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. Arms imports by states in Europe more than trebled between the two periods (+210 per cent). 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.