Military expenditure (current USD) in Syria
Syria: Military expenditure was 2.49 billion current USD in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2011)
2.49 billion current USD
Change on year
up 6.3%
World rank
62nd
of 168 countries
All-time high
3.72 billion current USD
in 1988
All-time low
90.22 million current USD
in 1960
Years of data
51
1960–2011
Military expenditure in Syria, 1960–2011
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
In 2011, military expenditure in Syria stood at 2.49 billion current USD.
That represents a change of up 6.3% on the previous year and up 144.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Syria peaked at 3.72 billion current USD in 1988 and was at its lowest, 90.22 million current USD, in 1960.
That places Syria 62nd out of 168 countries with data for 2011, 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 in Syria, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 90.22 million current USD | — |
| 1961 | 90.22 million current USD | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 149.59 million current USD | +65.8% |
| 1964 | 112.04 million current USD | -25.1% |
| 1965 | 118.06 million current USD | +5.4% |
| 1966 | 102.36 million current USD | -13.3% |
| 1967 | 118.59 million current USD | +15.9% |
| 1968 | 190.05 million current USD | +60.3% |
| 1969 | 194.50 million current USD | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 199.74 million current USD | +2.7% |
| 1971 | 176.96 million current USD | -11.4% |
| 1972 | 260.21 million current USD | +47.0% |
| 1973 | 388.68 million current USD | +49.4% |
| 1974 | 537.38 million current USD | +38.3% |
| 1975 | 887.84 million current USD | +65.2% |
| 1976 | 945.06 million current USD | +6.4% |
| 1977 | 998.22 million current USD | +5.6% |
| 1978 | 1.21 billion current USD | +21.6% |
| 1979 | 1.58 billion current USD | +30.3% |
| 1980 | 2.25 billion current USD | +42.5% |
| 1981 | 2.44 billion current USD | +8.2% |
| 1982 | 2.73 billion current USD | +11.9% |
| 1983 | 2.73 billion current USD | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 3.39 billion current USD | +24.2% |
| 1985 | 3.51 billion current USD | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 3.68 billion current USD | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 3.65 billion current USD | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 3.72 billion current USD | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 1.48 billion current USD | -60.1% |
| 1990 | 1.64 billion current USD | +10.7% |
| 1991 | 2.89 billion current USD | +76.3% |
| 1992 | 2.98 billion current USD | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 1.43 billion current USD | -52.1% |
| 1994 | 1.64 billion current USD | +14.7% |
| 1995 | 957.90 million current USD | -41.5% |
| 1996 | 995.09 million current USD | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 1.05 billion current USD | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 1.10 billion current USD | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 1.13 billion current USD | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 897.04 million current USD | -20.4% |
| 2001 | 1.02 billion current USD | +14.0% |
| 2002 | 1.10 billion current USD | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 1.44 billion current USD | +30.2% |
| 2004 | 1.39 billion current USD | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 1.45 billion current USD | +4.4% |
| 2006 | 1.44 billion current USD | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 1.60 billion current USD | +11.4% |
| 2008 | 1.73 billion current USD | +8.3% |
| 2009 | 2.18 billion current USD | +25.9% |
| 2010 | 2.35 billion current USD | +7.5% |
| 2011 | 2.49 billion current USD | +6.3% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 2.49 billion current USD is above the median for low income countries, which is 375.21 million current USD, 6.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 2.49 billion current USD is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4.04 billion current USD, 62% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +76.3% | 1.64 billion current USD | 2.89 billion current USD |
| 1989 | -60.1% | 3.72 billion current USD | 1.48 billion current USD |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 129.52 million current USD | 90.22 million current USD | 194.50 million current USD | 9 |
| 1970s | 718.92 million current USD | 176.96 million current USD | 1.58 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.96 billion current USD | 1.48 billion current USD | 3.72 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.58 billion current USD | 957.90 million current USD | 2.98 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.42 billion current USD | 897.04 million current USD | 2.18 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.42 billion current USD | 2.35 billion current USD | 2.49 billion current USD | 2 |
Countries ranked near Syria
More public sector data for Syria
- Democracy, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2024)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2024)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2024)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2024)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 1 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 0 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Syria?
- Military expenditure in Syria was 2.49 billion current USD in 2011, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 3.72 billion current USD in 1988.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 90.22 million current USD in 1960.
- How does Syria rank for military expenditure?
- Syria ranks 62nd out of 168 countries with data for 2011.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 144.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current USD). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)