The World’s 10 Biggest Arms Importers In 2011-15 [Infographic]

It’s no surprise, India, which has the world’s 3rd largest armed forces, remains the world’s biggest importer of sophisticated arms, according to a new study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a Sweden-based military think tank.

Between 2011 and 2015, India’s imports stood at 14% of globally traded arms, twice as much as 2nd-placed Saudi Arabia. China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Australia rounded off the top 5 biggest arms importers.

The United States remains the major global arms supplier by a significant margin, accounting for some 33% of sales; Russia is the 2nd major supplier, with 25% of sales; and China has become the world’s third largest weapons exporters.

Rising tensions in the South China Sea have turned tiny Vietnam into one of the world’s 8th-largest arms importer from 2011-2015 — a huge leap from the previous five-year period when it was in 43rd place.

The World’s 10 Biggest Arms Importers, 2011–15:

1. India
Share of international arms imports: 14%

Main suppliers (share of importer’s total imports %), 2011–15:
1st: Russia 70%
2nd: USA 14%
3rd: Israel 4.5%

2. Saudi Arabia
Share of international arms imports: 7%

Main suppliers (share of importer’s total imports %), 2011–15:
1st: USA 46%
2nd: UK 30%
3rd: Spain 5.9%

3. China
Share of international arms imports: 4.7%

Main suppliers (share of importer’s total imports %), 2011–15:
1st: Russia 59%
2nd: France 15%
3rd: Ukraine 14%

4. United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Share of international arms imports: 4.6%

Main suppliers (share of importer’s total imports %), 2011–15:
1st: US 65%
2nd: France 8.4%
3rd: Italy 5.9%

5. Australia
Share of international arms imports: 3.6%

Main suppliers (share of importer’s total imports %), 2011–15:
1st: US 57%
2nd: Spain 28%
3rd: France 7.2%

6. Turkey
Share of international arms imports: 3.4%

Main suppliers (share of importer’s total imports %), 2011–15:
1st: USA 63%
2nd: South Korea 9.5%
3rd: Spain 8.9%

7. Pakistan
Share of international arms imports: 3.3%

Main suppliers (share of importer’s total imports %), 2011–15:
1st: China 63%
2nd: USA 19%
3rd: Italy 4.6%

8. Vietnam
Share of international arms imports: 2.9%

Main suppliers (share of importer’s total imports %), 2011–15:
1st: Russia 93%
2nd: Ukraine 2.6%
3rd: Spain 0.9%

9. USA
Share of international arms imports: 2.9%

Main suppliers (share of importer’s total imports %), 2011–15:
1st: Germany 21%
2nd: Canada 11%
3rd: Norway 8.1%

10. South Korea
Share of international arms imports: 2.6%

Main suppliers (share of importer’s total imports %), 2011–15:
1st: USA 80%
2nd: Germany 13%
3rd: Sweden 2.2%

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