Arms imports in Nigeria
Nigeria: Arms imports was 67.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Arms imports in Nigeria, 1961–2024
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
In 2024, arms imports in Nigeria stood at 67.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values.
The figure is down 28.0% on the previous year and down 71.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Nigeria peaked at 642.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1982 and was at its lowest, 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1961.
Nigeria ranks 52nd 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1962 | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +700.0% |
| 1963 | 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +12.5% |
| 1964 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -77.8% |
| 1965 | 56.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2700.0% |
| 1966 | 159.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +183.9% |
| 1967 | 47.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -70.4% |
| 1968 | 50.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +6.4% |
| 1969 | 39.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -22.0% |
| 1970 | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -64.1% |
| 1971 | 12.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -14.3% |
| 1972 | 113.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +841.7% |
| 1973 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -93.8% |
| 1974 | 24.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +242.9% |
| 1975 | 424.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1666.7% |
| 1976 | 104.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -75.5% |
| 1977 | 90.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -13.5% |
| 1978 | 142.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +57.8% |
| 1979 | 108.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -23.9% |
| 1980 | 474.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +338.9% |
| 1981 | 331.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -30.2% |
| 1982 | 642.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +94.0% |
| 1983 | 41.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -93.6% |
| 1984 | 359.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +775.6% |
| 1985 | 569.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +58.5% |
| 1986 | 211.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -62.9% |
| 1987 | 115.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -45.5% |
| 1988 | 62.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -46.1% |
| 1989 | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -75.8% |
| 1990 | 18.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +20.0% |
| 1991 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -77.8% |
| 1992 | 59.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1375.0% |
| 1993 | 41.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -30.5% |
| 1994 | 95.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +131.7% |
| 1995 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -97.9% |
| 1996 | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +650.0% |
| 1997 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -93.3% |
| 2000 | 36.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +3500.0% |
| 2001 | 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -75.0% |
| 2002 | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -33.3% |
| 2003 | 66.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1000.0% |
| 2004 | 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -83.3% |
| 2006 | 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +45.5% |
| 2007 | 62.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +287.5% |
| 2008 | 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -46.8% |
| 2009 | 65.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +97.0% |
| 2010 | 223.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +243.1% |
| 2011 | 63.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -71.7% |
| 2012 | 28.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -55.6% |
| 2013 | 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +7.1% |
| 2014 | 232.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +673.3% |
| 2015 | 188.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -19.0% |
| 2016 | 61.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -67.6% |
| 2017 | 41.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -32.8% |
| 2018 | 49.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +19.5% |
| 2019 | 18.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -63.3% |
| 2020 | 85.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +372.2% |
| 2021 | 283.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +232.9% |
| 2022 | 54.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -80.9% |
| 2023 | 93.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +72.2% |
| 2024 | 67.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -28.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 67.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 6.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 67.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 8.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports in Nigeria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +3500.0% | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 36.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1965 | +2700.0% | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 56.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1975 | +1666.7% | 24.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 424.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1992 | +1375.0% | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 59.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2003 | +1000.0% | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 66.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1972 | +841.7% | 12.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 113.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 41.22 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 159.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 9 |
| 1970s | 103.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 424.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 281.90 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 642.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 29.38 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 95.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 8 |
| 2000s | 33.78 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 66.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 9 |
| 2010s | 93.30 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 18.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 232.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 116.40 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 54.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 283.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 49 Thailand 73.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 50 China 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 50 Egypt 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 53 Sweden 66.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 54 Afghanistan 65.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 55 Finland 64.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
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Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Nigeria?
- Arms imports in Nigeria was 67.00 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 642.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1982.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1961.
- How does Nigeria rank for arms imports?
- Nigeria ranks 52nd out of 173 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 71.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.