According to a report published by the SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) on March 2021, the five largest arms exporters in 2016–20 were the United States, Russia, France, Germany, and China. The five largest arms importers were Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt, Australia, and China.
Between 2011–15 and 2016–20, there were increases in arms transfers to the Middle East (25 %) and to Europe (12 %), while there were decreases in the transfers to Africa (–13 %), the Americas (–43 %), and Asia and Oceania (–8.3 %).
The five largest suppliers of arms during that period—the USA, Russia, France, Germany, and China accounted for 76 % of all arms exports. France had the highest increase in arms exports among the top five. US and German arms exports also grew, while Russian and Chinese arms exports decreased.
US arms exports grew by 15 % between 2011–15 and 2016–20, increasing its global share from 32 to 37 %. The USA delivered major arms to 96 states in 2016–20, a far higher number of recipients than any other supplier. In 2016–20 total arms exports by the USA were 85 % higher than those of Russia—the second-largest exporter—compared with 24 % higher in 2011–15.
In 2016–20 Russia delivered major arms to 45 states and accounted for 20 % of total global arms exports. India remained the main recipient of Russian arms in 2016–20, accounting for 23 % of the total, followed by China (18 %) and Algeria (15 %).
The combined arms exports of European Union (EU) member states accounted for 26 % of the global total in 2016–20, the same percentage as in 2011–15. The top five West European arms exporters France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy—together accounted for 22 % of global arms exports in 2016–20, compared with 21 % in 2011–15.