Military spending per armed forces personnel in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 251,583 in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
251,583
Change on year
down 14.6%
World rank
18th
of 160 countries
All-time high
526,524
in 1985
All-time low
128,635
in 1996
Years of data
33
1985–2020

Military spending per armed forces personnel in Saudi Arabia, 1985–2020

100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k500.0k1985200220201985: 526.5k1989: 308.8k1990: 217.9k1991: 158.9k1992: 165.8k1993: 175.7k1994: 159.1k1995: 129.6k1996: 128.6k1997: 175.2k1998: 202.4k1999: 180.1k2000: 162.8k2001: 173.3k2002: 153.7k2003: 154.8k2004: 172.5k2005: 206.4k2006: 211.6k2007: 245.8k2008: 241.2k2009: 237.0k2010: 246.6k2011: 250.0k2012: 282.9k2013: 321.0k2014: 378.3k2015: 403.5k2016: 288.8k2017: 321.3k2018: 332.3k2019: 294.7k2020: 251.6k

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2020, military spending per armed forces personnel in Saudi Arabia stood at 251,583.

That represents a change of down 14.6% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Saudi Arabia peaked at 526,524 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 128,635, in 1996.

Saudi Arabia ranks 18th of 160 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.

Military spending per armed forces personnel in Saudi Arabia, year by year

Annual values for Military spending per armed forces personnel in Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 526,524 —
1989 308,792 -41.4%
1990 217,949 -29.4%
1991 158,877 -27.1%
1992 165,820 +4.4%
1993 175,741 +6.0%
1994 159,088 -9.5%
1995 129,569 -18.6%
1996 128,635 -0.7%
1997 175,182 +36.2%
1998 202,365 +15.5%
1999 180,113 -11.0%
2000 162,834 -9.6%
2001 173,284 +6.4%
2002 153,657 -11.3%
2003 154,750 +0.7%
2004 172,521 +11.5%
2005 206,406 +19.6%
2006 211,613 +2.5%
2007 245,800 +16.2%
2008 241,246 -1.9%
2009 236,970 -1.8%
2010 246,640 +4.1%
2011 249,990 +1.4%
2012 282,919 +13.2%
2013 321,003 +13.5%
2014 378,343 +17.9%
2015 403,501 +6.6%
2016 288,752 -28.4%
2017 321,308 +11.3%
2018 332,338 +3.4%
2019 294,654 -11.3%
2020 251,583 -14.6%

Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries

  • Saudi Arabia's 251,583 is above the median for high income countries, which is 131,220, 1.9× the median. (54 countries reporting)
  • Saudi Arabia's 251,583 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 42,323, 5.9× the median. (20 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 417,658 308,792 526,524 2
1990s 169,334 128,635 217,949 10
2000s 195,908 153,657 245,800 10
2010s 311,945 246,640 403,501 10
2020s 251,583 251,583 251,583 1

Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia

  1. 15 New Zealand 317,716 compare
  2. 16 Norway 301,759 compare
  3. 17 Belgium 253,496 compare
  4. 19 Qatar 200,435 compare
  5. 20 Singapore 199,835 compare
  6. 21 Finland 197,270 compare

See the full ranking of 160 places →

More reference data data for Saudi Arabia

All data for Saudi Arabia →

Frequently asked questions

What is military spending per armed forces personnel in Saudi Arabia?
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Saudi Arabia was 251,583 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The highest recorded value was 526,524 in 1985.
What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The lowest recorded value was 128,635 in 1996.
How does Saudi Arabia rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
Saudi Arabia ranks 18th out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per armed forces personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Military spending per armed forces personnel in Saudi Arabia. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 15 November 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/military-spending-per-armed-forces-personnel/saudi-arabia/

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About this data

Indicator
Military spending per armed forces personnel
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
160 places, 4,610 data points, 1985–2020
Last refreshed