Military spending in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Military spending was 88.35 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
88.35 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 5.0%
World rank
5th
of 172 countries
All-time high
93.58 billion constant 2022 US$
in 2017
All-time low
75.51 million constant 2022 US$
in 1932
Years of data
92
1932–2023
Military spending in Saudi Arabia, 1932–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending in Saudi Arabia is 88.35 billion constant 2022 US$, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 5.0% on the previous year and up 18.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Saudi Arabia peaked at 93.58 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2017 and was at its lowest, 75.51 million constant 2022 US$, in 1932.
That places Saudi Arabia 5th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1932 | 75.51 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1933 | 83.79 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.0% |
| 1934 | 108.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +29.5% |
| 1935 | 117.01 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.8% |
| 1936 | 124.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1937 | 140.10 million constant 2022 US$ | +12.5% |
| 1938 | 160.08 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.3% |
| 1939 | 161.89 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 1940 | 192.34 million constant 2022 US$ | +18.8% |
| 1941 | 195.79 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1942 | 195.19 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.3% |
| 1943 | 189.35 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.0% |
| 1944 | 209.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.6% |
| 1945 | 241.59 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.3% |
| 1946 | 211.87 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.3% |
| 1947 | 195.98 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.5% |
| 1948 | 195.06 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.5% |
| 1949 | 243.08 million constant 2022 US$ | +24.6% |
| 1950 | 220.26 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.4% |
| 1951 | 212.39 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.6% |
| 1952 | 228.80 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.7% |
| 1953 | 300.54 million constant 2022 US$ | +31.4% |
| 1954 | 1.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | +241.7% |
| 1955 | 1.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1956 | 1.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1957 | 861.76 million constant 2022 US$ | -17.7% |
| 1958 | 801.15 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.0% |
| 1959 | 615.86 million constant 2022 US$ | -23.1% |
| 1960 | 568.37 million constant 2022 US$ | -7.7% |
| 1961 | 588.12 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1962 | 675.84 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.9% |
| 1963 | 799.19 million constant 2022 US$ | +18.3% |
| 1964 | 917.17 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.8% |
| 1965 | 1.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.8% |
| 1966 | 1.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | +25.3% |
| 1967 | 2.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | +85.3% |
| 1968 | 2.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | -7.4% |
| 1969 | 2.64 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.8% |
| 1970 | 2.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1971 | 3.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.1% |
| 1972 | 4.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | +31.1% |
| 1973 | 6.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | +60.7% |
| 1974 | 7.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.2% |
| 1975 | 19.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | +145.9% |
| 1976 | 30.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | +53.5% |
| 1977 | 30.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 37.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | +22.2% |
| 1979 | 44.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | +19.4% |
| 1980 | 50.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +13.8% |
| 1981 | 54.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.2% |
| 1982 | 59.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.2% |
| 1983 | 53.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.7% |
| 1984 | 48.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.4% |
| 1985 | 40.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | -17.1% |
| 1986 | 38.32 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.4% |
| 1987 | 33.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | -13.9% |
| 1988 | 29.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.6% |
| 1989 | 30.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 36.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | +21.2% |
| 1991 | 47.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | +28.1% |
| 1992 | 36.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | -22.5% |
| 1993 | 32.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.6% |
| 1994 | 27.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | -13.8% |
| 1995 | 26.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.8% |
| 1996 | 26.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 29.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.9% |
| 1998 | 31.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.7% |
| 1999 | 32.37 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 33.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 32.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 29.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.3% |
| 2003 | 29.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 32.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.9% |
| 2005 | 34.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 2006 | 39.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.3% |
| 2007 | 45.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.0% |
| 2008 | 47.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 51.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.2% |
| 2010 | 52.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 57.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.9% |
| 2012 | 66.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | +17.0% |
| 2013 | 74.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.3% |
| 2014 | 88.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | +19.5% |
| 2015 | 88.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 83.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.0% |
| 2017 | 93.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | +12.7% |
| 2018 | 89.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 87.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 81.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 81.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 84.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 88.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 88.35 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.50 billion constant 2022 US$, 13.6× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 88.35 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.51 billion constant 2022 US$, 16.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | +241.7% | 300.54 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.03 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1975 | +145.9% | 7.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | 19.65 billion constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 121.42 million constant 2022 US$ | 75.51 million constant 2022 US$ | 161.89 million constant 2022 US$ | 8 |
| 1940s | 206.98 million constant 2022 US$ | 189.35 million constant 2022 US$ | 243.08 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 635.05 million constant 2022 US$ | 212.39 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | 568.37 million constant 2022 US$ | 2.64 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | 44.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 43.69 billion constant 2022 US$ | 29.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | 59.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 32.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | 26.25 billion constant 2022 US$ | 47.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | 29.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | 51.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 78.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | 52.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | 93.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 83.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | 81.42 billion constant 2022 US$ | 88.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 2 China 349.48 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 3 Russia 120.26 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 4 India 95.30 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 6 United Kingdom 84.21 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 7 France 71.97 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 8 Ukraine 62.62 billion constant 2022 US$ 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 in Saudi Arabia?
- Military spending in Saudi Arabia was 88.35 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 93.58 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2017.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 75.51 million constant 2022 US$ in 1932.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for military spending?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 5th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 92 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.