Arms imports in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Arms imports was 48.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
48.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
up 2,300.0%
World rank
66th
of 173 countries
All-time high
1.12 billion SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1977
All-time low
2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1990
Years of data
54
1960–2024
Arms imports in Ethiopia, 1960–2024
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 48.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values for arms imports in 2024.
The figure is up 2,300.0% on the previous year and up 45.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Ethiopia peaked at 1.12 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1977 and was at its lowest, 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1990.
That places Ethiopia 66th out of 173 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arms imports in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 24.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1961 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -83.3% |
| 1962 | 21.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +425.0% |
| 1963 | 27.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +28.6% |
| 1964 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -85.2% |
| 1965 | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +250.0% |
| 1966 | 99.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +607.1% |
| 1967 | 31.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -68.7% |
| 1968 | 34.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +9.7% |
| 1969 | 24.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -29.4% |
| 1970 | 89.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +270.8% |
| 1971 | 54.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -39.3% |
| 1972 | 53.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -1.9% |
| 1973 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -90.6% |
| 1974 | 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +220.0% |
| 1975 | 60.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +275.0% |
| 1976 | 135.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +125.0% |
| 1977 | 1.12 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +726.7% |
| 1978 | 965.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -13.5% |
| 1979 | 113.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -88.3% |
| 1980 | 330.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +192.0% |
| 1981 | 328.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -0.6% |
| 1982 | 516.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +57.3% |
| 1983 | 353.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -31.6% |
| 1984 | 273.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -22.7% |
| 1985 | 268.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -1.8% |
| 1986 | 348.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +29.9% |
| 1987 | 239.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -31.3% |
| 1988 | 155.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -35.1% |
| 1989 | 47.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -69.7% |
| 1990 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -95.7% |
| 1991 | 80.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +3900.0% |
| 1997 | 69.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -13.8% |
| 1998 | 208.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +201.4% |
| 1999 | 152.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -26.9% |
| 2000 | 114.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -25.0% |
| 2002 | 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -82.5% |
| 2003 | 174.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +770.0% |
| 2004 | 239.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +37.4% |
| 2010 | 58.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -75.7% |
| 2011 | 76.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +31.0% |
| 2012 | 193.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +153.9% |
| 2013 | 154.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -20.2% |
| 2014 | 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -78.6% |
| 2015 | 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -69.7% |
| 2016 | 55.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +450.0% |
| 2017 | 51.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 12.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -76.5% |
| 2019 | 74.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +516.7% |
| 2020 | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -66.2% |
| 2021 | 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -36.0% |
| 2022 | 45.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +181.2% |
| 2023 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -95.6% |
| 2024 | 48.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2300.0% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 48.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for low income countries, which is 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 9.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 48.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 6.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports in Ethiopia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +3900.0% | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 80.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2024 | +2300.0% | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 48.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2003 | +770.0% | 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 174.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1977 | +726.7% | 135.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.12 billion SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1966 | +607.1% | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 99.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 28.20 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 99.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1970s | 260.60 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.12 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 285.70 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 47.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 516.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 102.20 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 208.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
| 2000s | 136.75 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 239.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 4 |
| 2010s | 71.60 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 193.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.20 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 48.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 63 Tanzania 52.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 64 Lithuania 51.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 65 Czechia 50.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 67 Mexico 46.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 68 Malta 45.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 69 Argentina 43.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 69 Central African Republic 43.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Ethiopia
- 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)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 3 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Ethiopia?
- Arms imports in Ethiopia was 48.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.12 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1977.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1990.
- How does Ethiopia rank for arms imports?
- Ethiopia ranks 66th out of 173 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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 — 54 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.