11.32%1967: 11.51%1968: 8.09%1969: 9.57%1970: 9.4%1971: 8.64%1972: 10.08%1973: 10.84%1977: 15.65%1978: 16.74%1979: 15.77%1980: 12.61%1981: 13.27%1982: 17.72%1983: 16.97%1984: 19%1985: 17%1987: 16.9%1988: 15.15%1989: 13.39%1990: 14.02%1991: 12.47%1992: 11.28%1993: 12.47%1994: 10.64%1995: 9.28%1996: 8.47%1997: 11%1998: 14.31%1999: 11.38%2000: 10.53%2001: 11.42%2002: 9.76%2003: 8.69%2004: 8.08%2005: 7.73%2006: 7.85%2007: 8.53%2008: 7.35%2009: 9.62%2010: 8.57%2011: 7.17%2012: 7.62%2013: 8.89%2014: 10.54%2015: 13.02%2016: 9.56%2017: 9.85%2018: 8.81%2019: 7.79%2020: 8.79%2021: 7.23%2022: 6.4%2023: 7.28%2024: 7.3%
Change over the period: +1.4 pp Annual average: 0.02 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Saudi Arabia 7.3%
World 2.47%
Middle East & North Africa 5.1%
Western Asia computed 4.91%
Military expenditure (% of GDP) — Saudi Arabia, by year Saudi Arabia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 7.3 +0.01 pp
2023 7.28 +0.89 pp
2022 6.4 −0.83 pp
2021 7.23 −1.56 pp
2020 8.79 +1 pp
2019 7.79 −1.02 pp
2018 8.81 −1.03 pp
2017 9.85 +0.29 pp
2016 9.56 −3.46 pp
2015 13.02 +2.49 pp
2014 10.54 +1.64 pp
2013 8.89 +1.27 pp
2012 7.62 +0.44 pp
2011 7.17 −1.39 pp
2010 8.57 −1.05 pp
2009 9.62 +2.26 pp
2008 7.35 −1.17 pp
2007 8.53 +0.68 pp
2006 7.85 +0.12 pp
2005 7.73 −0.35 pp
2004 8.08 −0.61 pp
2003 8.69 −1.07 pp
2002 9.76 −1.66 pp
2001 11.42 +0.88 pp
2000 10.53 −0.85 pp
1999 11.38 −2.93 pp
1998 14.31 +3.31 pp
1997 11 +2.53 pp
1996 8.47 −0.81 pp
1995 9.28 −1.37 pp
1994 10.64 −1.82 pp
1993 12.47 +1.18 pp
1992 11.28 −1.19 pp
1991 12.47 −1.55 pp
1990 14.02 +0.63 pp
1989 13.39 −1.76 pp
1988 15.15 −1.74 pp
1987 16.9 —
1985 17 −2.01 pp
1984 19 +2.03 pp
1983 16.97 −0.75 pp
1982 17.72 +4.46 pp
1981 13.27 +0.65 pp
1980 12.61 −3.16 pp
1979 15.77 −0.97 pp
1978 16.74 +1.09 pp
1977 15.65 —
1973 10.84 +0.76 pp
1972 10.08 +1.44 pp
1971 8.64 −0.76 pp
1970 9.4 −0.17 pp
1969 9.57 +1.48 pp
1968 8.09 −3.42 pp
1967 11.51 +0.19 pp
1966 11.32 +3.63 pp
1965 7.69 +1.72 pp
1964 5.97 +0.06 pp
1963 5.9 —

Western Asia, 2024

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

IL Israel 8.78 SA Saudi Arabia 7.3 OM Oman 5.59 AM Armenia 5.48 AZ Azerbaijan 4.99 KW Kuwait 4.84 JO Jordan 4.8 BH Bahrain 2.89 LB Lebanon 2.59 IQ Iraq 2.36 TR Türkiye 1.92 GE Georgia 1.86 CY Cyprus 1.65
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

Military expenditure as a percent of GDP under the SIPRI definition: current and capital spending on the armed forces, including peacekeeping forces, defense ministries, paramilitary forces, military R&D, pensions of military personnel and military aid. The NATO benchmark for member states is at least 2% of GDP.

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 share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Saudi Arabia by year Defense Armed forces personnel

The number of active-duty military personnel and paramilitary forces.

Saudi Arabia by year Economy Government consumption (% of GDP)

The share of GDP taken by government final consumption spending.

Saudi Arabia by year
All indicators for Saudi Arabia