Military expenditure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Military expenditure was 16.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
16.9%
Change on year
up 5.7%
Rank
3rd
of 43 groups
All-time high
22.2%
in 1999
All-time low
14.6%
in 2011
Years of data
26
1999–2024

Military expenditure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 1999–2024

051015201999201120241999: 22.2 % of general government expenditure2000: 19.8 % of general government expenditure2001: 19.6 % of general government expenditure2002: 17.8 % of general government expenditure2003: 18 % of general government expenditure2004: 17.6 % of general government expenditure2005: 17.5 % of general government expenditure2006: 17.4 % of general government expenditure2007: 16.9 % of general government expenditure2008: 15.2 % of general government expenditure2009: 15.3 % of general government expenditure2010: 15.6 % of general government expenditure2011: 14.6 % of general government expenditure2012: 15.7 % of general government expenditure2013: 16.3 % of general government expenditure2014: 17 % of general government expenditure2015: 20.2 % of general government expenditure2016: 17.9 % of general government expenditure2017: 19.1 % of general government expenditure2018: 17.6 % of general government expenditure2019: 16.3 % of general government expenditure2020: 15.6 % of general government expenditure2021: 16.1 % of general government expenditure2022: 15.7 % of general government expenditure2023: 16 % of general government expenditure2024: 16.9 % of general government expenditure

Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.

Analysis

The most recent figure for military expenditure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 16.9%, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.7% on the previous year and down 0.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, military expenditure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 22.2% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 14.6%, in 2011.

That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 3rd out of 43 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.

Military expenditure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year

Annual values for Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 1999 to 2024.
Year % of general government expenditure Change
1999 22.2%
2000 19.8% -10.7%
2001 19.6% -1.4%
2002 17.8% -8.9%
2003 18.0% +1.2%
2004 17.6% -2.5%
2005 17.5% -0.4%
2006 17.4% -0.5%
2007 16.9% -3.2%
2008 15.2% -10.0%
2009 15.3% +1.0%
2010 15.6% +1.5%
2011 14.6% -6.3%
2012 15.7% +7.6%
2013 16.3% +4.1%
2014 17.0% +4.3%
2015 20.2% +18.6%
2016 17.9% -11.3%
2017 19.1% +6.6%
2018 17.6% -7.9%
2019 16.3% -7.3%
2020 15.6% -4.1%
2021 16.1% +3.2%
2022 15.7% -2.6%
2023 16.0% +1.8%
2024 16.9% +5.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 22.2% 22.2% 22.2% 1
2000s 17.5% 15.2% 19.8% 10
2010s 17.0% 14.6% 20.2% 10
2020s 16.1% 15.6% 16.9% 5

Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

  1. 1 Ukraine 54.0% compare
  2. 2 Belarus 50.7% compare
  3. 3 Eritrea 46.4% compare
  4. 4 Myanmar 29.1% compare
  5. 5 Qatar 26.9% compare
  6. 6 Saudi Arabia 22.3% compare

See the full ranking of 204 places →

More public sector data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is military expenditure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
Military expenditure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 16.9% in 2024, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
The highest recorded value was 22.2% in 1999.
What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
The lowest recorded value was 14.6% in 2011.
How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for military expenditure?
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 3rd out of 43 groups with data for 2024.
Is military expenditure rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan data come from?
The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Military expenditure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan. Statizoid, drawing on SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/military-expenditure-percent-of-general-government-expenditure/middle-east-north-africa-afghanistan-and-pakistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure)
Unit
% of general government expenditure
Source
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
204 places, 5,828 data points, 1988–2024
Last refreshed

Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure