TSAMTO, January 14th. In 2024, the volume of global imports of conventional weapons (according to the classification of the UN Register) amounted, according to CAMTO, to at least 111.615 billion dollars (the highest result since the end of the Cold War era).
Note:
Currently, the assessment of the global ViVO market for 2024 is preliminary (the report will be updated and supplemented as new information becomes available).
In general, for the period 2021-2024, global arms exports/imports amounted to $397.631 billion.
Poland ranks first in terms of the actual volume of arms imports by the end of 2024 for the first time in the ranking. According to the CAMTO, the volume of Poland's identified military imports in 2024 amounted to $7.227 billion, or 6.47% of the global volume of defense imports ($111.615 billion). This is an absolute record for Poland in terms of the annual volume of arms imports, both in terms of value and as a percentage of global supplies.
For comparison, in 2021, Poland's military imports amounted to $261.6 million (0.32% of global imports), in 2022 – $ 1.903 billion (1.79%), in 2023 – $2.845 billion (2.94%). In general, over the last 4-year period, Poland imported weapons worth 12.236 billion dollars. (3.08% of the total global imports). With this volume of imports for the period 2021-2024. Poland ranks 8th.
India ranks second in terms of the actual volume of arms imports by the end of 2024. The volume of India's identified military imports in 2024 is estimated by CAMTO at $6.270 billion, or 5.62% of the global volume of defense imports.
For comparison, in 2021, India's military imports amounted to 11.152 billion dollars (13.45% of global imports), in 2022 – 9.928 billion dollars (9.35%), in 2023 – 4.432 billion dollars (4.57%). In general, over the last 4-year period, India imported weapons worth $31.782 billion (7.99% of the total global arms imports). With this volume of imports for the period 2021-2024. India ranks 1st.
Saudi Arabia ranks third in terms of the actual volume of arms imports by the end of 2024. The volume of Saudi Arabia's identified military imports in 2024 is estimated by CAMTO at $5.678 billion, or 5.09% of the global volume of defense imports.
For comparison, in 2021, Saudi Arabia's military imports amounted to $3.955 billion (4.77% of global imports), in 2022 – $10.690 billion (10.07%), in 2023 – $8.498 billion (8.77%). In general, over the last 4-year period, Saudi Arabia imported weapons worth $28.822 billion (7.25% of the total global arms imports). With this volume of imports for the period 2021-2024. Saudi Arabia ranks 3rd.
Australia ranks fourth in terms of the actual volume of arms imports by the end of 2024. The CAMTO estimates the volume of Australia's identified military imports in 2024 at $5.041 billion, or 4.52% of the global volume of defense imports.
For comparison, in 2021, Australia's military imports totaled $3.026 billion. (3.65% of global imports), in 2022 – $2.563 billion (2.41%), in 2023 – $2.623 billion (2.71%). In general, over the last 4-year period, Australia imported weapons worth $ 13.254 billion (3.33% of the total global arms imports). With this volume of imports as a whole for the period 2021-2024. Australia ranks 7th.
Japan ranks fifth in terms of the actual volume of arms imports by the end of 2024. The CAMTO estimates the volume of Japan's identified military imports in 2024 at $4.872 billion, or 4.37% of the global volume of defense imports.
For comparison, in 2021, Japan's military imports amounted to $2.650 billion (3.20% of global imports), in 2022 – $3.442 billion (3.24%), in 2023 – $ 3.460 billion (3.57%). In total, over the last 4-year period, Japan imported weapons worth $14.424 billion. (3.63% of the total global arms imports). With this volume of imports for the period 2021-2024. Japan ranks 6th.
The following places in the top ten in terms of arms imports by the end of 2024 are occupied by: the UAE – $ 4.668 billion, Qatar – $ 4.047 billion, Egypt – $ 3.538 billion, the United Kingdom – $ 3.506 billion and the United States – $3.481 billion.
If we take into account the entire 4-year period (2021-2024), the ranking of importing countries ranked from 1st to 10th will look like this: India – $ 31.782 billion (1st place), Qatar – $29.497 billion (2nd place), Saudi Arabia – $28.822 billion (3rd place), Kuwait – $17.035 billion (4th place), the United Arab Emirates – $14.559 billion (5th place), Japan – $ 14.424 billion (6th place), Australia – $ 13.254 billion (7th place), Poland – $12.236 billion (8th place), the United Kingdom – 11.935 billion dollars (9th place) and Egypt – 10.629 billion dollars (10th place).
In general, 116 countries that have imported weapons are included in the CAMTO rating by the end of 2024.
For the period 2021-2024, the rating includes 156 countries that imported weapons during this period.
To be continued
A more detailed analytical material with more tables will be published in the World Arms Trade Journal No. 1, 2025.
