Saudi Arabia Military Spending
Saudi Arabia spends an estimated 6.3% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $81.5 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1963–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$85.5 billion
Ranked #7 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
6.3%
Ranked #6 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $81.5B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$101.5 billion
Reached in 2015
How the 2026 figures are produced. The share-of-GDP figure is a per-country estimate researched from announced and enacted national defence budgets. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2025 raised by a flat 5%, the same rate applied to every country in this group, so it can rise even where the share-of-GDP path falls. Actual SIPRI figures for Saudi Arabia run to 2025.
Saudi Arabia Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Saudi Arabia is estimated to have spent $85.5 billion on military and defense, representing 6.3% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Saudi Arabia is the #7 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $81.5 billion to $85.5 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 19.0% in 1984. The historical average military budget is 10.4% of GDP.
Data source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Values are in constant 2024 US dollars. Data for 2026 is an estimate based on government budget announcements.
Historical Military Spending
Military Spending (% of GDP)
Military Spending (USD Billions, 2024 prices)
Historical Data
| Year | Percent of GDP | USD (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027(estimate) | 6.20% | $89,618M |
| 2026(estimate) | 6.30% | $85,544M |
| 2025 | 6.48% | $81,471M |
| 2024 | 6.41% | $80,331M |
| 2023 | 6.38% | $79,078M |
| 2022 | 5.72% | $73,795M |
| 2021 | 6.43% | $67,384M |
| 2020 | 8.41% | $70,946M |
| 2019 | 7.35% | $74,253M |
| 2018 | 8.42% | $83,749M |
| 2017 | 9.50% | $80,970M |
| 2016 | 9.24% | $72,621M |
| 2015 | 12.57% | $101,481M |
| 2014 | 10.26% | $95,153M |
| 2013 | 8.71% | $80,732M |
| 2012 | 7.51% | $70,447M |
| 2011 | 7.13% | $62,247M |
| 2010 | 8.57% | $61,413M |
| 2009 | 9.62% | $59,005M |
| 2008 | 7.35% | $57,417M |
| 2007 | 8.53% | $58,500M |
| 2006 | 7.85% | $50,787M |
| 2005 | 7.73% | $44,584M |
| 2004 | 8.08% | $36,919M |
| 2003 | 8.69% | $33,271M |
| 2002 | 9.76% | $33,036M |
| 2001 | 11.42% | $37,637M |
| 2000 | 10.53% | $35,335M |
| 1999 | 11.38% | $32,060M |
| 1998 | 14.31% | $36,021M |
| 1997 | 11.00% | $31,182M |
| 1996 | 8.47% | $22,961M |
| 1995 | 9.28% | $22,998M |
| 1994 | 10.64% | $26,090M |
| 1993 | 12.47% | $30,227M |
| 1992 | 11.28% | $28,521M |
| 1991 | 12.47% | $30,345M |
| 1990 | 14.02% | $31,821M |
| 1989 | 13.39% | $25,321M |
| 1988 | 15.15% | $26,796M |
| 1987 | 16.90% | $29,278M |
| 1985 | 17.00% | $32,908M |
| 1984 | 19.00% | $39,850M |
| 1983 | 16.97% | $37,104M |
| 1982 | 17.72% | $45,698M |
| 1981 | 13.27% | $41,018M |
| 1980 | 12.61% | $35,224M |
| 1979 | 15.77% | $31,510M |
| 1978 | 16.74% | $24,513M |
| 1977 | 15.65% | $21,620M |
| 1973 | 10.84% | $7,358M |
| 1972 | 10.08% | $5,698M |
| 1971 | 8.64% | $4,062M |
| 1970 | 9.40% | $3,417M |
| 1969 | 9.57% | $3,117M |
| 1968 | 8.09% | $2,545M |
| 1967 | 11.51% | $2,566M |
| 1966 | 11.32% | $2,341M |
| 1965 | 7.69% | $1,407M |
| 1964 | 5.97% | $982M |
| 1963 | 5.90% | $929M |