Algeria: Military Expenditures Hit $9.37 bln in 2015- US State Department

Algeria has earmarked $9.37 billion to military expenditures in 2015, the US Department of State said in its 2017 World Military Expenditures and Arms Transfers report.

The report notes that Algeria slashed military spending in 2015, compared to $11 billion in 2014 and $9.89 billion in 2013.

Cash-strapped Algeria, which faces an impending depletion of its international reserves, spent 23,900 dollars per inhabitant on arms in 2015, at a time when the GDP per capita does not exceed $3843.

Military spending makes up 5.7% of Algeria’s GDP. The army’s manpower totals 250,000 in 2015, that is 0.63% of the overall Algerian population, estimated at 39.5 million.

Ground forces are estimated at 130,000, navy counts 6000 soldiers and the air force 13,000, while paramilitary forces numbered 190,000 in 2015.