The SIPRI Projects on Military Expenditure and Arms Production

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The purpose of the military expenditure and arms production projects is to monitor, describe and analyse trends and developments in military expenditure and arms production world-wide. Overviews of recent trends supported by extensive data appendices are presented annually in the SIPRI Yearbook.

Military expenditure

The SIPRI project on military expenditure was initiated in 1967 to study developments in world military expenditure. Military expenditure is an indicator of the economic resources devoted to military purposes. There is no direct relationship between the level of military expenditure and output in terms of military resources, military activities or military capability. Military expenditure is an input measure and military output depends on several factors other than its financing. However, analysed in its economic and political context, the level and trend in military expenditure can provide information not only on the cost of military activities but also about their extent and change over time, which can have an impact on military capability or reflect military intentions.

Main activities:

• Analysis of long-term developments and recent trends in national, regional and world military expenditure. See Trends in military expenditure.
• Maintenance of the SIPRI database on military expenditure.
• Presentation of analysis and data for the most recent 10-year period in the SIPRI Yearbook.
• Production of country case studies to produce estimates of their military expenditure. Such studies have been made for Russia (SIPRI Yearbook 1998) and China (SIPRI Yearbook 1999). (full text articles)

The SIPRI military expenditure database

The SIPRI database on military expenditure covers 167 countries and contains consistent data for the period since 1988. Data for the most recent 10-year period are published annually in the SIPRI Yearbook. Data from 1988 is available in the SIPRI military expenditure database on-line.

SIPRI military expenditure data are based on open sources, including a SIPRI Questionnaire on military expenditure, which is sent out annually to the countries included in the database. Collected data are processed to achieve consistent time series and as far as possible in accordance with the SIPRI definition of military expenditure. See also Sources and methods for SIPRI data on military expenditure.

Arms production

The SIPRI project on arms production was initiated in 1989 to study developments in the arms industry. The project collects information on the major arms-producing companies and describes and analyses their adjustment to the changed economic and political context and the resulting changes in industrial structures. The amount of available information on the level of arms production is limited, both at the company and national level. There is a great need for further transparency. See Transparency in arms production.

Main activities:

• Analysis of recent developments in the arms industry, at the company level and in a national and international perspective. See Trends in arms production.
• Maintenance of the SIPRI arms industry database on arms-producing companies.
• Collection of data on national trends and volumes of arms production. See Data on national arms production and links.
• Presentation of analysis and data in the SIPRI Yearbook.

The SIPRI arms industry database

The SIPRI arms industry database was created in 1989. It contains financial data and employment data for arms-producing companies in the OECD and developing countries (except China). Data on the arms sales and employment of the 100 largest arms-producing companies in these countries are presented annually in a data appendix (SIPRI Top 100) to the chapter on arms production in the SIPRI Yearbook.

The SIPRI data on arms-producing companies are based on open sources, including a SIPRI Questionnaire on arms production, which is sent out annually to selected companies. Other sources include company annual reports and articles in journals and newspapers. Estimates of arms sales are made on the basis of open information. The database is served by a network of experts who provide the project with company data and analytical support.

See also Sources and methods for SIPRI data on arms production.

Short term research

• Mapping of the European Defence Industry, MEDI

Completed projects

• Budgeting for the Military Sector in Africa: The Processes and Mechanisms of Control

Staff

	Elisabeth Sköns (Project Leader)
	Noel Kelly (Project Assistant)
	Natasza Nazet (Project Secretary, on leave of absence)
	Catalina Perdomo (Research Associate)
	Sam Perlo-Freeman (Researcher)
	Petter Stålenheim (Researcher)
	Vincent Boulanin (Intern)

Find more information about the staff here.

In addition, the project is served by an international network of researchers and experts who provide data and analytical support.
List of network members

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Trends in military expenditure | Data on military expenditure | Sources and methods: military expenditure
Trends in arms production | Data on arms production | Sources and methods: arms production
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