Arms imports in Switzerland
Switzerland: Arms imports was 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
up 120.0%
World rank
75th
of 173 countries
All-time high
502.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1999
All-time low
1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2017
Years of data
60
1960–2023
Arms imports in Switzerland, 1960–2023
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
In 2023, arms imports in Switzerland stood at 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values.
The figure is up 120.0% on the previous year and up 1,550.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Switzerland peaked at 502.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1999 and was at its lowest, 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 2017.
Switzerland ranks 75th 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 218.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1961 | 37.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -83.0% |
| 1962 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -89.2% |
| 1963 | 52.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1200.0% |
| 1964 | 263.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +405.8% |
| 1965 | 228.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -13.3% |
| 1966 | 373.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +63.6% |
| 1967 | 177.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -52.5% |
| 1968 | 199.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +12.4% |
| 1969 | 166.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -16.6% |
| 1970 | 142.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -14.5% |
| 1971 | 153.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +7.7% |
| 1972 | 191.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +24.8% |
| 1973 | 121.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -36.6% |
| 1974 | 64.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -47.1% |
| 1975 | 136.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +112.5% |
| 1976 | 142.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +4.4% |
| 1977 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -97.2% |
| 1978 | 217.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +5325.0% |
| 1979 | 226.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +4.1% |
| 1980 | 272.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +20.4% |
| 1981 | 289.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +6.2% |
| 1982 | 175.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -39.4% |
| 1983 | 442.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +152.6% |
| 1984 | 404.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -8.6% |
| 1985 | 341.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -15.6% |
| 1986 | 108.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -68.3% |
| 1987 | 151.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +39.8% |
| 1988 | 179.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +18.5% |
| 1989 | 318.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +77.7% |
| 1990 | 438.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +37.7% |
| 1991 | 474.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +8.2% |
| 1992 | 386.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -18.6% |
| 1993 | 102.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -73.6% |
| 1994 | 118.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +15.7% |
| 1995 | 93.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -21.2% |
| 1996 | 187.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +101.1% |
| 1997 | 377.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +101.6% |
| 1998 | 431.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +14.3% |
| 1999 | 502.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +16.5% |
| 2000 | 18.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -96.4% |
| 2001 | 63.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +250.0% |
| 2002 | 60.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -4.8% |
| 2003 | 117.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +95.0% |
| 2004 | 203.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +73.5% |
| 2005 | 168.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -17.2% |
| 2006 | 83.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -50.6% |
| 2007 | 108.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +30.1% |
| 2008 | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -86.1% |
| 2009 | 36.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +140.0% |
| 2010 | 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +16.7% |
| 2011 | 28.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -33.3% |
| 2012 | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -78.6% |
| 2013 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -66.7% |
| 2014 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +150.0% |
| 2015 | 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +100.0% |
| 2016 | 71.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +610.0% |
| 2017 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -98.6% |
| 2022 | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1400.0% |
| 2023 | 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +120.0% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for high income countries, which is 148.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 22% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 66.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 50% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports in Switzerland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +5325.0% | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 217.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2022 | +1400.0% | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1963 | +1200.0% | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 52.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2016 | +610.0% | 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 71.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 171.70 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 373.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1970s | 139.60 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 226.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 267.90 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 108.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 442.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 310.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 93.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 502.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2000s | 87.10 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 203.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.62 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 71.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 8 |
| 2020s | 24.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 72 Burkina Faso 37.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 72 Rwanda 37.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 74 Democratic Republic of Congo 35.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 76 Trinidad and Tobago 32.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 77 South Africa 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 78 Azerbaijan 28.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 78 Brunei 28.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Switzerland
- 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 Switzerland?
- Arms imports in Switzerland was 33.00 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 502.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1999.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2017.
- How does Switzerland rank for arms imports?
- Switzerland ranks 75th out of 173 countries with data for 2023.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,550.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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 — 60 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.