China vs Saudi Arabia: Military spending, per square kilometre
China
31,126 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre
in 2023
Saudi Arabia
36,786 constant 2024 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 36,786 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre against 31,126 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre in China, a difference of 5,660 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre.
That makes Saudi Arabia's figure about 1.2 times China's.
Across all 35 years both countries report, Saudi Arabia has been ahead every year.
China ranks 39th and Saudi Arabia ranks 37th of 161 countries.
Saudi Arabia has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | Saudi Arabia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,120 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 11,779 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 9,659 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | Saudi Arabia |
| 1990s | 2,934 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 13,594 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 10,660 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | Saudi Arabia |
| 2000s | 8,114 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 20,770 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 12,656 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | Saudi Arabia |
| 2010s | 20,021 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 36,427 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 16,406 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | Saudi Arabia |
| 2020s | 28,888 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 33,866 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 4,977 constant 2024 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 36,786 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre against 31,126 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre in China as of 2023.
- What is the difference in military spending, per square kilometre between China and Saudi Arabia?
- 5,660 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre, with Saudi Arabia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and Saudi Arabia?
- 35 years are reported by both, from 1989 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 161 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.