Report on the International Arms Transfers

Published in March 2023, the factsheet prepared by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) compares the trends in international arms transfers in two periods, 2013-2017 and 2018-2022. It indicates the increase and the decrease of international arms transfers by importers and exporters.

Therefore, taking into account the overall report, the main relevant aspects are as follows:

• The volume of international transfers of major arms in 2018–22 was 5.1 per cent lower than in 2013–17 and 4.8 per cent higher than in 2008–12.
• On one hand, the five largest arms exporters in 2018–22 were the United States, Russia, France, China and Germany. Together, they supplied 76 per cent of the world’s arms exports in 2018–22.
• US arms exports accounted for 40 per cent of the global total in 2018–22 and were 14 per cent higher than in 2013–17.
• French arms exports increased by 44 per cent between 2013–17 and 2018–22, while Russian (–31 per cent), Chinese (–23 per cent) and German (–35 per cent) arms exports decreased.
• On the other hand, the five largest arms importers in 2018–22, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Australia and China, together received 36 per cent of the world’s arms imports.
• The main recipient region in 2018–22 was Asia and Oceania (accounting for 41 per cent of global arms imports), followed by the Middle East (31 per cent), Europe (16 per cent), the Americas (5.8 per cent) and Africa (5.0 per cent).
• Arms imports by European states were 47 per cent higher in 2018–22 than in 2013–17. Those by European NATO states were 65 per cent higher.

Ukraine became a major importer of arms in 2018–22. It was the 14th largest arms importer globally in the period and the 3rd largest in 2022.

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