The independent resource on global security

Arms and military expenditure

Piles of coins next to a bullet

SIPRI’s research on arms and military spending has been the core of the institute's work since its foundation in the 1960s. This work is largely based around three comprehensive and open-access databases: the Arms transfers database, the Arms industry database and the Military expenditure database. These exemplify SIPRI's core values of transparency by using only open sources that can be independently checked, and universality by including data on nearly every country in the world. SIPRI also provides documents on all arms embargoes since the 1950s and national reports on arms export controls.

Providing reliable data on international arms production, transfers and global military spending empowers researchers, policymakers and the public, allowing them to directly assess the current state of the arms industry. SIPRI researchers also analyse the data to identify trends and potential impacts to global security.

RESEARCH INITIATIVES

Arms production

SIPRI's arms production project aims to monitor, describe and analyse trends and developments in arms production worldwide.

The trend in international transfers of major arms, 1983–2022. Data and graphic: SIPRI

SIPRI monitors, measures and analyses international arms transfers and is one of the world's leading research centres in this area.

Photo: Shutterstock

SIPRI's military expenditure project tracks and analyses global military spending.

Multilateral arms embargoes

SIPRI monitors and analyses multilateral arms embargoes.

Transparency in military expenditure

SIPRI examines issues relating to transparency and accountability in military budgeting and expenditure.

Research staff

Dr Sibylle Bauer is Director of Studies, Armament and Disarmament.
Dr. Mathew George is the Director of SIPRI's Arms Transfers Programme.
Dr Lucie Béraud-Sudreau is Director of the Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme.
Dr Nan Tian is a Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme.
Dr Diego Lopes da Silva is a Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme.
Dr Andrea Edoardo Varisco is an Associate Senior Researcher at SIPRI.
Pieter D. Wezeman is a Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.
Ana Assis is a Guest Researcher with the SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme.
Xiao Liang is a Research Assistant with the SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme.
Lorenzo Scarazzato is a Research Assistant with the SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme.
Kelsey Hartman Kelsey Hartman is an intern in SIPRI's Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme.
Sofia Staderini Sofia is a SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme intern.