Welcome to SIPRI

Welcome to SIPRITitle Picture Summer SIPRI

SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. Established in 1966, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public. SIPRI is named as one of the world's leading think tanks in the international "Think Tank Index". Based in Stockholm, SIPRI also has presences in Beijing and Washington, DC.  Read more about SIPRI >>

 

News

  • 6 Feb: SIPRI opens new North American Research Center

    SIPRI announces the establishment of SIPRI North America, a new research center based in Washington, DC. SIPRI North America is officially launched at an event on 6 February at the House of Sweden in Washington, DC, which will feature Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and former US National Security Adviser Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski.

    NA launch1
    For more information about SIPRI North America go here. Read the press release here.

  • 3 Feb: SIPRI Director at Munich Security Conference!

    SIPRI Director Bates Gill is present at this years' Munich Security Conference. On the agenda of the conference is amongst others Euro-Atlantic Security, Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Europe and Cybersecurity. Watch the live-stream of the conference here.

  • 30 Jan: New Newsletter out!

    Read it here. Do not miss the essay about the nuclear arms programme charges against Iran, by SIPRI Associated Senior Research Fellow Robert Kelley.

  • 24 Jan: New SIPRI paper on transparency and military spending in Latin America

    While all states surveyed in Latin America now make information on their defence budgets available to the public, further transparency is needed in the reporting of off-budget funding for arms acquisitions. Read the press release here, and download the report here.

  • 19 Jan: SIPRI ranked a top global think tank again in 2011

    SIPRI ranked 2nd in global think tank ranking (non-US) according to the 2011 Global Go To Think Tank Rankings published by the University of Pennsylvania. Read the full report and complete ranking lists here.

In Focus
Current relations between Iran and Israel

Read the SIPRI essay on Iran's nuclear weapons programme by SIPRI Associated Senior Research Fellow Robert Kelley here.

Read more about and download the SIPRI background paper on Israeli arms transfers by SIPRI senior researcher Siemon Wezeman here.

Maritime trafficking

More than 60% of ships involved in reported cases of sanctions-busting or illicit transfers of arms, drugs, other military equipment and sensitive dual-use goods that could be used in the development of missiles and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are owned by companies based in the EU, NATO or other OECD states, according to the first comprehensive study on maritime trafficking released today. Read the press release here. Download the full report here and the executive summary here. 
coverpp32
Read more about SIPRI's maritime and air transport research here.
SIPRI Yearbook 2012: launch dates

 

  • 27 Feb: Top 100 arms-producing companies
  • 19 March: International arms transfers data
  • 17 April: World military expenditure data
  • June: Launch of the SIPRI Yearbook



Activities in spring
March 19-23, Online event

Security Jam: Brainstorming Global Security

SIPRI is pleased to invite its networks to join the online Security Jam discussion on March 19 to 23. Click the button below to read more and register for the event.

Security jam banner


March 1-2, Kiev

Combating Destabilizing Arms Transfers by Air

SIPRI is organizing a two-day expert seminar on arms trafficking by air within the framework of a EU Council decision under the auspices of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The event will bring together national and international experts in the fields of civil aviation, peacekeeping, crisis management, disarmament, aviation intelligence, non-proliferation, export control, defence, law enforcement, customs and security. Its purpose is to promote effective information sharing, tools and techniques for the better monitoring and detection of air cargo actors engaged in destabilizing commodity flows and is one of a series of regional seminars aimed at establishing best practices in these fields. Attendance is by invitation only. A limited number of sponsored places are available. For further information email the SIPRI Countering Illicit Trafficking–Mechanism Assessment Projects (CIT-MAP) here.

February 24, SIPRI, Solna, 13-14:30

A Voice for Peace

SIPRI is honoured to welcome Izzeldin Abuelaish, Palestinian doctor and prominent peace activist, to talk about his work in promoting dialogue and understanding. Dr Abuelaish worked for many years in an Israeli hospital, becoming a living symbol of the possibilities of Israeli-Palestinian peace. Read the invitation here. Please confirm your participation, giving your name and full affiliation, no later than Wednesday, 22 February to Cynthia Loo.


 
Databases

SIPRI Military Expenditure Database

The SIPRI Military Expenditure Database was updated on 3 June with SIPRI's latest data. The database provides a consistent time series on the military spending of 172 countries since 1988. Data are provided  by country in the following three formats:

  • in local currency, at current prices. 1988-2009
  • in US dollars, at constant (2008) prices and exchange rates, 1988-2009
  • as a share (%) of gross domestic product (GDP), 1988-2008   

NEW! Now also available in Excel form.

Access the database here.