
Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Get in touch with us nowThe United States had a market share of over 40 percent in international arms exports between 2020 and 2024. The second-largest suppliers of major weapons worldwide were France and Russia, accounting for 10 and eight percent of exports over the observed period, respectively. The United States, Russia, and France contributed 60 percent of major weapons exports between 2020 and 2024.
Three decades after the end of the Cold War and the fall of the USSR, the United States is, by far, the largest defense spender in the world, even though the U.S. defense outlays have decreased since the peak of the Iraq and Afghan wars. However, China has increased military spending in the past decade, becoming the second-largest spender in the world, signaling a possible shift in the global balance of military power, and several European NATO members have increased military spending significantly after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Meanwhile, the market share of imports shows India and Saudi Arabia are the largest buyers. Saudi Arabia also spends the third most on its military as a percentage of gross domestic product, with Ukraine first.
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Global defense spending
U.S. defense spending
Arms trade
Arms companies
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