Military spending, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Military spending, annual growth rate was 4.97 % change on previous year in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
4.97 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 72.6%
World rank
91st
of 172 countries
All-time high
241.75 % change on previous year
in 1954
All-time low
-23.13 % change on previous year
in 1959
Years of data
91
1933–2023
Military spending, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia, 1933–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia stood at 4.97 % change on previous year.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 72.6% on the previous year and down 56.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia peaked at 241.75 % change on previous year in 1954 and was at its lowest, -23.13 % change on previous year, in 1959.
That places Saudi Arabia 91st out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 10.97 % change on previous year | — |
| 1934 | 29.49 % change on previous year | +168.9% |
| 1935 | 7.84 % change on previous year | -73.4% |
| 1936 | 6.41 % change on previous year | -18.2% |
| 1937 | 12.52 % change on previous year | +95.3% |
| 1938 | 14.26 % change on previous year | +13.9% |
| 1939 | 1.13 % change on previous year | -92.0% |
| 1940 | 18.8 % change on previous year | +1557.6% |
| 1941 | 1.79 % change on previous year | -90.5% |
| 1942 | -0.3059 % change on previous year | -117.1% |
| 1943 | -2.99 % change on previous year | +878.1% |
| 1944 | 10.65 % change on previous year | -455.8% |
| 1945 | 15.31 % change on previous year | +43.8% |
| 1946 | -12.3 % change on previous year | -180.3% |
| 1947 | -7.5 % change on previous year | -39.0% |
| 1948 | -0.4649 % change on previous year | -93.8% |
| 1949 | 24.62 % change on previous year | -5395.5% |
| 1950 | -9.39 % change on previous year | -138.1% |
| 1951 | -3.57 % change on previous year | -61.9% |
| 1952 | 7.72 % change on previous year | -316.2% |
| 1953 | 31.36 % change on previous year | +306.0% |
| 1954 | 241.75 % change on previous year | +671.0% |
| 1955 | 0.7896 % change on previous year | -99.7% |
| 1956 | 1.19 % change on previous year | +50.4% |
| 1957 | -17.73 % change on previous year | -1593.5% |
| 1958 | -7.03 % change on previous year | -60.3% |
| 1959 | -23.13 % change on previous year | +228.8% |
| 1960 | -7.71 % change on previous year | -66.7% |
| 1961 | 3.47 % change on previous year | -145.1% |
| 1962 | 14.92 % change on previous year | +329.3% |
| 1963 | 18.25 % change on previous year | +22.4% |
| 1964 | 14.76 % change on previous year | -19.1% |
| 1965 | 12.76 % change on previous year | -13.5% |
| 1966 | 25.29 % change on previous year | +98.2% |
| 1967 | 85.33 % change on previous year | +237.4% |
| 1968 | -7.35 % change on previous year | -108.6% |
| 1969 | 18.78 % change on previous year | -355.5% |
| 1970 | 6.41 % change on previous year | -65.9% |
| 1971 | 16.07 % change on previous year | +150.6% |
| 1972 | 31.08 % change on previous year | +93.4% |
| 1973 | 60.71 % change on previous year | +95.3% |
| 1974 | 16.21 % change on previous year | -73.3% |
| 1975 | 145.92 % change on previous year | +800.2% |
| 1976 | 53.52 % change on previous year | -63.3% |
| 1977 | 0.7481 % change on previous year | -98.6% |
| 1978 | 22.2 % change on previous year | +2866.8% |
| 1979 | 19.44 % change on previous year | -12.4% |
| 1980 | 13.77 % change on previous year | -29.2% |
| 1981 | 8.23 % change on previous year | -40.3% |
| 1982 | 8.24 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 1983 | -9.74 % change on previous year | -218.2% |
| 1984 | -9.45 % change on previous year | -2.9% |
| 1985 | -17.08 % change on previous year | +80.8% |
| 1986 | -4.38 % change on previous year | -74.4% |
| 1987 | -13.87 % change on previous year | +217.0% |
| 1988 | -11.59 % change on previous year | -16.5% |
| 1989 | 4.42 % change on previous year | -138.1% |
| 1990 | 21.24 % change on previous year | +380.7% |
| 1991 | 28.13 % change on previous year | +32.4% |
| 1992 | -22.51 % change on previous year | -180.0% |
| 1993 | -11.64 % change on previous year | -48.3% |
| 1994 | -13.82 % change on previous year | +18.8% |
| 1995 | -4.8 % change on previous year | -65.3% |
| 1996 | -1.26 % change on previous year | -73.7% |
| 1997 | 10.92 % change on previous year | -965.3% |
| 1998 | 9.66 % change on previous year | -11.6% |
| 1999 | 1.36 % change on previous year | -85.9% |
| 2000 | 3.4 % change on previous year | +149.0% |
| 2001 | -1.95 % change on previous year | -157.5% |
| 2002 | -10.32 % change on previous year | +428.6% |
| 2003 | -0.2168 % change on previous year | -97.9% |
| 2004 | 10.86 % change on previous year | -5108.2% |
| 2005 | 5.82 % change on previous year | -46.4% |
| 2006 | 15.27 % change on previous year | +162.4% |
| 2007 | 15.01 % change on previous year | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 3.08 % change on previous year | -79.5% |
| 2009 | 9.18 % change on previous year | +197.9% |
| 2010 | 1.17 % change on previous year | -87.2% |
| 2011 | 9.89 % change on previous year | +743.9% |
| 2012 | 16.97 % change on previous year | +71.6% |
| 2013 | 11.3 % change on previous year | -33.4% |
| 2014 | 19.49 % change on previous year | +72.4% |
| 2015 | -0.6604 % change on previous year | -103.4% |
| 2016 | -5.99 % change on previous year | +806.5% |
| 2017 | 12.72 % change on previous year | -312.6% |
| 2018 | -4.81 % change on previous year | -137.8% |
| 2019 | -2.31 % change on previous year | -51.8% |
| 2020 | -6.44 % change on previous year | +178.2% |
| 2021 | 0.4737 % change on previous year | -107.4% |
| 2022 | 2.88 % change on previous year | +508.5% |
| 2023 | 4.97 % change on previous year | +72.6% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 4.97 % change on previous year is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.57 % change on previous year, 89% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 4.97 % change on previous year is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.53 % change on previous year, 90% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | +5395.5% | -0.4649 % change on previous year | 24.62 % change on previous year |
| 2004 | +5108.2% | -0.2168 % change on previous year | 10.86 % change on previous year |
| 1978 | +2866.8% | 0.7481 % change on previous year | 22.2 % change on previous year |
| 1957 | -1593.5% | 1.19 % change on previous year | -17.73 % change on previous year |
| 1940 | +1557.6% | 1.13 % change on previous year | 18.8 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 11.8 % change on previous year | 1.13 % change on previous year | 29.49 % change on previous year | 7 |
| 1940s | 4.76 % change on previous year | -12.3 % change on previous year | 24.62 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1950s | 22.2 % change on previous year | -23.13 % change on previous year | 241.75 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.85 % change on previous year | -7.71 % change on previous year | 85.33 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 37.23 % change on previous year | 0.7481 % change on previous year | 145.92 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | -3.14 % change on previous year | -17.08 % change on previous year | 13.77 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.73 % change on previous year | -22.51 % change on previous year | 28.13 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.01 % change on previous year | -10.32 % change on previous year | 15.27 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.78 % change on previous year | -5.99 % change on previous year | 19.49 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.473 % change on previous year | -6.44 % change on previous year | 4.97 % change on previous year | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 88 Mauritius 5.16 % change on previous year compare
- 89 Zambia 5.15 % change on previous year compare
- 90 Croatia 5.13 % change on previous year compare
- 92 Chad 4.88 % change on previous year compare
- 93 Cote d'Ivoire 4.81 % change on previous year compare
- 94 United Kingdom 4.8 % change on previous year compare
More reference data data for Saudi Arabia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1771 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6194 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.2207 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9641 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia?
- Military spending, annual growth rate in Saudi Arabia was 4.97 % change on previous year in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, annual growth rate recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 241.75 % change on previous year in 1954.
- What is the lowest military spending, annual growth rate recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -23.13 % change on previous year in 1959.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for military spending, annual growth rate?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 91st out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, annual growth rate rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 56.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 91 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Military spending. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Military spending Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Military spending. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.