Arms imports in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Arms imports was 643.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
643.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
up 36.2%
World rank
13th
of 173 countries
All-time high
2.70 billion SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1969
All-time low
26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Arms imports in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom is 643.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 36.2% on the previous year and up 196.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in United Kingdom peaked at 2.70 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1969 and was at its lowest, 26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1960.
United Kingdom ranks 13th of 173 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arms imports in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1961 | 34.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +30.8% |
| 1962 | 38.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +11.8% |
| 1963 | 159.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +318.4% |
| 1964 | 133.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -16.4% |
| 1965 | 166.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +24.8% |
| 1966 | 242.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +45.8% |
| 1967 | 1.44 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +496.7% |
| 1968 | 2.35 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +62.6% |
| 1969 | 2.70 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +15.0% |
| 1970 | 70.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -97.4% |
| 1971 | 176.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +151.4% |
| 1972 | 222.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +26.1% |
| 1973 | 239.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +7.7% |
| 1974 | 319.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +33.5% |
| 1975 | 337.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +5.6% |
| 1976 | 251.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -25.5% |
| 1977 | 262.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 191.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -27.1% |
| 1979 | 232.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +21.5% |
| 1980 | 557.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +140.1% |
| 1981 | 812.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +45.8% |
| 1982 | 766.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -5.7% |
| 1983 | 292.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -61.9% |
| 1984 | 682.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +133.6% |
| 1985 | 355.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -47.9% |
| 1986 | 273.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -23.1% |
| 1987 | 207.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -24.2% |
| 1988 | 281.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +35.7% |
| 1989 | 209.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -25.6% |
| 1990 | 120.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -42.6% |
| 1991 | 940.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +683.3% |
| 1992 | 1.13 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +20.6% |
| 1993 | 783.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -31.0% |
| 1994 | 411.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -47.5% |
| 1995 | 496.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +20.7% |
| 1996 | 568.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +14.5% |
| 1997 | 508.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -10.6% |
| 1998 | 759.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +49.4% |
| 1999 | 132.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -82.6% |
| 2000 | 937.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +609.8% |
| 2001 | 1.29 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +37.4% |
| 2002 | 721.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -44.0% |
| 2003 | 776.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +7.6% |
| 2004 | 215.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -72.3% |
| 2005 | 31.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -85.6% |
| 2006 | 375.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1109.7% |
| 2007 | 840.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +124.0% |
| 2008 | 575.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -31.5% |
| 2009 | 381.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -33.7% |
| 2010 | 462.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +21.3% |
| 2011 | 357.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -22.7% |
| 2012 | 555.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +55.5% |
| 2013 | 509.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -8.3% |
| 2014 | 217.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -57.4% |
| 2015 | 424.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +95.4% |
| 2016 | 288.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -32.1% |
| 2017 | 1.00 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +247.9% |
| 2018 | 463.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -53.8% |
| 2019 | 402.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -13.2% |
| 2020 | 640.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +59.2% |
| 2021 | 886.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +38.4% |
| 2022 | 862.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 472.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -45.2% |
| 2024 | 643.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +36.2% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 643.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for high income countries, which is 148.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 4.3× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 643.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 66.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 9.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +1109.7% | 31.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 375.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1991 | +683.3% | 120.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 940.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2000 | +609.8% | 132.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 937.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1967 | +496.7% | 242.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.44 billion SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 729.10 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.70 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1970s | 229.90 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 70.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 337.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 443.40 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 207.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 812.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 585.10 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 120.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.13 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2000s | 613.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 31.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.29 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2010s | 467.90 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 217.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 700.60 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 472.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 886.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 10 Japan 977.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 11 United Arab Emirates 932.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 12 Bahrain 848.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 14 Greece 623.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 15 Hungary 604.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 16 Kazakhstan 550.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for United Kingdom
- Democracy, 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)
- 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)
- 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 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 United Kingdom?
- Arms imports in United Kingdom was 643.00 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 2.70 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1969.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1960.
- How does United Kingdom rank for arms imports?
- United Kingdom ranks 13th out of 173 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 196.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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 — 65 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.