Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

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U.S. Arms Sales Agreements Worldwide, 1999-2006

by Travis Sharp

Updated March 4, 2008

Check out our analysis of U.S. arms sales agreements with the Middle East.
The United States is far and away the leader in worldwide arms sales agreements. Consider the following:

  • From 1999 to 2006, the United States averaged $15.44 billion per year in worldwide arms sales agreements. That is more than twice the annual average of Russia, the next highest supplier.
  • From 1999 to 2006, the total value of all U.S. arms sales agreements worldwide was slightly less than the next five highest suppliers combined (Russia, France, United Kingdom, Germany, China).
  • From 1999 to 2006, the total value of all U.S. arms sales agreements worldwide was 11 times greater than China’s, a country often mentioned as an emerging “peer competitor” or “strategic opponent” to the United States.

WORLDWIDE ARMS SALES AGREEMENTS BY SUPPLIER
(in billions of constant 2006 U.S. dollars)

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 1999-2006 % of Total World Value, 1999-2006
United States 14.23 20.98 13.37 14.82 16.15 13.63 13.46 16.91 123.54 39%
Russia 6.30 8.04 6.52 6.47 4.99 5.81 7.49 8.70 54.32 17%
France 1.98 5.52 4.89 0.57 2.78 2.37 8.32 0.50 26.92 9%
United Kingdom 1.85 0.72 0.70 0.79 0.67 6.89 2.91 3.10 17.63 6%
Germany 4.94 1.44 1.40 1.13 1.67 1.83 1.77 1.90 16.07 5%
China 3.58 0.72 1.40 0.45 0.56 0.75 2.60 0.80 10.86 3%
All Other European 7.91 5.16 4.42 5.45 3.00 7.64 7.49 6.10 47.16 15%
All Others 2.59 3.00 3.03 2.38 1.89 2.80 2.29 2.30 20.27 6%
Total World Value 43.37 45.59 35.72 32.06 31.69 41.71 46.32 40.31 316.76 —
SOURCE: Data from Richard Grimmett, Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 1999-2006, Congressional Research Service (updated September 26, 2007), pp. 81. Totals may not add due to rounding. Years are calendar years, not fiscal years. Data is the most recent available.