The world's leading arms exporters are firmly located in the United States, Europe and Russia. But to maintain a healthy defense industry, many governments continue to sanction the long-term sale of arms to buyers that reject democratic norms and values. To access the full article, please visit us at: http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Current-Affairs/Special-Feature/Detail?lng=en&id=137431&tabid=137430&contextid774=137431&contextid775=137430

1. The World's Top Exporters of Conventional Weapons (2000-2010)
100
90
%-share of total annual arms trade volume
80
Rest of the World
70
Israel
60
50
China
40 Russia
30
European Countries
(incl. to each other)
20
USA
10
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Data Source: SIPRI

2. The World's Top Recipients of Conventional Weapons (2000-2010)
100%
90%
%-share of total annual arms trade volume
80%
Others
70% Egypt
USA
60%
Turkey
50% Australia
Pakistan
40%
UAE
30% Greece
South Korea
20%
India
10%
China
0%
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Data Source: SIPRI

3. Arms Exports to Saudi Arabia by Origin, 2000-2010
Total: 4.271 bn US$ at constant (1990) prices – Data Source: SIPRI
11%
33%
France
34% UK
USA
Others
22%

4. Arms Exports to Iran by Origin, 2000-2010
Total: 2.862 bn US$ at constant (1990) prices – Data Source: SIPRI
1%
10%
27%
Belarus
China
Germany (FRG)
9% 0.4% North Korea
53%
Russia
Ukraine

5. Arms Exports to Syria by Origin, 2000-2010
Total: 782 m US$ at constant (1990) prices – Data Source: SIPRI
25%
Belarus
8% Iran
59%
North Korea
8% Russia