Arms imports in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Arms imports was 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Arms imports in Papua New Guinea, 1975–2023
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
In 2023, arms imports in Papua New Guinea stood at 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 35.7% on the previous year and up 200.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Papua New Guinea peaked at 32.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1975 and was at its lowest, 0 SIPRI trend indicator values, in 2017.
Papua New Guinea ranks 117th 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 Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 32.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1977 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -90.6% |
| 1978 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -33.3% |
| 1981 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +100.0% |
| 1984 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -50.0% |
| 1986 | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +300.0% |
| 1987 | 12.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +50.0% |
| 1988 | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -50.0% |
| 1989 | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -33.3% |
| 1991 | 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +150.0% |
| 1992 | 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -90.0% |
| 1996 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +600.0% |
| 2014 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -57.1% |
| 2017 | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | -100.0% |
| 2018 | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 2021 | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +75.0% |
| 2023 | 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -35.7% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 82% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 58.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 16% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports in Papua New Guinea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +600.0% | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12.33 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 32.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3 |
| 1980s | 5.71 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 12.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 7 |
| 1990s | 5.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 6 |
| 2010s | 3.67 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3 |
| 2020s | 11.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More public sector data for Papua New Guinea
- 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 7 (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 Papua New Guinea?
- Arms imports in Papua New Guinea was 9.00 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 Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 32.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1975.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 SIPRI trend indicator values in 2017.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for arms imports?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 117th out of 173 countries with data for 2023.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 200.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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.