Arms imports in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Arms imports was 1.11 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Arms imports in Saudi Arabia, 1960–2024
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 1.11 billion SIPRI trend indicator values for arms imports in 2024.
The figure is down 14.3% on the previous year and down 59.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Saudi Arabia peaked at 3.97 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2017 and was at its lowest, 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1964.
That places Saudi Arabia 6th out of 172 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 157.11 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 448.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 9 |
| 1970s | 485.70 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.03 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.61 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 784.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.84 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.75 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 981.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.89 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2000s | 385.70 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 60.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.16 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.38 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 810.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3.97 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.94 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.11 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 3.06 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 3 United States 1.21 billion SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 4 India 1.17 billion SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 5 Qatar 1.15 billion SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 7 South Korea 1.01 billion SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 8 Australia 983.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 9 Pakistan 982.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Saudi Arabia
- Tax revenue 8.1% (2024)
- Taxes on income, profits and capital gains 2.5% (2024)
- Taxes on goods and services 22.9% (2024)
- Net investment in nonfinancial assets 4.1% (2024)
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) -2.5% (2024)
- Interest payments 3.5% (2024)
- Grants and other revenue 69.8% (2024)
- Interest payments 3.4% (2023)
- Other taxes 2.8% (2024)
- Compensation of employees 48.5% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Saudi Arabia?
- Arms imports in Saudi Arabia was 1.11 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.97 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2017.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1964.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for arms imports?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 6th out of 172 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Arms transfers (imports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.