Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) was 583.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
583.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
down 22.6%
Rank
34th
of 45 groups
All-time high
3.06 billion SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1978
All-time low
122.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1960
Years of data
50
1960–2025
Arms imports in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1960–2025
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
In 2025, arms imports in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 583.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values.
The figure is down 22.6% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 3.06 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1978 and was at its lowest, 122.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1960.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 34th out of 45 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 122.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1962 | 368.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +201.6% |
| 1963 | 656.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +78.3% |
| 1964 | 487.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -25.8% |
| 1965 | 622.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +27.7% |
| 1966 | 963.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +54.8% |
| 1967 | 558.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -42.1% |
| 1968 | 394.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -29.4% |
| 1969 | 584.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +48.2% |
| 1970 | 1.29 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +121.4% |
| 1971 | 1.03 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -20.4% |
| 1972 | 717.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -30.3% |
| 1973 | 821.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +14.5% |
| 1974 | 961.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +17.1% |
| 1975 | 1.98 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +106.5% |
| 1976 | 1.70 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -14.2% |
| 1977 | 2.48 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +45.5% |
| 1978 | 3.06 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +23.3% |
| 1979 | 1.46 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -52.1% |
| 1980 | 1.89 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +29.1% |
| 1981 | 2.26 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +19.5% |
| 1982 | 2.23 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 1.61 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -27.6% |
| 1984 | 1.80 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +12.0% |
| 1985 | 1.69 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -6.5% |
| 1986 | 1.92 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +14.0% |
| 1987 | 2.09 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +8.8% |
| 1988 | 1.43 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -31.8% |
| 1989 | 517.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -63.8% |
| 1990 | 419.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -19.0% |
| 1991 | 299.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -28.6% |
| 1994 | 549.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +83.6% |
| 1996 | 342.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -37.7% |
| 1997 | 435.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +27.2% |
| 2000 | 633.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +45.5% |
| 2001 | 459.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -27.5% |
| 2006 | 1.14 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +147.7% |
| 2007 | 1.26 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +11.0% |
| 2008 | 932.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -26.1% |
| 2009 | 639.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -31.4% |
| 2010 | 1.10 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +72.9% |
| 2011 | 1.38 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +25.2% |
| 2012 | 1.21 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -12.4% |
| 2013 | 905.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -25.3% |
| 2014 | 888.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 595.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -33.0% |
| 2016 | 787.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +32.3% |
| 2022 | 583.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -25.9% |
| 2023 | 753.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +29.2% |
| 2025 | 583.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -22.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 528.22 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 122.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 963.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.55 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 717.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3.06 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.74 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 517.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.26 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 408.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 299.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 549.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
| 2000s | 843.67 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 459.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.26 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 6 |
| 2010s | 982.29 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 595.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.38 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 7 |
| 2020s | 639.67 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 583.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 753.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- 31 Turkey 381.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 32 Kuwait 311.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 33 Denmark 278.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 34 Spain 237.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 35 France 236.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 36 South Korea 222.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 37 China 207.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.5807 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0003 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 25.82 % change on previous year (2023)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 731.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2023)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 16.8 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0109 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate -6.41 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 21.67 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 30.58 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per square kilometre 968.94 current USD per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Arms imports in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 583.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2025, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 3.06 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1978.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 122.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1960.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for arms imports?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 34th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.