Arms imports in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Arms imports was 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
up 80.0%
World rank
117th
of 173 countries
All-time high
289.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2000
All-time low
0 SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1964
Years of data
47
1960–2024
Arms imports in Sri Lanka, 1960–2024
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 Sri Lanka is 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 80.0% on the previous year and up 80.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Sri Lanka peaked at 289.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0 SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1964.
That places Sri Lanka 117th out of 173 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1964 | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | -100.0% |
| 1969 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1971 | 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1550.0% |
| 1972 | 47.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +42.4% |
| 1975 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -97.9% |
| 1976 | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | -100.0% |
| 1977 | 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1978 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -58.8% |
| 1980 | 18.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +157.1% |
| 1984 | 48.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +166.7% |
| 1985 | 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -12.5% |
| 1986 | 28.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -33.3% |
| 1987 | 111.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +296.4% |
| 1988 | 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -82.9% |
| 1989 | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -68.4% |
| 1990 | 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +216.7% |
| 1991 | 168.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +784.2% |
| 1992 | 22.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -86.9% |
| 1993 | 37.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +68.2% |
| 1994 | 77.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +108.1% |
| 1995 | 64.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -16.9% |
| 1996 | 207.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +223.4% |
| 1997 | 48.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -76.8% |
| 1998 | 83.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +72.9% |
| 1999 | 62.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -25.3% |
| 2000 | 289.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +366.1% |
| 2001 | 159.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -45.0% |
| 2002 | 43.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -73.0% |
| 2003 | 34.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -20.9% |
| 2004 | 48.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +41.2% |
| 2005 | 57.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +18.8% |
| 2006 | 96.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +68.4% |
| 2007 | 91.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -5.2% |
| 2008 | 79.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -13.2% |
| 2009 | 21.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -73.4% |
| 2010 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -76.2% |
| 2011 | 21.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +320.0% |
| 2013 | 22.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +4.8% |
| 2014 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -77.3% |
| 2017 | 45.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +800.0% |
| 2018 | 100.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +122.2% |
| 2019 | 59.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -41.0% |
| 2021 | 54.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -8.5% |
| 2022 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -94.4% |
| 2023 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +66.7% |
| 2024 | 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +80.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 64% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for South Asia, which is 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | +1550.0% | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2017 | +800.0% | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 45.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1991 | +784.2% | 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 168.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3 |
| 1970s | 17.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | 47.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 6 |
| 1980s | 38.86 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 111.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 7 |
| 1990s | 78.70 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 19.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 207.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2000s | 91.70 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 21.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 289.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.71 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 100.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 7 |
| 2020s | 17.75 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 54.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More public sector data for Sri Lanka
- 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 Sri Lanka?
- Arms imports in Sri Lanka was 9.00 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 289.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2000.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 SIPRI trend indicator values in 1964.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for arms imports?
- Sri Lanka ranks 117th out of 173 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 80.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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 — 47 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.