Military expenditure (current LCU) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 311.93 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
311.93 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
48th
of 168 countries
All-time high
326.95 billion current LCU
in 2015
All-time low
322.00 million current LCU
in 1961
Years of data
62
1960–2025
Military expenditure in Saudi Arabia, 1960–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Saudi Arabia is 311.93 billion current LCU, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.5% on the previous year and down 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Saudi Arabia peaked at 326.95 billion current LCU in 2015 and was at its lowest, 322.00 million current LCU, in 1961.
That places Saudi Arabia 48th out of 168 countries with data for 2025, 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 expenditure (current LCU) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 634.00 million current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 322.00 million current LCU | -49.2% |
| 1962 | 379.00 million current LCU | +17.7% |
| 1963 | 512.00 million current LCU | +35.1% |
| 1964 | 556.00 million current LCU | +8.6% |
| 1965 | 800.00 million current LCU | +43.9% |
| 1966 | 1.35 billion current LCU | +69.0% |
| 1967 | 1.51 billion current LCU | +11.9% |
| 1968 | 1.52 billion current LCU | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 1.93 billion current LCU | +26.8% |
| 1970 | 2.12 billion current LCU | +9.8% |
| 1971 | 2.63 billion current LCU | +24.2% |
| 1972 | 3.86 billion current LCU | +46.4% |
| 1973 | 5.80 billion current LCU | +50.5% |
| 1977 | 40.84 billion current LCU | +603.7% |
| 1978 | 45.57 billion current LCU | +11.6% |
| 1979 | 59.21 billion current LCU | +29.9% |
| 1980 | 68.94 billion current LCU | +16.4% |
| 1981 | 82.53 billion current LCU | +19.7% |
| 1982 | 92.89 billion current LCU | +12.5% |
| 1983 | 75.56 billion current LCU | -18.7% |
| 1984 | 79.89 billion current LCU | +5.7% |
| 1985 | 63.96 billion current LCU | -19.9% |
| 1987 | 54.23 billion current LCU | -15.2% |
| 1988 | 50.08 billion current LCU | -7.6% |
| 1989 | 47.81 billion current LCU | -4.5% |
| 1990 | 61.33 billion current LCU | +28.3% |
| 1991 | 61.33 billion current LCU | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 57.60 billion current LCU | -6.1% |
| 1993 | 61.69 billion current LCU | +7.1% |
| 1994 | 53.55 billion current LCU | -13.2% |
| 1995 | 49.50 billion current LCU | -7.6% |
| 1996 | 50.02 billion current LCU | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 67.97 billion current LCU | +35.9% |
| 1998 | 78.23 billion current LCU | +15.1% |
| 1999 | 68.70 billion current LCU | -12.2% |
| 2000 | 74.87 billion current LCU | +9.0% |
| 2001 | 78.85 billion current LCU | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 69.38 billion current LCU | -12.0% |
| 2003 | 70.30 billion current LCU | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 78.41 billion current LCU | +11.5% |
| 2005 | 95.15 billion current LCU | +21.3% |
| 2006 | 110.78 billion current LCU | +16.4% |
| 2007 | 132.92 billion current LCU | +20.0% |
| 2008 | 143.34 billion current LCU | +7.8% |
| 2009 | 154.75 billion current LCU | +8.0% |
| 2010 | 169.67 billion current LCU | +9.6% |
| 2011 | 181.99 billion current LCU | +7.3% |
| 2012 | 211.87 billion current LCU | +16.4% |
| 2013 | 251.32 billion current LCU | +18.6% |
| 2014 | 302.86 billion current LCU | +20.5% |
| 2015 | 326.95 billion current LCU | +8.0% |
| 2016 | 238.77 billion current LCU | -27.0% |
| 2017 | 264.00 billion current LCU | +10.6% |
| 2018 | 279.80 billion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 245.11 billion current LCU | -12.4% |
| 2020 | 242.09 billion current LCU | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 236.98 billion current LCU | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 265.95 billion current LCU | +12.2% |
| 2023 | 291.62 billion current LCU | +9.7% |
| 2024 | 301.24 billion current LCU | +3.3% |
| 2025 | 311.93 billion current LCU | +3.5% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 311.93 billion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 17.84 billion current LCU, 17.5× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 311.93 billion current LCU is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 71.37 billion current LCU, 4.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current LCU) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | +603.7% | 5.80 billion current LCU | 40.84 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 952.40 million current LCU | 322.00 million current LCU | 1.93 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 22.86 billion current LCU | 2.12 billion current LCU | 59.21 billion current LCU | 7 |
| 1980s | 68.43 billion current LCU | 47.81 billion current LCU | 92.89 billion current LCU | 9 |
| 1990s | 60.99 billion current LCU | 49.50 billion current LCU | 78.23 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 100.88 billion current LCU | 69.38 billion current LCU | 154.75 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 247.23 billion current LCU | 169.67 billion current LCU | 326.95 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 274.97 billion current LCU | 236.98 billion current LCU | 311.93 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More public sector data for Saudi Arabia
- Arms imports 3.04 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 31.47 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0009 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -14.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 1.11 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 2,276 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0641 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate 3.3 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 80.33 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 602.88 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Saudi Arabia?
- Military expenditure in Saudi Arabia was 311.93 billion current LCU in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 326.95 billion current LCU in 2015.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 322.00 million current LCU in 1961.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for military expenditure?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 48th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)