Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) in India
India: Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) was 2.86 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Arms imports in India, 1960–2025
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
In 2025, arms imports in India stood at 2.86 billion SIPRI trend indicator values.
The figure is up 78.6% on the previous year and up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in India peaked at 5.30 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2013 and was at its lowest, 402.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1962.
India ranks 2nd 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 India, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 544.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1961 | 1.15 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +111.0% |
| 1962 | 402.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -65.0% |
| 1963 | 695.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +72.9% |
| 1964 | 794.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +14.2% |
| 1965 | 1.00 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +26.4% |
| 1966 | 961.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -4.3% |
| 1967 | 1.13 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +17.8% |
| 1968 | 1.37 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +21.2% |
| 1969 | 1.37 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -0.4% |
| 1970 | 963.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -29.5% |
| 1971 | 2.02 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +109.7% |
| 1972 | 2.09 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +3.7% |
| 1973 | 1.51 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -27.8% |
| 1974 | 1.33 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -11.9% |
| 1975 | 1.53 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +14.8% |
| 1976 | 1.94 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +27.1% |
| 1977 | 2.38 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +22.3% |
| 1978 | 1.20 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -49.7% |
| 1979 | 1.20 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 1.77 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +47.3% |
| 1981 | 2.12 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +20.1% |
| 1982 | 2.65 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +24.7% |
| 1983 | 2.64 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 2.43 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -7.8% |
| 1985 | 3.00 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +23.1% |
| 1986 | 4.24 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +41.5% |
| 1987 | 3.92 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -7.6% |
| 1988 | 3.85 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 3.68 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -4.6% |
| 1990 | 2.83 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -23.0% |
| 1991 | 1.88 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -33.8% |
| 1992 | 1.19 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -36.6% |
| 1993 | 737.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -38.0% |
| 1994 | 873.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +18.5% |
| 1995 | 1.36 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +55.6% |
| 1996 | 831.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -38.8% |
| 1997 | 1.68 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +102.5% |
| 1998 | 797.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -52.6% |
| 1999 | 1.22 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +52.6% |
| 2000 | 988.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -18.8% |
| 2001 | 1.05 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 1.90 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +81.1% |
| 2003 | 2.80 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +47.1% |
| 2004 | 2.25 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -19.7% |
| 2005 | 1.20 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -46.5% |
| 2006 | 1.49 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +23.7% |
| 2007 | 2.30 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +54.7% |
| 2008 | 1.64 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -28.6% |
| 2009 | 1.96 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +19.2% |
| 2010 | 2.90 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +48.0% |
| 2011 | 3.62 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +25.1% |
| 2012 | 4.51 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +24.3% |
| 2013 | 5.30 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +17.7% |
| 2014 | 3.28 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -38.1% |
| 2015 | 2.73 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -16.7% |
| 2016 | 2.65 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 2.68 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 1.98 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -26.1% |
| 2019 | 3.20 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +61.6% |
| 2020 | 2.67 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -16.6% |
| 2021 | 3.96 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +48.2% |
| 2022 | 2.70 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -31.8% |
| 2023 | 1.54 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -43.0% |
| 2024 | 1.60 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +4.1% |
| 2025 | 2.86 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +78.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 2.86 billion SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 318.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- India's 2.86 billion SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for South Asia, which is 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 260.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 941.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 402.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.37 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.62 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 963.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.38 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.03 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.77 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 4.24 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.34 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 737.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.83 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.76 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 988.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.80 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.29 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.98 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 5.30 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.56 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.54 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 3.96 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
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- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
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- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.805 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0003 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -21.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 1.17 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in India?
- Arms imports in India was 2.86 billion 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 5.30 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2013.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 402.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1962.
- How does India rank for arms imports?
- India ranks 2nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.
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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.