Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Syria
Syria: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 13.6% in 2010. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in Syria, 1990–2010
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 Syria is 13.6%, measured in 2010. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of down 9.5% on the previous year and down 28.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Syria peaked at 30.4% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 13.6%, in 2010.
That places Syria 23rd out of 164 countries with data for 2010, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Syria, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 24.3% | — |
| 1991 | 30.4% | +25.2% |
| 1992 | 26.3% | -13.5% |
| 1993 | 24.6% | -6.5% |
| 1994 | 24.3% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 23.4% | -4.0% |
| 1996 | 21.8% | -6.6% |
| 1997 | 20.3% | -6.9% |
| 1998 | 20.1% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 20.7% | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 19.0% | -8.3% |
| 2001 | 18.9% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 17.4% | -7.9% |
| 2003 | 19.1% | +10.1% |
| 2004 | 17.7% | -7.6% |
| 2005 | 17.8% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 16.5% | -7.6% |
| 2007 | 15.9% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 15.5% | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 15.1% | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 13.6% | -9.5% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 13.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.3%, 1.5× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Syria's 13.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 12.3%, 1.1× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.6% | 20.1% | 30.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.3% | 15.1% | 19.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.6% | 13.6% | 13.6% | 1 |
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)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2024)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.3236 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2021)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0005 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -91.25 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Syria?
- Military expenditure in Syria was 13.6% in 2010, 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 30.4% in 1991.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.6% in 2010.
- How does Syria rank for military expenditure?
- Syria ranks 23rd out of 164 countries with data for 2010.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 (% of general government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure