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The Top 5 Countries that Spend the Most on Arms
| Country | Total Arms Purchases | Percent of Global Purchases | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saudi Arabia | $36.70 billion | 16% |
| 2 | India | $30.80 billion | 14% |
| 3 | United Arab Emirates | $15.30 billion | 7% |
| 4 | China | $12.90 billion | 6% |
| 5 | Egypt | $12.30 billion | 5% |
Special Report
- Arms sold to various countries include: Tanks and Self-propelled Guns, Artillery, Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Armored Cars, Major Surface Combatants (this category includes aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, frigates), Minor Surface Combatants(this category includes minesweepers, subchasers, motor torpedo boats, patrol craft, motor gunboats), Submarines, Guided Missile Patrol Boats, Supersonic Combat Aircraft (this category includes all fighter and bomber aircraft designed to function operationally at speeds above Mach 1), Subsonic Combat Aircraft (this category includes all fighter and bomber aircraft designed to function operationally at speeds below Mach 1), Other Aircraft (this category includes all other fixed-wing aircraft, including trainers, transports, reconnaissance aircraft, and communications/utility aircraft), Helicopters, Surface-to-air Missiles, Surface-to-surface Missiles, and Anti-ship Missiles.
- From 1998 to 2001, the USA, the UK, and France earned more income from arms sales to developing countries than they gave in aid.
- The five permanent members of the UN Security Council: the USA, UK, France, Russia, and China are responsible for eighty eight per cent of reported conventional arms exports.
- Global military expenditure was over $1.46 trillion in annual expenditure for the year 2008. This represents a 4% increase in real terms since 2007 and a 45% increase over the 10-year period since 1999. This corresponds to 2.4 per cent of world gross domestic product (GDP), or $217 for each person in the world.
- The United States is the principal determinant of the current world trend, and its military expenditure accounted for just under half of the world total, at 41.5% of the world total in 2008.
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Top 5 Most, War and the Military, Weapons and Arms Statistics
Sources: Richard F. Grimmett, CRS Report for Congress; Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 2001-2008.
List Notes: Total purchases are arms purchased in US dollars by developing and industrialized nations between the years 2001 to 2008.
Sources: Richard F. Grimmett, CRS Report for Congress; Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 2001-2008.
List Notes: Total purchases are arms purchased in US dollars by developing and industrialized nations between the years 2001 to 2008.
