This Nation Sells Nearly Half of the Military Weapons Around the World

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• 24/7 Wall St. identified the 25 countries that are the largest arms exporters.
• The largest arms exporters supply their weapons based on global alliances.
• Many of the countries on the following list are some of the world’s largest defense contractors.
• Also: 2 Dividend Legends To Hold Forever

Russia’s war in Ukraine not only threatens safety and stability in Europe but has effects around the world. Countries have been sending aid to Ukraine in the form of arms, defense services, and equipment. On the other hand, Russian weapons exports to other countries such as India and Egypt have dropped. Furthermore, U.S. officials have announced they are encouraging European allies to buy weapons from the U.S. rather than from Russia, depriving Russia of much-needed profits for their military from arms sales.

Using SIPRI’s databases, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 25 countries that are the largest exporters of arms. Countries are ranked on the value of their arms exports as a share of all arms exports globally from 2019 to 2023. The United States, France, and Russia alone account for 63.2% of all global arms exports.

Between 2014 and 2018, U.S. arms exports rose 17%. Russia, on the other hand, experienced a drop of 53% during the same period. This caused Russia to fall from the world’s second-largest arms exporter to third. France overtook Russia’s place in second with an increase in arms sales of 47%.

Who do the largest arms exporter supply their weapons to? This largely depends on global alliances. For example, Iran supplies nearly 75% of its arms exports to Russia and another 7.4% to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Russia, meanwhile, supplies its arms mainly to India and China (55% combined), while China’s largest recipient (61%) is Pakistan. The U.S. arms exports are more dispersed, though a significant 15% go to Saudi Arabia. France, too, has India as its largest customer with 29% of arms exports going there.

Many of the highest-ranking countries on this list are home to some of the world’s largest defense contractors. The United States is home to the five largest defense contractors in the world, including Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman. (Here are The 25 Companies Making Billions Building the World’s Weapons.)

Why Are We Covering This

25. Iran

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.2%
• Largest recipient: Russia — 74.5% of Iran’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Venezuela — 15.7% of Iran’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Houthi rebels (Yemen) — 7.4% of Iran’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: SSM — new Shahed-136
• Military expenditure, 2023: $10.3 billion — #25 highest of 69 exporting countries

24. Brazil

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.2%
• Largest recipient: France — 27.8% of Brazil’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Nigeria — 16.3% of Brazil’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Portugal — 16.3% of Brazil’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: transport aircraft — second hand A330
• Military expenditure, 2023: $22.9 billion — #18 highest of 69 exporting countries

23. Belarus

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.2%
• Largest recipient: Viet Nam — 30.2% of Belarus’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Serbia — 21.6% of Belarus’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Uganda — 16.9% of Belarus’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: air search radar — new Vostok-E
• Military expenditure, 2023: $1.4 billion — #53 highest of 69 exporting countries

22. Belgium

Dassault Alpha Jet 1B+ u2018AT11... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.3%
• Largest recipient: Saudi Arabia — 37.5% of Belgium’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Canada — 24.9% of Belgium’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Pakistan — 21.7% of Belgium’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: trainer/combat aircraft — second hand Alpha Jet
• Military expenditure, 2023: $7.6 billion — #32 highest of 69 exporting countries

21. South Africa

Atlas Cheetah C u2018342u2019 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.3%
• Largest recipient: United States — 23.9% of South Africa’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: UAE — 22.6% of South Africa’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: India — 13.4% of South Africa’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: FGA aircraft — second hand Cheetah-C
• Military expenditure, 2023: $2.8 billion — #46 highest of 69 exporting countries

20. UAE

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.3%
• Largest recipient: Jordan — 33.1% of UAE’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Egypt — 26.3% of UAE’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Algeria — 10.3% of UAE’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: tank — second hand Leclerc
• Military expenditure, 2023: N/A

19. Norway

140923-N-MB306-005 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Naval Surface Warriors

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.4%
• Largest recipient: United States — 25.5% of Norway’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Ukraine — 19.8% of Norway’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Lithuania — 9.9% of Norway’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: anti-ship missile — new NSM
• Military expenditure, 2023: $8.7 billion — #28 highest of 69 exporting countries

18. Ukraine

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.4%
• Largest recipient: China — 59.4% of Ukraine’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Saudi Arabia — 12.2% of Ukraine’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: India — 10.9% of Ukraine’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: turbofan — new AI-222
• Military expenditure, 2023: $64.8 billion — #8 highest of 69 exporting countries

17. Switzerland

Pilatus PC-21 u2018A-108u2019 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.5%
• Largest recipient: Denmark — 17.1% of Switzerland’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Spain — 16.0% of Switzerland’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Australia — 15.6% of Switzerland’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: trainer aircraft — new PC-21
• Military expenditure, 2023: $6.3 billion — #34 highest of 69 exporting countries

16. Australia

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.6%
• Largest recipient: Canada — 31.7% of Australia’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Chile — 28.4% of Australia’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: United States — 10.6% of Australia’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: FGA aircraft — second hand F/A-18C Hornet
• Military expenditure, 2023: $32.3 billion — #13 highest of 69 exporting countries

15. Canada

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.6%
• Largest recipient: Saudi Arabia — 36.9% of Canada’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Ukraine — 22.0% of Canada’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: UAE — 15.0% of Canada’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: APC — new LAV-700
• Military expenditure, 2023: $27.2 billion — #16 highest of 69 exporting countries

14. Poland

T-72M1 u20183243u2019 u2013 Tankfest... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.7%
• Largest recipient: Ukraine — 95.5% of Poland’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Sweden — 2.1% of Poland’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: India — 0.6% of Poland’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: tank — second hand T-72M1
• Military expenditure, 2023: $31.6 billion — #14 highest of 69 exporting countries

13. Sweden

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.8%
• Largest recipient: Brazil — 21.9% of Sweden’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: United States — 20.3% of Sweden’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Pakistan — 20.2% of Sweden’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: FGA aircraft — new Gripen-E
• Military expenditure, 2023: $8.8 billion — #27 highest of 69 exporting countries

12. Netherlands

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 1.2%
• Largest recipient: United States — 28.3% of Netherlands’ arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Mexico — 12.4% of Netherlands’ arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Pakistan — 8.6% of Netherlands’ arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: patrol craft — new Stan Patrol-4708
• Military expenditure, 2023: $16.6 billion — #19 highest of 69 exporting countries

11. Turkiye

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 1.6%
• Largest recipient: UAE — 15.1% of Turkiye’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Qatar — 13.5% of Turkiye’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Pakistan — 10.5% of Turkiye’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: IFV — new Rabdan
• Military expenditure, 2023: $15.8 billion — #21 highest of 69 exporting countries

10. South Korea

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 2.0%
• Largest recipient: Poland — 27.4% of South Korea’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Philippines — 18.6% of South Korea’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: India — 14.6% of South Korea’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: frigate — new HHI-2600
• Military expenditure, 2023: $47.9 billion — #11 highest of 69 exporting countries

9. Israel

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 2.4%
• Largest recipient: India — 37.2% of Israel’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Philippines — 11.6% of Israel’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: United States — 8.7% of Israel’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: SAM — new Barak-LRAD
• Military expenditure, 2023: $27.5 billion — #15 highest of 69 exporting countries

8. Spain

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 2.7%
• Largest recipient: Saudi Arabia — 21.5% of Spain’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Australia — 20.4% of Spain’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Turkiye — 18.3% of Spain’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: frigate — new Avante-2200
• Military expenditure, 2023: $23.7 billion — #17 highest of 69 exporting countries

7. United Kingdom

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 3.7%
• Largest recipient: Qatar — 22.7% of United Kingdom’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: United States — 19.7% of United Kingdom’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Ukraine — 8.5% of United Kingdom’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: FGA aircraft — new Typhoon Block-20
• Military expenditure, 2023: $74.9 billion — #6 highest of 69 exporting countries

6. Italy

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 4.3%
• Largest recipient: Qatar — 27.2% of Italy’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Egypt — 20.7% of Italy’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Kuwait — 12.7% of Italy’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: frigate — new Fincantieri-3000
• Military expenditure, 2023: $35.5 billion — #12 highest of 69 exporting countries

5. Germany

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 5.6%
• Largest recipient: Egypt — 19.9% of Germany’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Ukraine — 12.1% of Germany’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Israel — 11.5% of Germany’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: frigate — new MEKO-A200
• Military expenditure, 2023: $66.8 billion — #7 highest of 69 exporting countries

4. China

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 5.8%
• Largest recipient: Pakistan — 61.1% of China’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Bangladesh — 11.0% of China’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Thailand — 6.0% of China’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: frigate — new Type-054A
• Military expenditure, 2023: $296.4 billion — #2 highest of 69 exporting countries

3. Russia

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 10.5%
• Largest recipient: India — 34.0% of Russia’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: China — 20.7% of Russia’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Egypt — 7.5% of Russia’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: turbofan — new D-30
• Military expenditure, 2023: $109.5 billion — #3 highest of 69 exporting countries

2. France

Dassault Rafale C (CC BY 2.0) by Dave_S.

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 10.9%
• Largest recipient: India — 29.3% of France’s arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Qatar — 17.2% of France’s arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Egypt — 6.4% of France’s arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: FGA aircraft — new Rafale
• Military expenditure, 2023: $61.3 billion — #9 highest of 69 exporting countries

1. United States

• Share of global arms exports, 2019-2023: 41.7%
• Largest recipient: Saudi Arabia — 15.1% of United States’ arms exports
• 2nd largest recipient: Japan — 9.5% of United States’ arms exports
• 3rd largest recipient: Qatar — 8.2% of United States’ arms exports
• Largest weapons deal: FGA aircraft — new F-35A Lightning-2
• Military expenditure, 2023: $916.0 billion — #1 highest of 69 exporting countries