(Stockholm, 9 March 2026) The quantity of main arms transferred between states elevated by 9.2 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25. States in Europe greater than trebled their arms imports, making it the most important recipient area. Whole exports by the US, the world’s largest provider of arms, elevated by 27 per cent. This included a 217 per cent improve in US arms exports to Europe, in response to new information printed as we speak by the Stockholm Worldwide Peace Analysis Institute (SIPRI), accessible at www.sipri.org.
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The rise in international arms flows was the most important since 2011–15. It was overwhelmingly as a result of development in transfers to Ukraine (which obtained 9.7 per cent of all arms transfers in 2021–25) and different European states. Moreover Europe and the Americas, arms imports to all different world areas decreased.
‘Whereas tensions and conflicts in Asia and Oceania and the Center East proceed to drive large-scale arms imports, the sharp improve in arms flows to European states pushed international arms transfers up nearly 10 per cent,’ mentioned Mathew George, Director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme. ‘Deliveries to Ukraine since 2022 are the obvious issue, however most different European states have additionally began importing considerably extra arms to shore up their army capabilities in opposition to a perceived rising menace from Russia.’
USA will increase its dominance of arms exports
The United States provided 42 per cent of all worldwide arms transfers in 2021–25, up from 36 per cent in 2016–20. The USA exported arms to 99 states in 2021–25, together with 35 states in Europe, 18 within the Americas, 17 in Africa, 17 in Asia and Oceania and 12 within the Center East. For the primary time in twenty years, the most important share of US arms exports went to Europe (38 per cent) moderately than the Center East (33 per cent). However, the highest single recipient of US arms was Saudi Arabia (12 per cent of US arms exports).
‘The USA has additional cemented its dominance as an arms provider, even in an more and more multipolar world,’ mentioned Pieter Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.
‘For importers, US arms supply superior capabilities and a method of fostering good relations with the USA, whereas the USA views arms exports as a device of international coverage and a method of strengthening its
arms business, because the Trump administration’s new America First Arms Switch Technique as soon as once more makes clear.’
France was the second largest provider of main arms in 2021–25, accounting for 9.8 per cent of worldwide exports. Its arms exports elevated by 21 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25. France exported to 63 states, with the most important shares going to India (24 per cent), Egypt (11 per cent) and Greece (10 per cent). France’s arms exports inside Europe rose greater than fivefold (+452 per cent), however nearly 80 per cent nonetheless went outdoors the area.
Russia was the one high 10 provider to see its arms exports fall (–64 per cent). Its share of worldwide arms exports shrank from 21 per cent in 2016–20 to six.8 per cent in 2021–25. Russia provided main arms to 30 states and 1 non-state actor in 2021–25. Practically three quarters (74 per cent) of Russian arms exports went to a few states in 2021–25: India (48 per cent), China (13 per cent) and Belarus (13 per cent).
Germany overtook China to turn out to be the fourth largest arms exporter in 2021–25, with 5.7 per cent of worldwide arms exports. Nearly 1 / 4 of all German arms exports (24 per cent) went to Ukraine as assist (and one other 17 per cent went to different European states).
Arms exports by Italy elevated by 157 per cent, pushing it from the tenth largest exporter in 2016–20 to the sixth largest in 2021–25. Over half of Italy’s exports went to the Center East (59 per cent), whereas 16 per cent went to Asia and Oceania and 13 per cent to Europe.
Israel, the seventh largest arms provider, elevated its share of worldwide arms exports from 3.1 per cent in 2016–20 to 4.4 per cent in 2021–25, and for the primary time ever overtook the United Kingdom (3.4 per cent).
‘Regardless of conducting the battle in Gaza and assaults in Iran, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria and Yemen, Israel nonetheless managed to extend its share of worldwide arms exports,’ mentioned Zain Hussain, Researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme. ‘The Israeli arms business focuses on air defence methods for which there’s excessive international demand, whereas the Israeli army is dependent upon imports for a number of forms of key gear.’
Europe the most important arms-importing area
European states obtained 33 per cent of worldwide arms imports, with the area’s imports growing by 210 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25. After Ukraine, Poland and the United Kingdom had been the most important importers in Europe prior to now 5 years. Nearly half of arms transferred to European states got here from the USA (48 per cent), adopted by Germany (7.1 per cent) and France (6.2 per cent).
Menace perceptions regarding Russia, compounded by uncertainties over the USA’s dedication to defending its European allies, have boosted demand for arms amongst European member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Group (NATO). The 29 present European NATO members’ mixed arms imports grew by 143 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25. The USA provided 58 per cent of those imports in 2021–25. The subsequent largest suppliers had been South Korea (8.6 per cent), Israel (7.7 per cent) and France (7.4 per cent).
‘Though European corporations have ramped up arms manufacturing and the European Union’s new funding help for member states’ arms industries has led to quite a few intra-EU orders, European states continued to import US arms in 2021–25, particularly fight plane and long-range air defence methods,’ mentioned Katarina Djokic, Researcher with SIPRI’s Arms Transfers Programme. ‘On the identical time, the most important European suppliers continued to ship most of their arms exports outdoors Europe.’
Arms deliveries to Asia and Oceania drop as China’s imports greater than halve
At 31 per cent, states in Asia and Oceania imported the second largest share of arms in 2021–25. This was regardless of a 20 per cent drop in quantity in contrast with 2016–20. The autumn was primarily as a result of lowering arms imports by China (–72 per cent) and, to a lesser extent, by South Korea (–54 per cent) and Australia (–39 per cent).
4 states in Asia and Oceania ranked among the many 10 largest arms importers globally in 2021–25: India, Pakistan, Japan and Australia. The principle provider to the area in 2021–25 was the USA, which accounted for 35 per cent of regional arms imports. Russia accounted for an additional 17 per cent and China for 14 per cent.
India was the world’s second largest arms importer. Its imports decreased marginally (–4.0 per cent) between 2016–20 and 2021–25. The biggest share of Indian arms imports got here from Russia, at 40 per cent—a considerably smaller share than in 2016–20 (51 per cent) and nearly half that in
2011–15 (70 per cent). India is more and more turning to Western suppliers. Arms imports by Pakistan grew by 66 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25. China provided 80 per cent of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2021–25, up from 73 per cent in 2016–20.
In East Asia, Japan (+76 per cent) and Taiwan (+54 per cent) noticed giant will increase of their arms imports between 2016–20 and 2021–25. China dropped out of the highest 10 arms importers for the primary time since 1991–95, as a result of expanded home manufacturing of its personal designs.
‘Fears over China’s intentions and its rising army capabilities proceed to affect armament efforts in different elements of Asia and Oceania, which regularly nonetheless rely on imported arms,’ mentioned Siemon Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme. ‘For instance, in South Asia, the excessive quantity of arms that India imports is basically as a result of perceived menace from China and to India’s long-running battle with the primary recipient of Chinese language arms exports, Pakistan. Imported weapons had been used within the 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan, each nuclear-armed states.’
Center East arms imports fall
Arms imports by states within the Center East shrank by 13 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25. Three of the world’s high 10 arms importers in 2021–25 had been within the area: Saudi Arabia (6.8 per cent of worldwide imports), Qatar (6.4 per cent) and Kuwait (2.8 per cent). Greater than half of arms imports to the Center East got here from the USA (54 per cent), whereas 12 per cent got here from Italy, 11 per cent from France and seven.3 per cent from Germany.
‘Gulf Arab states form arms import tendencies within the Center East, with Saudi Arabia having been the area’s largest importer since 2011–15 and Qatar now its second largest after greater than doubling its imports between 2016–20 and 2021–25,’ mentioned Zain Hussain. ‘With quite a few regional tensions and conflicts, Gulf Arab states are working to strengthen relations with long-standing suppliers just like the USA and France whereas additionally looking for new suppliers.’
Israel was the world’s 14th largest arms importer in 2021–25, with its imports rising by 12 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25. In 2021–25 the USA provided the most important share of Israel’s arms imports (68 per cent), adopted by Germany (31 per cent). All through the multi-front battle stemming from Israel’s large-scale army offensive in Gaza starting in October 2023, Israel continued to obtain arms from varied suppliers, together with F-35 fight plane, guided bombs and missiles from the USA.
Different notable developments
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Imports of main arms by African states fell by 41 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25.
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Imports by Algeria fell by 78 per cent, whereas these by Morocco elevated by 12 per cent, making Morocco the most important arms importer in Africa.
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Arms imports by states within the Americas elevated by 12 per cent between 2016–20 and
2021–25. The USA obtained 52 per cent of arms imports to the area. -
Arms imports by states in South America rose by 31 per cent between 2016–20 and
2021–25, with 6 of 12 states growing their imports. The biggest share went to Brazil (60 per cent of imports to South America), whose arms imports grew by 150 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25.
For editors
The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database is the one public useful resource that gives constant data on all worldwide transfers of main arms (together with gross sales, presents and manufacturing underneath licence) between states, worldwide organizations and non-state teams since 1950. It’s accessible on the Arms Transfers Database web page of SIPRI’s web site.
SIPRI’s information displays the quantity of transfers of arms, not their monetary worth. As the quantity of transfers can fluctuate significantly year-on-year, SIPRI presents information for five-year intervals, giving a extra steady measure of tendencies.
That is the second of three main information launches within the lead-up to the discharge of SIPRI’s flagship publication in mid 2026, the annual SIPRI Yearbook. The third information launch will present complete data on international, regional and nationwide tendencies in army spending.
Media contacts
For data and interview requests contact Stephanie Blenckner, SIPRI Communications Director (blenckner@sipri.org, +46 8 655 97 47).
