China vs Saudi Arabia: Military spending, per square kilometre
China
37,225 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre
in 2023
Saudi Arabia
41,099 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre
in 2023
China rank
39th
Saudi Arabia rank
37th
Military spending, per square kilometre over time
- China
- Saudi Arabia
How they compare
Saudi Arabia currently reports 41,099 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre against 37,225 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre in China, a difference of 3,874 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre.
That makes Saudi Arabia's figure about 1.1 times China's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 63 shared years of data; in 1961 it was China ahead.
China ranks 39th and Saudi Arabia ranks 37th of 171 countries.
Across the 7 decades both report, China averaged higher in 2 and Saudi Arabia in 5.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | Saudi Arabia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7,397 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 650.21 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 6,746 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | China |
| 1970s | 11,337 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 8,696 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 2,641 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | China |
| 1980s | 5,312 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 20,325 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 15,013 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | Saudi Arabia |
| 1990s | 4,484 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 15,237 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 10,753 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | Saudi Arabia |
| 2000s | 8,081 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 17,487 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 9,406 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | Saudi Arabia |
| 2010s | 18,227 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 36,296 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 18,070 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | Saudi Arabia |
| 2020s | 34,322 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 39,045 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 4,722 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | Saudi Arabia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher military spending, per square kilometre, China or Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia, at 41,099 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre against 37,225 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre in China as of 2023.
- What is the difference in military spending, per square kilometre between China and Saudi Arabia?
- 3,874 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre, with Saudi Arabia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and Saudi Arabia?
- 63 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2023.
- How do China and Saudi Arabia rank globally for military spending, per square kilometre?
- China ranks 39th and Saudi Arabia ranks 37th of 171 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Statizoid (derived), published as Military spending, per square kilometre. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Military spending divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.