US is the World’s #1 arms dealer

Despite the pandemic and its economic consequences, the countries of the world increased arms sales even further in the coronavirus year 2020. Data from the Stockholm-based Peace Research Institute Sipri that was released today show this. The US continues to lead the way.

Last year, the world’s 100 largest arms companies sold us $ 531 billion (€470 billion) in arms and military services. This represents a real increase of 1.3 percent compared to 2019. The arms trade is thus growing for the sixth consecutive year, according to Sipri.

The United States remains the undisputed leader, with 41 companies in the top 100. In 2020, these companies alone accounted for arms sales worth $ 285 billion, an increase of 1.9 percent on an annual basis. In second place is China, which has 5 companies in the ranking that together account for an estimated € 66.8 billion (+1.5 percent).