Arms imports in Syria
Syria: Arms imports was 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
down 91.2%
World rank
123rd
of 173 countries
All-time high
3.41 billion SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1974
All-time low
7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2014
Years of data
62
1960–2021
Arms imports in Syria, 1960–2021
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
In 2021, arms imports in Syria stood at 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values. That is the lowest value across all 62 years on record.
That represents a change of down 91.2% on the previous year and down 98.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Syria peaked at 3.41 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1974 and was at its lowest, 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 2014.
Syria ranks 123rd 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 Syria, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 38.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1961 | 27.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -28.9% |
| 1962 | 35.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +29.6% |
| 1963 | 89.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +154.3% |
| 1964 | 65.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -27.0% |
| 1965 | 100.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +53.8% |
| 1966 | 525.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +425.0% |
| 1967 | 905.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +72.4% |
| 1968 | 829.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -8.4% |
| 1969 | 875.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +5.5% |
| 1970 | 870.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -0.6% |
| 1971 | 735.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -15.5% |
| 1972 | 1.52 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +106.4% |
| 1973 | 3.28 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +116.3% |
| 1974 | 3.41 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +3.9% |
| 1975 | 1.41 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -58.6% |
| 1976 | 527.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -62.7% |
| 1977 | 931.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +76.7% |
| 1978 | 871.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -6.4% |
| 1979 | 2.04 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +134.8% |
| 1980 | 1.87 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -8.7% |
| 1981 | 1.35 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -27.7% |
| 1982 | 1.99 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +47.4% |
| 1983 | 2.24 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +12.7% |
| 1984 | 1.82 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -18.9% |
| 1985 | 1.58 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -13.0% |
| 1986 | 1.27 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -19.9% |
| 1987 | 1.41 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +11.2% |
| 1988 | 1.31 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -6.9% |
| 1989 | 663.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -49.5% |
| 1990 | 739.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +11.5% |
| 1991 | 315.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -57.4% |
| 1992 | 277.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -12.1% |
| 1993 | 166.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -40.1% |
| 1994 | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -91.6% |
| 1995 | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +78.6% |
| 1996 | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 45.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +80.0% |
| 1999 | 48.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +6.7% |
| 2000 | 49.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 23.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -53.1% |
| 2002 | 40.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +73.9% |
| 2003 | 64.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +60.0% |
| 2004 | 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -68.8% |
| 2005 | 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +50.0% |
| 2006 | 95.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +216.7% |
| 2007 | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -84.2% |
| 2008 | 326.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2073.3% |
| 2009 | 253.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -22.4% |
| 2010 | 420.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +66.0% |
| 2011 | 485.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +15.5% |
| 2012 | 529.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +9.1% |
| 2013 | 496.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -98.6% |
| 2015 | 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +128.6% |
| 2016 | 18.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +12.5% |
| 2017 | 52.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +188.9% |
| 2018 | 199.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +282.7% |
| 2019 | 104.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -47.7% |
| 2020 | 80.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -23.1% |
| 2021 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -91.2% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for low income countries, which is 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 1.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 45.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 16% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports in Syria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +2073.3% | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 326.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1966 | +425.0% | 100.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 525.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 348.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 27.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 905.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.56 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 527.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3.41 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.55 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 663.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.24 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 167.90 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 739.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2000s | 91.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 326.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2010s | 232.60 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 529.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 80.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2 |
Countries ranked near Syria
- 121 Costa Rica 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 121 Cuba 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Honduras 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Laos 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Malaysia 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Maldives 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Micronesia (country) 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 123 Tonga 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Syria
- Democracy, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2024)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2024)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2024)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2024)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 1 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 0 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Syria?
- Arms imports in Syria was 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2021, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 3.41 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1974.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2014.
- How does Syria rank for arms imports?
- Syria ranks 123rd out of 173 countries with data for 2021.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 98.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria 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 — 62 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.