Saudi Arabia vs Syria: Armed forces personnel
Saudi Arabia
282,000
in 2020
Syria
269,000
in 2020
Saudi Arabia rank
25th
Syria rank
26th
Armed forces personnel over time
- Saudi Arabia
- Syria
How they compare
Saudi Arabia currently reports 282,000 against 269,000 in Syria, a difference of 13,000.
The two have swapped places 5 times across 33 shared years of data; in 1985 it was Syria ahead.
Saudi Arabia ranks 25th and Syria ranks 26th of 173 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, Saudi Arabia averaged higher in 1 and Syria in 4.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Saudi Arabia | Syria | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 72,250 | 401,250 | 329,000 | Syria |
| 1990s | 173,500 | 429,200 | 255,700 | Syria |
| 2000s | 225,920 | 414,480 | 188,560 | Syria |
| 2010s | 250,900 | 256,800 | 5,900 | Syria |
| 2020s | 282,000 | 269,000 | 13,000 | Saudi Arabia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher armed forces personnel, Saudi Arabia or Syria?
- Saudi Arabia, at 282,000 against 269,000 in Syria as of 2020.
- What is the difference in armed forces personnel between Saudi Arabia and Syria?
- 13,000, with Saudi Arabia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Saudi Arabia and Syria?
- 33 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2020.
- How do Saudi Arabia and Syria rank globally for armed forces personnel?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 25th and Syria ranks 26th of 173 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Armed forces personnel. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if their training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.