What is arms imports in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Arms imports in Sub-Saharan Africa was 731.00 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?

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?

The lowest recorded value was 125.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1960.

How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for arms imports?

Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 31st out of 43 groups with data for 2023.

Is arms imports rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Over the last ten years it is down 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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.

Arms imports in Sub-Saharan Africa

Name: Arms imports in Sub-Saharan Africa
Creator: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
License: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)

Sub-Saharan Africa: Arms imports was 731.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)

731.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values

Change on year

up 25.8%

Rank

31st

of 43 groups

All-time high

3.06 billion SIPRI trend indicator values

in 1978

All-time low

125.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values

in 1960

Years of data

1960–2023

Arms imports in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960–2023

Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.

Analysis

In 2023, arms imports in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 731.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values.

That represents a change of up 25.8% on the previous year and down 17.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, arms imports in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 3.06 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1978 and was at its lowest, 125.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1960.

That places Sub-Saharan Africa 31st out of 43 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	525.56 million SIPRI trend indicator values	125.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	962.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	9
1970s	1.54 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	717.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	3.06 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	10
1980s	1.75 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	515.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	2.26 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	10
1990s	407.60 million SIPRI trend indicator values	298.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	549.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	5
2000s	836.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	459.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	1.25 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	6
2010s	971.14 million SIPRI trend indicator values	593.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	1.37 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	7
2020s	656.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	581.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	731.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	2

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

28 Slovak Republic 298.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
29 Romania 278.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
30 Germany 239.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
31 Philippines 238.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
32 Myanmar 222.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
33 Israel 211.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
34 New Zealand 200.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare

See the full ranking of 217 places →

More public sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa

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)
Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 30.58 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Taxes on income, profits and capital gains 27.8% (2023)
Taxes on goods and services 32.4% (2023)
Interest payments 13.6% (2023)
Grants and other revenue 21.0% (2023)
Interest payments 10.2% (2021)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is arms imports in Sub-Saharan Africa?: Arms imports in Sub-Saharan Africa was 731.00 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?: 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?: The lowest recorded value was 125.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1960.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for arms imports?: Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 31st out of 43 groups with data for 2023.
Is arms imports rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?: Over the last ten years it is down 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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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Arms imports in Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/arms-imports-sipri-trend-indicator-values/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator: Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values)
Unit: SIPRI trend indicator values
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 217 places, 9,420 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed: 20 August 2026

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.