Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) in Australia
Australia: Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) was 826.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
826.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
down 23.3%
World rank
11th
of 174 countries
All-time high
1.66 billion SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2017
All-time low
35.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1997
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Arms imports in Australia, 1960–2025
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
The most recent figure for arms imports in Australia is 826.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 23.3% on the previous year and down 42.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Australia peaked at 1.66 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2017 and was at its lowest, 35.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1997.
Australia ranks 11th of 174 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) in Australia, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 116.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1961 | 155.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +33.6% |
| 1962 | 460.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +196.8% |
| 1963 | 369.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -19.8% |
| 1964 | 539.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +46.1% |
| 1965 | 920.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +70.7% |
| 1966 | 707.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -23.2% |
| 1967 | 770.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +8.9% |
| 1968 | 557.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -27.7% |
| 1969 | 702.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +26.0% |
| 1970 | 230.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -67.2% |
| 1971 | 310.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +34.8% |
| 1972 | 63.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -79.7% |
| 1973 | 713.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1031.7% |
| 1974 | 898.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +25.9% |
| 1975 | 108.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -88.0% |
| 1976 | 91.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -15.7% |
| 1977 | 278.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +205.5% |
| 1978 | 1.03 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +270.1% |
| 1979 | 197.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -80.9% |
| 1980 | 409.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +107.6% |
| 1981 | 449.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +9.8% |
| 1982 | 134.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -70.2% |
| 1983 | 637.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +375.4% |
| 1984 | 635.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 510.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -19.7% |
| 1986 | 815.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +59.8% |
| 1987 | 594.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -27.1% |
| 1988 | 745.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +25.4% |
| 1989 | 695.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -6.7% |
| 1990 | 356.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -48.8% |
| 1991 | 219.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -38.5% |
| 1992 | 364.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +66.2% |
| 1993 | 448.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +23.1% |
| 1994 | 262.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -41.5% |
| 1995 | 64.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -75.6% |
| 1996 | 597.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +832.8% |
| 1997 | 35.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -94.1% |
| 1998 | 542.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1448.6% |
| 1999 | 678.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +25.1% |
| 2000 | 326.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -51.9% |
| 2001 | 1.22 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +272.7% |
| 2002 | 638.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -47.5% |
| 2003 | 765.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +19.9% |
| 2004 | 447.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -41.6% |
| 2005 | 458.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 721.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +57.4% |
| 2007 | 618.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -14.3% |
| 2008 | 430.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -30.4% |
| 2009 | 805.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +87.2% |
| 2010 | 1.56 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +93.5% |
| 2011 | 1.58 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 787.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -50.3% |
| 2013 | 220.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -72.0% |
| 2014 | 848.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +285.5% |
| 2015 | 1.45 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +70.4% |
| 2016 | 1.01 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -30.0% |
| 2017 | 1.66 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +64.4% |
| 2018 | 1.55 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -6.7% |
| 2019 | 1.16 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -25.4% |
| 2020 | 1.63 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +40.8% |
| 2021 | 1.22 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -25.4% |
| 2022 | 809.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -33.6% |
| 2023 | 376.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -53.5% |
| 2024 | 1.08 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +186.4% |
| 2025 | 826.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -23.3% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 826.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for high income countries, which is 141.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 5.9× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Australia's 826.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 56.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 14.8× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +1448.6% | 35.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 542.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1973 | +1031.7% | 63.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 713.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1996 | +832.8% | 64.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 597.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 529.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 116.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 920.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1970s | 391.70 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 63.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.03 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 562.30 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 134.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 815.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 356.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 35.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 678.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2000s | 642.30 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 326.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.22 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.18 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 220.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.66 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 989.67 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 376.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.63 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 8 Qatar 1.05 billion SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 9 United Arab Emirates 868.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 10 Philippines 846.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 12 Netherlands 824.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 13 United States 745.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 14 Pakistan 706.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Australia
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 36.15 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0006 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 159.37 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 983.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Australia?
- Arms imports in Australia was 826.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2025, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.66 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2017.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1997.
- How does Australia rank for arms imports?
- Australia ranks 11th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Arms transfers (imports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.