Military spending, per capita in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Military spending, per capita was 2,621 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2,621 constant 2022 US$ per person
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
5th
of 171 countries
All-time high
8,663 constant 2022 US$ per person
in 1982
All-time low
232.79 constant 2022 US$ per person
in 1961
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Military spending, per capita in Saudi Arabia, 1960–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2022 US$ per person.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending, per capita in Saudi Arabia stood at 2,621 constant 2022 US$ per person.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and down 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in Saudi Arabia peaked at 8,663 constant 2022 US$ per person in 1982 and was at its lowest, 232.79 constant 2022 US$ per person, in 1961.
Saudi Arabia ranks 5th of 171 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, per capita in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 233.38 constant 2022 US$ per person | — |
| 1961 | 232.79 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.3% |
| 1962 | 257.87 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.8% |
| 1963 | 293.89 constant 2022 US$ per person | +14.0% |
| 1964 | 325.01 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.6% |
| 1965 | 353.13 constant 2022 US$ per person | +8.7% |
| 1966 | 426.27 constant 2022 US$ per person | +20.7% |
| 1967 | 760.64 constant 2022 US$ per person | +78.4% |
| 1968 | 677.79 constant 2022 US$ per person | -10.9% |
| 1969 | 773.44 constant 2022 US$ per person | +14.1% |
| 1970 | 789.46 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.1% |
| 1971 | 876.58 constant 2022 US$ per person | +11.0% |
| 1972 | 1,096 constant 2022 US$ per person | +25.0% |
| 1973 | 1,675 constant 2022 US$ per person | +52.9% |
| 1974 | 1,848 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.4% |
| 1975 | 4,313 constant 2022 US$ per person | +133.4% |
| 1976 | 6,275 constant 2022 US$ per person | +45.5% |
| 1977 | 5,979 constant 2022 US$ per person | -4.7% |
| 1978 | 6,901 constant 2022 US$ per person | +15.4% |
| 1979 | 7,777 constant 2022 US$ per person | +12.7% |
| 1980 | 8,345 constant 2022 US$ per person | +7.3% |
| 1981 | 8,507 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 8,663 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 7,358 constant 2022 US$ per person | -15.1% |
| 1984 | 6,278 constant 2022 US$ per person | -14.7% |
| 1985 | 4,915 constant 2022 US$ per person | -21.7% |
| 1986 | 4,441 constant 2022 US$ per person | -9.7% |
| 1987 | 3,614 constant 2022 US$ per person | -18.6% |
| 1988 | 3,030 constant 2022 US$ per person | -16.2% |
| 1989 | 3,008 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 3,471 constant 2022 US$ per person | +15.4% |
| 1991 | 4,241 constant 2022 US$ per person | +22.2% |
| 1992 | 3,138 constant 2022 US$ per person | -26.0% |
| 1993 | 2,653 constant 2022 US$ per person | -15.5% |
| 1994 | 2,190 constant 2022 US$ per person | -17.4% |
| 1995 | 2,001 constant 2022 US$ per person | -8.7% |
| 1996 | 1,898 constant 2022 US$ per person | -5.1% |
| 1997 | 2,026 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.7% |
| 1998 | 2,140 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.6% |
| 1999 | 2,092 constant 2022 US$ per person | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 2,069 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 1,926 constant 2022 US$ per person | -6.9% |
| 2002 | 1,643 constant 2022 US$ per person | -14.7% |
| 2003 | 1,563 constant 2022 US$ per person | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 1,655 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 1,675 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 1,850 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.4% |
| 2007 | 2,042 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.3% |
| 2008 | 2,021 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 2,122 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 2,168 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 2,277 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 2,554 constant 2022 US$ per person | +12.2% |
| 2013 | 2,693 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 3,140 constant 2022 US$ per person | +16.6% |
| 2015 | 2,962 constant 2022 US$ per person | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 2,682 constant 2022 US$ per person | -9.4% |
| 2017 | 3,021 constant 2022 US$ per person | +12.6% |
| 2018 | 2,950 constant 2022 US$ per person | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 2,895 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 2,580 constant 2022 US$ per person | -10.9% |
| 2021 | 2,657 constant 2022 US$ per person | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 2,616 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 2,621 constant 2022 US$ per person | +0.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 2,621 constant 2022 US$ per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 726.38 constant 2022 US$ per person, 3.6× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 2,621 constant 2022 US$ per person is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 191.12 constant 2022 US$ per person, 13.7× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, per capita 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | +133.4% | 1,848 constant 2022 US$ per person | 4,313 constant 2022 US$ per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 433.42 constant 2022 US$ per person | 232.79 constant 2022 US$ per person | 773.44 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 3,753 constant 2022 US$ per person | 789.46 constant 2022 US$ per person | 7,777 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 5,816 constant 2022 US$ per person | 3,008 constant 2022 US$ per person | 8,663 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,585 constant 2022 US$ per person | 1,898 constant 2022 US$ per person | 4,241 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,857 constant 2022 US$ per person | 1,563 constant 2022 US$ per person | 2,122 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,734 constant 2022 US$ per person | 2,168 constant 2022 US$ per person | 3,140 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,619 constant 2022 US$ per person | 2,580 constant 2022 US$ per person | 2,657 constant 2022 US$ per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 2 Israel 3,209 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 3 United States 3,162 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 4 United Arab Emirates 2,647 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 6 Singapore 2,601 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 7 Kuwait 2,017 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 8 Norway 1,896 constant 2022 US$ per person 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, per capita in Saudi Arabia?
- Military spending, per capita in Saudi Arabia was 2,621 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 8,663 constant 2022 US$ per person in 1982.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 232.79 constant 2022 US$ per person in 1961.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for military spending, per capita?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 5th out of 171 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.7%. 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, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military spending Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
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
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.