Ten Countries Dominate the Global Arms Trade, the United States Far Ahead
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Global arms trade remains dominated by a small number of countries. In a world increasingly filled with wars, regional conflicts, and geopolitical rivalries, the arms market remains concentrated among long-standing players with enormous influence.
The SIPRI Yearbook 2025 notes there are 64 countries that are major suppliers of arms during 2020-2024. However, the majority are small players. Of the 25 largest suppliers, they account for 98% of total global arms export volume. In fact, the top five alone contribute 71% of world exports. The five are the United States (US), France, Russia, China, and Germany.
The United States Remains the World’s Leading Arms Exporter
The United States remains unmatched as the world’s largest arms exporter. Its share of arms exports is almost half, specifically 43% of total global exports for 2020-2024.
Not only is it the largest, but the US also shows a significant increase in exports compared with the previous period of 2015-2019, when its share was 35%.
In the report, SIPRI also explains that plans for large-scale arms deliveries in the coming years suggest that the US is still likely to remain firmly the world’s largest supplier of arms.
In other words, Washington’s dominance in the global arms market does not look set to waver any time soon.
The gap between the US and other countries is wide. America’s market share is more than four times that of France.
SIPRI notes that of the world’s 100 largest defence and security companies, 41 are based in the United States with arms revenues totalling US$317 billion in 2023.
That figure equals roughly half of the total revenue of the Global Top 100. Moreover, the five largest arms companies in the world are all American. The US firms are Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and General Dynamics.
France Surges and Holds Second Place
Below the US, France occupies second place as the world’s largest arms exporter with a market share of 9.6%.
Although still far behind the US, this shows France has strengthened its role in the global arms market.
SIPRI notes that French arms exports rose by 11% between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024. The rise is enough to position France as the world’s second-largest supplier.
In a highly competitive market, this increase demonstrates that France’s defence industry remains aggressive and competitive on the international stage.
Russia Begins to Lose Its Clout
Russia remains in third place with a 7.8% share. However, behind the top three, there is a steep downward trend. SIPRI notes that Russia’s arms exports collapsed by about half between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024.
Indeed, Russia’s export level in 2020-2024 was far lower than in the previous five-year period in modern Russian history. If extended further back, this was also lower than at any time since 1950 for its predecessor, the Soviet Union.
In other words, although Russia remains in the top three, its dominance has clearly weakened. In terms of market share, Russia is no longer the main challenger to the US as in the past. Its gap with France is not very wide, while pressure from other countries is growing.
China Remains a Major Power in the Military-Industrial Complex
China sits in fourth place among the world’s largest arms exporters with a market share of 5.9% in 2020-2024.
On the industrial side, China’s position appears particularly strong. SIPRI notes that nine Chinese companies were in the Top 100 in 2023, with three among the top ten.
Total arms revenue of Chinese companies reached US$103 billion, making China the second-largest arms-industry revenue country after the United States.
Germany Completes the Global Top Five Arms Exporters
Germany closes the Top Five list with a 5.6% market share in 2020-2024. While it sits behind China, this position underscores Europe as still one of the main hubs for global arms trade.
Germany’s presence alongside France in the top five also demonstrates that Europe’s defence-industrial strength remains substantial.
Meanwhile, SIPRI Yearbook 2024 provides a clearer picture of what types of weapons are currently most in demand globally.
This is reflected in large contracts for major weapons already ordered or at the bidding stage, with deliveries scheduled after 2024.
The list shows that global demand for arms has not waned, even as the world’s security environment grows more tense.
The weapons ordered span a range—from combat aircraft, warships, tanks, air defence systems to combat drones—with buyers scattered across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.