Military spending in Syria
Syria: Military spending was 3.22 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2016. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2016)
3.22 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 5.5%
World rank
62nd
of 172 countries
All-time high
8.10 billion constant 2022 US$
in 1985
All-time low
123.27 million constant 2022 US$
in 1947
Years of data
69
1946–2016
Military spending in Syria, 1946–2016
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
Syria recorded 3.22 billion constant 2022 US$ for military spending in 2016.
That represents a change of up 5.5% on the previous year and up 62.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Syria peaked at 8.10 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1985 and was at its lowest, 123.27 million constant 2022 US$, in 1947.
That places Syria 62nd out of 172 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Syria, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | 141.73 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1947 | 123.27 million constant 2022 US$ | -13.0% |
| 1948 | 162.00 million constant 2022 US$ | +31.4% |
| 1949 | 225.66 million constant 2022 US$ | +39.3% |
| 1950 | 251.20 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.3% |
| 1951 | 259.15 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1952 | 270.09 million constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1953 | 207.10 million constant 2022 US$ | -23.3% |
| 1954 | 245.41 million constant 2022 US$ | +18.5% |
| 1955 | 229.42 million constant 2022 US$ | -6.5% |
| 1956 | 394.96 million constant 2022 US$ | +72.2% |
| 1957 | 394.42 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.1% |
| 1958 | 545.90 million constant 2022 US$ | +38.4% |
| 1961 | 607.30 million constant 2022 US$ | +11.2% |
| 1962 | 665.58 million constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1963 | 667.55 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 703.34 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1965 | 715.07 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1966 | 708.26 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1967 | 930.61 million constant 2022 US$ | +31.4% |
| 1968 | 1.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.9% |
| 1969 | 1.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.2% |
| 1970 | 1.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1971 | 1.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.8% |
| 1972 | 1.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.2% |
| 1973 | 2.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | +55.8% |
| 1974 | 2.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1975 | 3.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +41.5% |
| 1976 | 3.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.6% |
| 1977 | 3.76 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.0% |
| 1978 | 3.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 5.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | +46.1% |
| 1980 | 6.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.1% |
| 1981 | 5.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | -11.0% |
| 1982 | 5.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.0% |
| 1983 | 6.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.7% |
| 1984 | 7.76 billion constant 2022 US$ | +17.1% |
| 1985 | 8.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 7.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.2% |
| 1987 | 6.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | -13.2% |
| 1988 | 5.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | -20.9% |
| 1989 | 4.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | -10.0% |
| 1990 | 4.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 5.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | +27.7% |
| 1992 | 4.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | -17.6% |
| 1993 | 4.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | -16.7% |
| 1994 | 3.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | -18.4% |
| 1995 | 2.56 billion constant 2022 US$ | -23.2% |
| 1996 | 2.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 2.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.0% |
| 1998 | 1.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | -16.7% |
| 1999 | 1.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 1.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 1.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 1.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 1.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 2.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 1.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 1.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 2.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 2.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.5% |
| 2009 | 2.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | +14.5% |
| 2010 | 2.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 2.74 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 2.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 3.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 3.02 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 3.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 3.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.5% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 3.22 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for low income countries, which is 387.93 million constant 2022 US$, 8.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 3.22 billion constant 2022 US$ is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.51 billion constant 2022 US$, 59% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Syria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | +72.2% | 229.42 million constant 2022 US$ | 394.96 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 163.17 million constant 2022 US$ | 123.27 million constant 2022 US$ | 225.66 million constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
| 1950s | 310.85 million constant 2022 US$ | 207.10 million constant 2022 US$ | 545.90 million constant 2022 US$ | 9 |
| 1960s | 808.94 million constant 2022 US$ | 607.30 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.77 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.18 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | 8.10 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.40 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.95 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.05 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.55 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | 7 |
Countries ranked near Syria
- 59 New Zealand 3.61 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 60 Peru 3.56 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 61 Myanmar 3.30 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 63 Ecuador 3.12 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 64 Jordan 2.86 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 65 Slovakia 2.71 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Syria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1191 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.5377 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3995 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1542 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 16.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 29.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.93 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Syria?
- Military spending in Syria was 3.22 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2016, 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 Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 8.10 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1985.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 123.27 million constant 2022 US$ in 1947.
- How does Syria rank for military spending?
- Syria ranks 62nd out of 172 countries with data for 2016.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 62.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria 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 — 69 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.