Central African Republic: Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values)

Key figures

Over five years it is up 2,050% from 2 million in 2018 (84.71% a year on average, compounded). Since 1961 it is up 2,050% from 2 million in 1961 (5.07% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 40 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2023, Central African Republic's arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) rose 41 million on 2022 (from 2 million to 43 million).

Across the 8 yearly changes before that (1966 to 2022), the average change was +1 million and a typical year strayed about 22.9 million from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.7 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 43 million in 2021 and the biggest yearly fall was 42 million in 2022. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2023, Central African Republic had the 5th highest value of the 13 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Central African Republic in the 2023 ranking

• Cambodia — 2nd of 13: 56 million
• Kyrgyz Republic — 3rd of 13: 54 million
• Malta — 4th of 13: 45 million
• Rwanda — 6th of 13: 37 million
• Switzerland — 7th of 13: 33 million
• Zimbabwe — 8th of 13: 20 million

What this measures

Arms transfers (imports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.

Limitations: SIPRI calculates the volume of transfers to, from and between all parties using the TIV and the number of weapon systems or subsystems delivered in a given year. This data is intended to provide a common unit to allow the measurement if trends in the flow of arms to particular countries and regions over time. Therefore, the main priority is to ensure that the TIV system remains consistent over time, and that any changes introduced are backdated. SIPRI TIV figures do not represent sales prices for arms transfers.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 23 values

Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) in nearby economies

• Angola — 84 million (2025)
• Benin — 4 million (2025)
• Botswana — 11 million (2024)
• Burkina Faso — 34 million (2025)
• Burundi — 2 million (2019)
• Cameroon — 2 million (2023)
• Chad — 4 million (2025)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — 44 million (2025)
• Congo, Rep. — 9 million (2024)
• Côte d'Ivoire — 15 million (2025)

More public sector data for Central African Republic

• Armed forces personnel, total — 10,000 (2020)
• Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) — 0.54% (2020)
• Military expenditure (current USD) — 74.19 million (2025)
• Military expenditure (current LCU) — 43.14 billion (2025)
• Military expenditure (% of GDP) — 2.33% (2025)
• Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) — 12.46% (2025)
• CPIA business regulatory environment rating (1=low to 6=high) — 2 (2025)
• CPIA debt policy rating (1=low to 6=high) — 3 (2025)
• CPIA economic management cluster average (1=low to 6=high)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Central African Republic's arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values)?

43 million in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1961?

It is up 2,050% from 2 million in 1961 (5.07% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 44 million in 2021 and the lowest 0 in 1973.

How does Central African Republic rank?

5th highest of 13 economies with data for 2023.

Is the latest change in arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) unusual for Central African Republic?

In 2023, Central African Republic's arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) rose 41 million on 2022 (from 2 million to 43 million). Across the 8 yearly changes before that (1966 to 2022), the average change was +1 million and a typical year strayed about 22.9 million from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.7 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator MS.MIL.MPRT.KD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), uri: https://armstransfers.sipri.org/ArmsTransfer/ Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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