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 172 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

01.0B2.0B3.0B196019922024

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 172 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 10 Japan 977.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
  2. 11 United Arab Emirates 932.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
  3. 12 Bahrain 848.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
  4. 14 Greece 623.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
  5. 15 Hungary 604.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
  6. 16 Kazakhstan 550.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare

See the full ranking of 217 places →

More public sector data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

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 172 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.

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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

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.