Switzerland: Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values)

Key figures

Since 1960 it is down 84.86% from 218 million in 1960 (2.95% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 6 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2023, Switzerland's arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) rose 120% on 2022 (from 15 million to 33 million).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1985 to 2022), the average change was +40.1% and a typical year strayed about 133.8% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.6 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 5,325% in 1978 and the biggest yearly fall was 97.2% in 1977. 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, Switzerland had the 7th 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 Switzerland in the 2023 ranking

• Malta — 4th of 13: 45 million
• Central African Republic — 5th of 13: 43 million
• Rwanda — 6th of 13: 37 million
• Zimbabwe — 8th of 13: 20 million
• Papua New Guinea — 9th of 13: 9 million
• Guatemala — 10th of 13: 6 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 58 values

Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) in nearby economies

• Albania — 23 million (2025)
• Armenia — 21 million (2025)
• Austria — 29 million (2025)
• Azerbaijan — 463 million (2025)
• Belarus — 466 million (2025)
• Belgium — 430 million (2025)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 1 million (2025)
• Bulgaria — 540 million (2025)
• Croatia — 141 million (2025)
• Cyprus — 28 million (2025)

More public sector data for Switzerland

• Military expenditure (current USD) — 7.59 billion (2025)
• Military expenditure (current LCU) — 6.31 billion (2025)
• Military expenditure (% of GDP) — 0.76% (2025)
• Arms exports (SIPRI trend indicator values) — 129 million (2025)
• Social contributions (current LCU) — 55.27 billion (2024)
• Taxes on goods and services (current LCU) — 43.17 billion (2024)
• Customs and other import duties (current LCU) — 738.17 million (2024)
• Customs and other import duties (% of tax revenue) — 0.91% (2024)
• Taxes on international trade (current LCU) — 738.17 million (2024)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Switzerland's arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values)?

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

How has it changed since 1960?

It is down 84.86% from 218 million in 1960 (2.95% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 499 million in 1999 and the lowest 2 million in 2012.

How does Switzerland rank?

7th highest of 13 economies with data for 2023.

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

In 2023, Switzerland's arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) rose 120% on 2022 (from 15 million to 33 million). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1985 to 2022), the average change was +40.1% and a typical year strayed about 133.8% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.6 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

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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