Middle East - Countries with the Highest Military Spending

By  Vince J , views , updated
Categories: World General Middle East
Dataset contains 15 data items (see table below).

Overview

Which country spends the most in defense in Middle East?
The country with the highest defense budget in Middle East is Saudi Arabia at US$61,867M. At second and third, are Israel with a budget of US$20,465M and Iran with a military spending of US$12,623M.
The average military spending by countries in Middle East is around US$12,317.8M.

 Compare Saudi Arabia with Kuwait

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The above represents only a partial dataset — click here to rank, query and segment all 15 data items on the full dataset.

Percentage of GDP on Defense. Oman's defence budget makes up 8.80% of its GDP - the highest in Middle East. On average, countries in Middle East spend %4.7 of their GDPs on defense.


These are the countries with the highest defense budgets in Middle East:

Saudi Arabia.

How Strong Is Saudi Arabia's Military? (Credit: Youtube/Newsweek)

Saudi Arabia's defence budget is the highest in Middle East. Saudi Arabia allocates about 8% of its GDP (estimated at US$61,867M) for its defence budget. Its percentage of GDP allocated to defence spending is the second-highest globally.

Saudi Arabia has a military of 251,500 personnel, with 227,000 active (second-largest in Middle East) and 24,500 from paramilitary forces, making up 7.6 military personnel per 1000 in population.

On land, Saudi Arabia has a mobile force of 600 tanks. For aerial defence, Saudi Arabia has an air force of 313 military aircrafts and 85 attack helicopters.

The naval fleet also possesses numerous warships, including 4 frigates, 3 destroyers and 4 corvettes.

 

 Compare Saudi Arabia with Bahrain


Israel.

How Do IDF Special Forces Train? (Credit: Youtube/Israel Defense Forces)

The country with the second-highest defence budget in Middle East is Israel. The defence budget of Israel is estimated at US$20,465M at around 5.30% of its GDP.

Israel has the second-largest military force in Middle East. With a 642,500-strong military, Israel has a per-capita ratio of 76.3 military personnel per 1000 in population. Its total military consists of 169,500 active personnel, 465,000 reserve personnel and 8,000 from paramilitary forces. Its per-capita military is the highest in Middle East.

Israel's battle tank force is the second-largest in Middle East. On land, Israel has a mobile force of 1,560 tanks. For aerial defence, Israel has an air force of 440 military aircrafts and 84 attack helicopters.

Israel has a naval fleet of 6 vessels, including 3 non-nuclear submarines.

 

 Compare Israel with Jordan

 Compare Israel with Iraq


Iran.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard: Who are they and what is their role? (Credit: Youtube/FRANCE 24 English)

Iran has the third-highest defence budget in Middle East. Iran allocates about 2.30% of its GDP (estimated at US$12,623M) for its defence budget.

Iran has the largest military force in Middle East. Iran has a military that is composed of 610,000 active personnel (largest in Middle East), 350,000 in reserve and 40,000 from paramilitary forces, totalling 1,000,000 or 12 military personnel per 1000 in population.

Iran's battle tank force is the largest in Middle East. On land, Iran has a mobile force of 1,663 tanks. For aerial defence, Iran has an air force of 337 military aircrafts and 62 attack helicopters.

Iran has the largest naval fleet in Middle East. Iran has a naval fleet of 27 vessels, including 21 non-nuclear submarines.

 

 Compare Iran with Yemen

 Compare Iran with Bahrain


Oman.

Royal Army of Oman - الجيش السلطاني العُماني

Oman's defence expenditure is estimated to be US$6,730M (8.80% of its GDP). Its percentage of GDP allocated to defence spending is the highest in the world.

Oman has a military of 47,000 personnel, with 42,600 active and 4,400 from paramilitary forces, making up 13.5 military personnel per 1000 in population.

On land, Oman has a mobile force of 117 tanks. For aerial defence, Oman has an air force of 44 military aircrafts and 15 attack helicopters.

 

 Compare Oman with Saudi Arabia

 Compare Oman with Lebanon


Jordan.

Special Forces Of Jordan - 2019 - القوات الخاصة الملكية

Jordan's defence expenditure is estimated to be US$2,032M (4.70% of its GDP).

Jordan has a military of 180,500 personnel, with 100,500 active, 65,000 in reserve and 15,000 from paramilitary forces, making up 17.3 military personnel per 1000 in population. Its per-capita military is the second-highest in Middle East.

Jordan has the third-largest battle tank force in Middle East. On land, Jordan has a mobile force of 1,323 tanks. For aerial defence, Jordan has an air force of 134 military aircrafts and 126 attack helicopters.

 

 Compare Jordan with Iran

 Compare Jordan with Kuwait


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Largest Militaries (region) - Asia | N. Asia | Europe | Africa | Middle East | N. America | S. America

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Gap Analysis - NATO & Russia | Ukraine & Russia | China & Taiwan

Highest Military Budgets - World | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | Africa | Middle East | N. America | S. America

Largest Navy - World | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | S. America

Most Submarines - World | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | S. America

Largest Air Force - World | Africa | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | Middle East | N. America | S. America

Most Battle Tanks - World | Africa | Asia | N. Asia | Europe | Middle East

Attributions