5 charts that reveal the state of the global arms trade

This article is part of the World Economic Forum's Geostrategy platform

The volume of international transfers of major arms in 2014–18 was 7.8% higher than in 2009–13 and 23% higher than in 2004–2008, according to new data on arms transfers published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The five largest exporters in 2014–18 were the United States, Russia, France, Germany and China. Together, they accounted for 75% of the total volume of arms exports in 2014–18. The flow of arms increased to the Middle East between 2009–13 and 2014–18, while there was a decrease in flows to all other regions.

The gap between the USA and other arms exporters widens

US arms exports grew by 29% between 2009–13 and 2014–18, and the US share of total global exports rose from 30% to 36%. The gap between the top two arms-exporting states also increased: US exports of major arms were 75% higher than Russia’s in 2014–18, while they were only 12% higher in 2009–13. More than half (52%) of US arms exports went to the Middle East in 2014–18.

"The USA has further solidified its position as the world’s leading arms supplier," says Dr Aude Fleurant, Director of the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme. "The USA exported arms to at least 98 countries in the past five years; these deliveries often included advanced weapons such as combat aircraft, short-range cruise and ballistic missiles, and large numbers of guided bombs."

Arms exports by Russia decreased by 17% between 2009–13 and 2014–18, in particular due to the reduction in arms imports by India and Venezuela.

Between 2009–13 and 2014–18 France increased its arms exports by 43% and Germany by 13% The combined arms exports of European Union member states accounted for 27% of global arms exports in 2014–18.

A small number of countries outside Europe and North America are large arms exporters. China was the fifth largest arms exporter in 2014–18. Whereas Chinese arms exports rose by 195% between 2004–2008 and 2009–13, they increased by only 2.7% between 2009–13 and 2014–18. Israeli, South Korean and Turkish arms exports increased substantially—60%, 94% and 170%, respectively—between 2009–13 and 2014–18.

Middle Eastern arms imports almost double in the past five years

Arms imports by states in the Middle East increased by 87% between 2009–13 and 2014–18 and accounted for 35% of global arms imports in 2014–18. Saudi Arabia became the world’s largest arms importer in 2014–18, with an increase of 192% compared with 2009–13. Arms imports by Egypt, the third largest arms importer in 2014–18, tripled (206%) between 2009–13 and 2014–18. Arms imports by Israel (354%), Qatar (225%) and Iraq (139%) also rose between 2009–13 and 2014–18. However, Syria’s arms imports fell by 87%.

"Weapons from the USA, the United Kingdom and France are in high demand in the Gulf region, where conflicts and tensions are rife," says Pieter D. Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme.

"Russia, France and Germany dramatically increased their arms sales to Egypt in the past five years."

Asia and Oceania remains the largest importer region

States in Asia and Oceania received 40% of global arms imports in 2014–18, but there was a decrease of 6.7% compared with 2009–13. The top five arms importers in the region were India, Australia, China, South Korea and Viet Nam.

Australia became the world’s fourth largest arms importer in 2014–18 after its arms imports increased by 37% compared with 2009–13. Indian arms imports decreased by 24% between 2009–13 and 2014–18. Russia accounted for 58% of India’s arms imports in 2014–18. Chinese arms imports decreased, but it was still the world’s sixth largest arms importer in 2014–18.

‘India has ordered a large number of major arms from foreign suppliers; however, deliveries are severely delayed in many cases,’ says Siemon T. Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme. ‘In contrast, Chinese arms imports decreased because China has been more successful in designing and producing its own modern weaponry.’

Other notable developments:

Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2018, Pieter D. Wezeman, Aude Fleurant, Alexandra Kuimova, Nan Tian and Simeon T. Wezeman, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.