Arms imports in Malaysia
Malaysia: Arms imports was 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
down 90.1%
World rank
123rd
of 173 countries
All-time high
1.28 billion SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2009
All-time low
2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1961
Years of data
63
1960–2023
Arms imports in Malaysia, 1960–2023
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 Malaysia is 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 90.1% on the previous year and down 91.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Malaysia peaked at 1.28 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2009 and was at its lowest, 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1961.
Malaysia ranks 123rd 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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1961 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -60.0% |
| 1962 | 31.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1450.0% |
| 1963 | 75.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +141.9% |
| 1964 | 97.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +29.3% |
| 1965 | 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -89.7% |
| 1966 | 58.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +480.0% |
| 1967 | 128.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +120.7% |
| 1968 | 91.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -28.9% |
| 1969 | 79.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -13.2% |
| 1970 | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -68.4% |
| 1971 | 195.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +680.0% |
| 1972 | 109.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -44.1% |
| 1973 | 229.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +110.1% |
| 1974 | 74.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -67.7% |
| 1975 | 85.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +14.9% |
| 1976 | 394.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +363.5% |
| 1977 | 146.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -62.9% |
| 1978 | 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -50.7% |
| 1979 | 310.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +330.6% |
| 1980 | 127.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -59.0% |
| 1981 | 56.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -55.9% |
| 1982 | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -55.4% |
| 1983 | 275.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1000.0% |
| 1984 | 543.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +97.5% |
| 1985 | 405.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -25.4% |
| 1986 | 141.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -65.2% |
| 1987 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -96.5% |
| 1988 | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +180.0% |
| 1989 | 37.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +164.3% |
| 1991 | 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -10.8% |
| 1992 | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -60.6% |
| 1993 | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 308.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2269.2% |
| 1995 | 828.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +168.8% |
| 1996 | 32.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -96.1% |
| 1997 | 553.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1628.1% |
| 1998 | 39.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -92.9% |
| 1999 | 721.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1748.7% |
| 2000 | 26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -96.4% |
| 2001 | 26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 153.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +488.5% |
| 2003 | 190.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +24.2% |
| 2004 | 69.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -63.7% |
| 2005 | 58.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -15.9% |
| 2006 | 184.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +217.2% |
| 2007 | 498.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +170.7% |
| 2008 | 493.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 1.28 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +160.4% |
| 2010 | 212.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -83.5% |
| 2011 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -98.1% |
| 2012 | 18.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +350.0% |
| 2013 | 79.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +338.9% |
| 2014 | 75.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 118.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +57.3% |
| 2016 | 271.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +129.7% |
| 2017 | 195.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -28.0% |
| 2018 | 93.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -52.3% |
| 2019 | 68.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -26.9% |
| 2020 | 52.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -23.5% |
| 2021 | 133.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +155.8% |
| 2022 | 71.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -46.6% |
| 2023 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -90.1% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 50% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 58.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 12% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports in Malaysia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +2269.2% | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 308.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1999 | +1748.7% | 39.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 721.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1997 | +1628.1% | 32.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 553.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1962 | +1450.0% | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 31.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1983 | +1000.0% | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 275.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 57.60 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 128.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1970s | 163.90 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 394.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 162.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 543.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 282.22 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 828.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 9 |
| 2000s | 298.10 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.28 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2010s | 113.30 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 271.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.75 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 133.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 121 Costa Rica 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 121 Cuba 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Honduras 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Laos 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Maldives 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Micronesia (country) 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Syria 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Tonga 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Malaysia
- Democracy, 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)
- Elected parliament, 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)
- Democracy 6 (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 Malaysia?
- Arms imports in Malaysia was 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2023, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.28 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2009.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1961.
- How does Malaysia rank for arms imports?
- Malaysia ranks 123rd out of 173 countries with data for 2023.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 91.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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
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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.