By Mathew George, Katarina Djokic, Zain Hussain, Pieter d. Wezeman and Siemon t. Wezeman

 

STOCKHOLM, 06 April. - (ANA) - The global volume of major arms transferred between states in 2021–25 was 9.2 per cent higher than in the previous five-year period (2016–20). This was the biggest increase since 2011–15 (see figure 1). Arms imports by states in Europe more than trebled between the two periods (+210 per cent).1 

 

Arms imports by states in the Americas also increased (+12 per cent), while imports

by states in Africa (–41 per cent), Asia and Oceania (–20 per cent) and the

Middle East (–13 per cent) decreased.

 

Ukraine was the world’s largest recipient of major arms in 2021–25, receiving 9.7 per cent of total global arms imports in 2021–25 compared with 0.1 per cent in 2016–20. The United States remained by far the world’s largest supplier of major arms. Its arms exports went up by 27 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25, giving it a 42 per cent share of total global arms exports.

 

From 9 March 2026 the freely available SIPRI Arms Transfers Database includes updated data on transfers of major arms for 1950–2025. Based on the new data, this fact sheet presents key trends in arms exports and arms imports, and highlights selected issues related to transfers of major arms.

 

 

 

 

? The volume of international transfers of major arms in 2021–25 was 9.2 per cent higher than in 2016–20. This was the biggest increase since 2011–15.

 

? The five largest suppliers of major arms in 2021–25 were the United States, France, Russia, Germany and China.

 

? Arms exports by the USA increased by 27 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25, giving it a 42 per cent share of total global arms exports.

 

? For the first time in two decades, the largest share of US arms exports went to Europe in 2021–25 (38 per cent).

 

? In 2021–25 France’s arms exports rose by 21 per cent compared with 2016–20, while

Russia’s fell by 64 per cent.

 

? The five largest recipients of major arms in 2021–25 were Ukraine, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan.

 

? States in Europe received 33 per cent of all arms imports in 2021–25, followed by states in Asia and Oceania (31 per cent), the Middle East (26 per cent), the Americas (5.6 per cent) and Africa (4.3 per cent).

 

? The 29 current European NATO member states’ combined arms imports grew by 143 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25. The USA accounted for 58 per cent of these imports in 2021–25.

 

? Arms imports to Asia and Oceania decreased by 20 per cent as China’s imports more than halved (–72 per cent) between 2016–20 and 2021–25.

 

? In 2021–25 more than half of arms imports by states in the Middle East came from the USA (54 per cent).   - (ANA) -

 

 

For the full report, visit: https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/fs_2603_at_2025.pdf

 

AB/ANA/06 April 2026 - - -