Ranked: The World’s Top Arms Exporters
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Key Takeaways
- The U.S. dominates global arms exports, accounting for 42% of the world total from 2021–2025.
- France and Russia follow far behind with 10% and 7%, while Germany recently overtook China in global export rankings.
- South Korea is emerging as a fast-growing defense supplier, expanding exports of advanced weapons systems worldwide.
The global arms trade is heavily concentrated among a handful of countries, with the United States far ahead of every other supplier. From 2021 and 2025, the U.S. accounted for 42% of global arms exports, more than four times the share of the next-largest exporter.
This visualization, created by Aneesh Anand using data from the SIPRI Arms Transfers Database, shows the share of global arms exports by country from 2021–2025.
Here are the world’s largest arms exporters based on SIPRI data for 2021–2025.
| Country | Share of Arms Exports (2021–25, %) | Group |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. | 42 | N. America |
| France | 10 | Europe |
| Russia | 7 | Europe |
| Germany | 6 | Europe |
| China | 6 | Asia |
| Italy | 5 | Europe |
| Israel | 4 | Asia |
| UK | 3 | Europe |
| South Korea | 3 | Asia |
| Spain | 2 | Europe |
| Rest of World | 12 | Rest of World |
The U.S. stands far ahead of all competitors, accounting for roughly 42% of global arms exports. France, Russia, China, and Germany form a distant second tier. Meanwhile, emerging suppliers like South Korea are rapidly expanding their global footprint.
Why the U.S. Dominates Global Arms Exports
The United States has long been the world’s largest arms exporter, but its dominance has expanded in recent years.
Several factors help explain this lead:
- Technological superiority in advanced systems such as fighter jets, missile defense, and surveillance technologies
- Large-scale defense production capacity supported by massive domestic military spending
- Extensive alliance networks, including NATO partners and security agreements across Asia and the Middle East
As geopolitical tensions rise, many countries are turning to the U.S. for advanced weapons systems. European demand in particular has surged following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, contributing to a nearly 10% increase in global arms transfers.
These exports are also closely tied to broader geopolitical influence, reinforcing the U.S. position as a central supplier to allied nations.
Germany Overtakes China in Arms Exports
One notable shift in the rankings is Germany overtaking China as the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter. Germany now accounts for roughly 6% of global exports, slightly ahead of China. The shift reflects increased German defense manufacturing and growing demand for European-made military equipment.
European arms suppliers have benefited from heightened security concerns on the continent, which has accelerated procurement across NATO and neighboring states.
China, meanwhile, remains a significant exporter but tends to sell more regionally, particularly to countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
South Korea’s Rapid Rise as an Arms Supplier
One of the fastest-rising players in the global arms market is South Korea.
With roughly 3% of global arms exports, the country has rapidly expanded its presence by focusing on competitive pricing, fast production timelines, and modern weapons systems. South Korean firms have secured major deals for tanks, artillery systems, and fighter jets, particularly in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.
The country has made defense exports a strategic national priority, aiming to become one of the world’s top arms exporters in the coming decades.
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