Arms imports in United States
United States: Arms imports was 1.21 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.21 billion SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
up 52.7%
World rank
3rd
of 173 countries
All-time high
1.99 billion SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1987
All-time low
38.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1970
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Arms imports in United States, 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 States is 1.21 billion SIPRI trend indicator values, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 52.7% on the previous year and up 115.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in United States peaked at 1.99 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1987 and was at its lowest, 38.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1970.
United States ranks 3rd 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 States, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 181.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1961 | 198.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +9.4% |
| 1962 | 236.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +19.2% |
| 1963 | 283.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +19.9% |
| 1964 | 358.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +26.5% |
| 1965 | 170.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -52.5% |
| 1966 | 89.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -47.6% |
| 1967 | 88.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -1.1% |
| 1968 | 62.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -29.5% |
| 1969 | 50.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -19.4% |
| 1970 | 38.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -24.0% |
| 1971 | 578.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1421.1% |
| 1972 | 769.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +33.0% |
| 1973 | 656.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -14.7% |
| 1974 | 586.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -10.7% |
| 1975 | 388.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -33.8% |
| 1976 | 499.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +28.6% |
| 1977 | 384.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -23.0% |
| 1978 | 369.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -3.9% |
| 1979 | 253.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -31.4% |
| 1980 | 380.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +50.2% |
| 1981 | 531.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +39.7% |
| 1982 | 248.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -53.3% |
| 1983 | 463.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +86.7% |
| 1984 | 381.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -17.7% |
| 1985 | 654.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +71.7% |
| 1986 | 420.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -35.8% |
| 1987 | 1.99 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +374.5% |
| 1988 | 1.79 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -10.3% |
| 1989 | 1.78 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 363.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -79.6% |
| 1991 | 515.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +41.9% |
| 1992 | 540.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 968.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +79.3% |
| 1994 | 951.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 809.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -14.9% |
| 1996 | 601.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -25.7% |
| 1997 | 610.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 261.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -57.2% |
| 1999 | 220.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -15.7% |
| 2000 | 333.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +51.4% |
| 2001 | 508.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +52.6% |
| 2002 | 515.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 630.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +22.3% |
| 2004 | 596.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 582.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 706.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +21.3% |
| 2007 | 842.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +19.3% |
| 2008 | 936.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +11.2% |
| 2009 | 939.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 961.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 937.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 1.14 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +21.9% |
| 2013 | 767.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -32.8% |
| 2014 | 560.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -27.0% |
| 2015 | 474.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -15.4% |
| 2016 | 439.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -7.4% |
| 2017 | 496.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +13.0% |
| 2018 | 363.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -26.8% |
| 2019 | 890.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +145.2% |
| 2020 | 798.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -10.3% |
| 2021 | 907.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +13.7% |
| 2022 | 733.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -19.2% |
| 2023 | 792.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +8.0% |
| 2024 | 1.21 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +52.7% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 1.21 billion SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for high income countries, which is 148.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 8.2× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | +1421.1% | 38.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 578.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1987 | +374.5% | 420.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.99 billion SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 171.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 50.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 358.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1970s | 452.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 38.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 769.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 864.10 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 248.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.99 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 583.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 220.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 968.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2000s | 658.70 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 333.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 939.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2010s | 702.90 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 363.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.14 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 887.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 733.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.21 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
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Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in United States?
- Arms imports in United States was 1.21 billion 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 1.99 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1987.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1970.
- How does United States rank for arms imports?
- United States ranks 3rd out of 173 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 115.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.