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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Dr. Amarendra Bhushan Dhiraj

CEO and editorial director at CEOWORLD Magazine

Dr. Amarendra Bhushan Dhiraj is the CEO and editorial director at CEOWORLD magazine, the leading global business magazine written strictly for CEOs, CFOs, top managers, company directors, investors, senior executives, business leaders, high net worth individuals, and the most globally powerful men and women.

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