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Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
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Financial value of the arms trade


The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database was not developed to assess the financial value of the international arms trade. Rather, the Trend Indicator Value (TIV) data produced by the Database is designed to serve as an indicator of the volume of military equipment transferred in the world.

The only means of making assessments of the financial value of the arms trade is to rely on official data provided by governments and industry bodies. There are significant limitations on using official national data in this way. First, there is no internationally agreed definition of what constitutes ‘arms’ and governments use different lists when collecting and reporting data on the financial value of their arms exports. Second, there is no standardized methodology concerning how to collect and report such data, with some states reporting on export licences issued or used and other states using data collected from customs agencies. Third, a number of states produce more than one data set based on different lists of goods or different methodologies.

The data available on this page are based on reports by, direct quotes from, or direct communication with, governments or official industry bodies. All information is available for use free of charge on condition that the user rules are abided by.

Value of the global arms trade


According to the SIPRI Arms Transfers Database, the countries that produce official data on their arms exports account for over 90% of the total volume of deliveries of major conventional weapons. By adding together the financial value of their arms exports, it is possible to arrive at a rough estimate of the financial value of the global arms trade.

Countries have only been included in the caolcuation if data on arms exports are available for five of the nine years covered and if each reported value exceeds $5 million. In cases where a country has produced more than one set of figures for their arms exports, the lower set of data has generally been used. For certain countries, data on the value of arms export licences have been used because these are the only figures available. For certain countries and certain years official data are unavailable and estimates have been made on the assumption that the rate of change in an individual country for which data are missing is the same as the average in the sample as a whole. Before calculating the world total, all national figures have been converted to calendar years, assuming equal distribution during the relevant years.

Figures are in US$ m., at constant (2006) prices. Conversion to constant (2006) US$ is made using the market exchange rates (MERs) of the reporting year and the US consumer price index (CPI).


1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
World total US$ (b.)
 43.8
 41.5
 33.7
 28.8
 31.6
 37.7
 43
 39.7
 45.6

Values by supplier country


The first file presents all available national data on arms exports since 1994. The data are presented in the relevant national currency in current values. Sources refer to the five previous figures listed, beginning with the most recent. To be able to open the file Excel 2001 is needed. If you have any difficulties please contact the Arms Transfers Project.

  • The financial value of national arms exports, 1994-2006 (excel - 84kb)

The next two files present data on the financial value of countries' arms exports from 1998 to 2006 converted into US$. In the first file figures are in US$ m. at current prices. Conversion to US$ is made using the market exchange rates (MERs) of the reporting year. In the second file figures are in US$ m. at constant (2006) prices. Coversion to constant (2006) US$ is made using the US consumer price index (CPI). Countries have only been included if data are available for five of the eight years covered and if each reported value exceeds $5 million. Sources refer to the five previous figures listed, beginning with the most recent. To be able to open the files Excel 2001 is needed. If you have any difficulties please contact the Arms Transfers Project.

  • The financial value of national arms exports, 1998-2006, in current US$ (excel - 80kb)
  • The financial value of national arms exports, 1998-2006, in constant (2006) US$ (excel - 84kb)
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