Arms imports in Iran
Iran: Arms imports was 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
up 100.0%
World rank
71st
of 173 countries
All-time high
5.69 billion SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1977
All-time low
2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2020
Years of data
63
1960–2024
Arms imports in Iran, 1960–2024
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
Iran recorded 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values for arms imports in 2024.
That represents a change of up 100.0% on the previous year and up 200.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Iran peaked at 5.69 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1977 and was at its lowest, 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 2020.
Iran ranks 71st of 173 countries on this measure, 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 Iran, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 84.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1961 | 107.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +27.4% |
| 1962 | 127.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +18.7% |
| 1963 | 139.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +9.4% |
| 1964 | 141.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 171.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +21.3% |
| 1966 | 407.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +138.0% |
| 1967 | 249.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -38.8% |
| 1968 | 920.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +269.5% |
| 1969 | 1.38 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +49.7% |
| 1970 | 1.24 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -9.9% |
| 1971 | 1.78 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +43.7% |
| 1972 | 1.38 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -22.6% |
| 1973 | 2.06 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +48.9% |
| 1974 | 2.85 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +38.9% |
| 1975 | 5.21 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +82.5% |
| 1976 | 4.63 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -11.1% |
| 1977 | 5.69 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +22.8% |
| 1978 | 3.72 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -34.6% |
| 1979 | 526.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -85.9% |
| 1980 | 278.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -47.1% |
| 1981 | 487.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +75.2% |
| 1982 | 498.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 467.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -6.2% |
| 1984 | 558.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +19.5% |
| 1985 | 639.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +14.5% |
| 1986 | 805.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +26.0% |
| 1987 | 807.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 468.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -42.0% |
| 1989 | 194.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -58.5% |
| 1990 | 448.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +130.9% |
| 1991 | 992.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +121.4% |
| 1992 | 404.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -59.3% |
| 1993 | 957.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +136.9% |
| 1994 | 451.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -52.9% |
| 1995 | 289.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -35.9% |
| 1996 | 608.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +110.4% |
| 1997 | 172.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -71.7% |
| 1998 | 374.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +117.4% |
| 1999 | 321.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -14.2% |
| 2000 | 417.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +29.9% |
| 2001 | 528.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +26.6% |
| 2002 | 435.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -17.6% |
| 2003 | 283.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -34.9% |
| 2004 | 117.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -58.7% |
| 2005 | 53.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -54.7% |
| 2006 | 418.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +688.7% |
| 2007 | 325.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -22.2% |
| 2008 | 57.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -82.5% |
| 2009 | 92.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +61.4% |
| 2010 | 87.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 89.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 39.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -56.2% |
| 2013 | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -64.1% |
| 2014 | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -21.4% |
| 2016 | 413.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +3654.5% |
| 2017 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -99.3% |
| 2018 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -33.3% |
| 2023 | 21.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +950.0% |
| 2024 | 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +100.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 3.0× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Iran's 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 45.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 93% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports in Iran 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +3654.5% | 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 413.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2023 | +950.0% | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 21.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2006 | +688.7% | 53.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 418.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 372.20 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 84.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.38 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.91 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 526.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5.69 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 520.10 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 194.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 807.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 501.60 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 172.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 992.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2000s | 272.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 53.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 528.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.60 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 413.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.67 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 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
- 72 Burkina Faso 37.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 72 Rwanda 37.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 74 Democratic Republic of Congo 35.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Iran
- Democracy, 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 2 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 0 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Iran?
- Arms imports in Iran was 42.00 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 5.69 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1977.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2020.
- How does Iran rank for arms imports?
- Iran ranks 71st out of 173 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 200.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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 — 63 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.