The world’s arms trade is a big deal, with the United States leading the way. It is the largest arms seller, making 42% of all sales from 2019 to 20231. The US has a big impact, selling weapons to more than 100 countries in that time.
In addition to the US, big countries like France and Russia are also important. France sold more arms than Russia, making it the second biggest seller. They had a 47% increase in sales12. On the other hand, Russia sold 53% less in the same period1.
| Country | Arms Exports (TIV) | Flag |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 11286999970 | 🇺🇸 |
| Germany | 3287000017 | 🇩🇪 |
| China | 2432000004 | 🇨🇳 |
| France | 2011999991 | 🇫🇷 |
| Italy | 1436999996 | 🇮🇹 |
| Russia | 1268999986 | 🇷🇺 |
| United Kingdom | 1203999997 | 🇬🇧 |
| Israel | 1159000003 | 🇮🇱 |
| Spain | 940000000 | 🇪🇸 |
| South Korea | 621000004 | 🇰🇷 |
| Türkiye | 609000002 | 🇹🇷 |
| Poland | 499000000 | 🇵🇱 |
| Sweden | 299000002 | 🇸🇪 |
| Canada | 285000001 | 🇨🇦 |
| Netherlands | 258000000 | 🇳🇱 |
| Norway | 222000001 | 🇳🇴 |
| Iran | 184000001 | 🇮🇷 |
| Slovakia | 154000001 | 🇸🇰 |
| Switzerland | 92999999 | 🇨🇠|
| Czechia | 93000000 | 🇨🇿 |
Key Takeaways
- The United States remains the world’s dominant arms exporter, responsible for 42% of global arms sales between 2019-2023.
- France has surpassed Russia to become the world’s second-largest arms exporter, with a 47% increase in exports.
- Russia’s arms exports have declined by 53% between 2014-2018 and 2019-2023.
- European arms imports increased by 94% between 2014-2018 and 2019-2023, with the US accounting for 55% of these imports.
- India, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar were the biggest arms importers in 2019-2023.
Trends in International Arms Transfers
The world’s arms trade is changing with time. The amount of arms traded across borders dropped by 3.3% recently3. The United States and Western Europe still lead, selling 72% of all arms in 2019-23. This was more than the 62% they sold in the previous five years3.
The United States
The U.S. continues to be the top arms seller globally. Its sales were 40% of the total in 2018-22, up by 14% from before4. Most of these arms go to Europe and countries in NATO4.
France
France is now the second largest arms seller, having an 11% share in 2019-23. This is a growth from 7.5% in the earlier years3. The country increased its sales by 44% from 2013-17 to 2018-22, with many going to the Middle East and Asia4.
Russia
Russia’s share in global arms sales dropped from 22% in 2013-17 to 16% in 2018-225. Its sales decreased by 31% during this time4. Yet, Russia is still big in arms selling to Asia and Oceania4.
Other Major Exporters
China saw a 23% decrease in its arms sales from 2013-17 to 2018-22, now having a 5.2% share4. Germany and Italy are key players too, with 4.2% and 3.8% of the sales, respectively, in 2018-224.
FAQ
Who is the largest arms exporter in the world?
The United States is the world’s top arms exporter. It provided 41.7% of all arms from 2019 to 2023. This is up from 38.6% from 2017 to 2021. Over 100 countries got weapons from the US during this time.
What are the top 5 largest arms exporters in the world?
The biggest arms sellers are the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Israel. The US sold the most, at 41.7%. Then comes Saudi Arabia at 15%, Qatar at 8.2%, Kuwait at 4.5%, and Israel at 3.6%.
How has the global arms trade landscape shifted in recent years?
The United States leads in arms sales, growing from 38.6% in 2017 to 41.7% in 2023. France, Russia, and a few others are also big exporters, but the US is ahead. It dominates the arms market worldwide.