Ukraine is now the world's biggest arms importer
Share of global major-arms imports by recipient, 2021–25, with 2016–20 as markers. Top importers.
Ukraine is now the world's largest arms importer, ahead of India (8.2%).
Europe took a third of world arms imports, the top importing region for the first time since the 1960s.
Egypt's arms imports halved; its world share fell from 5.8% to 2.6%.
the numbers
| Share of imports (%) | 2016–20 (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | 9.7 | 0.1 |
| India | 8.2 | 9.3 |
| Saudi Arabia | 6.8 | 11.0 |
| Qatar | 6.4 | 3.4 |
| Pakistan | 4.2 | 2.8 |
| Japan | 3.9 | 2.5 |
| Poland | 3.6 | 0.4 |
| United States | 2.9 | 2.1 |
| Kuwait | 2.8 | 0.3 |
| Australia | 2.8 | 5.0 |
| United Arab Emirates | 2.7 | 3.5 |
| Egypt | 2.6 | 5.8 |
| Germany | 1.7 | 0.2 |
| China | 1.3 | 5.2 |
source notes & method
SIPRI measures the volume of major conventional arms (trend-indicator values), not money. Shares are five-year totals. Ukraine's import volume rose 11,896% between the periods; 41% came from the US, 14% from Germany and 9.4% from Poland. Ukraine's 2025 volumes were well below 2023–24 as US military aid fell. European imports rose 210%.
Published 3 Nov 2026
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