These Are the Countries Importing the Most American Guns

America has been a gun-manufacturing country since colonial times, creating several types of firearms that range from revolvers to handguns. Over the years, our great country’s ability to produce guns has only evolved with changing technology and new design features. Today, domestic production of guns through manufacturers like Colt and Remington is a point of pride for the nation.

America is home to the largest arms industry on the planet and is responsible for 42% of international arms exports. This number only continues to rise. Additionally, close to 50% of the top 100 gun-manufacturers are located in the U.S. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the United States produces guns for 109 countries.

24/7 Wall St. set out to learn which countries receive the most U.S. arms exports. To do so, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed databases from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), an independent international institute with a research focus on conflict, armaments, and disarmaments. Our data focused on which 25 countries bought the most weapons from the U.S. between 2019 and 2023, which is the most recent information available.

Despite raging conflict between Russia-Ukraine, as well as ongoing war in Israel-Palestine, none of these countries top the list for receiving the most U.S. gun exports. In fact, Ukraine only accounts for 4.7% of exports, though this percentage will likely increase over the upcoming months, as the U.S. continues to back the Eastern European country. Amazingly, the nation that tops this list receives 15% of U.S. arms exports.

Why We’re Covering This

Despite global arms transfers actually declining slightly from 2014–18 and 2019–23, U.S. arms exports rose 17% during that time. In the global political climate, it is interesting to see which countries receive the most U.S. arms exports and how these deals impact the global arms trade. This also shows how much the global arms trade influences America’s economy and job market.

Here are the 25 countries with the highest U.S. arms exports:

25. Sweden

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.9%
• Largest weapons deal with US: SSM — new ATACMS Block-1A
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: ABM missile — new MIM-104 PAC-3 MSE
• Sweden’s military expenditure, 2023: $8.8 billion — or 1.47% of Sweden’s GDP

24. New Zealand

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.9%
• Largest weapons deal with US: ASW aircraft — new P-8A Poseidon
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: anti-ship missile/SSM — new Harpoon Block-2
• New Zealand’s military expenditure, 2023: $3.0 billion — or 1.22% of New Zealand’s GDP

23. Singapore

BMT passing out parade 100115 (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Seloloving

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.9%
• Largest weapons deal with US: transport helicopter — new CH-47F Chinook
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: UAV — new RQ-4A Global Hawk
• Singapore’s military expenditure, 2023: $13.2 billion — or 2.66% of Singapore’s GDP

22. Germany

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 0.9%
• Largest weapons deal with US: guided rocket — new GMLRS
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-16V Viper
• Germany’s military expenditure, 2023: $66.8 billion — or 1.52% of Germany’s GDP

21. Denmark

The military at Rosenborg cast... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Sunny Ripert

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 1.0%
• Largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-35A Lightning-2
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: BVRAAM — new AIM-120C AMRAAM
• Denmark’s military expenditure, 2023: $8.1 billion — or 1.95% of Denmark’s GDP

20. Romania

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 1.1%
• Largest weapons deal with US: SSM — new ATACMS Block-1A
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: ABM missile — new MIM-104 PAC-3 MSE
• Romania’s military expenditure, 2023: $5.6 billion — or 1.61% of Romania’s GDP

19. Afghanistan

National Military Academy of Afghanistan Affirmation Ceremony (BY-SA 2.0) by NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 1.1%
• Largest weapons deal with US: APV — new HMMWV-UA
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: transport helicopter — second hand but modernized S-70 Black Hawk
• Afghanistan’s military expenditure, 2021: $0.3 billion — or 1.83% of Afghanistan’s GDP

18. Taiwan

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 1.2%
• Largest weapons deal with US: APC/IFV — new Namer
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: turbofan — new CF6
• Taiwan’s military expenditure, 2023: $16.6 billion — or 2.17% of Taiwan’s GDP

17. Morocco

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 1.3%
• Largest weapons deal with US: tank — new M-1A1 Abrams
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: SAM — new ESSM Block-2
• Morocco’s military expenditure, 2023: $5.2 billion — or 3.64% of Morocco’s GDP

16. Bahrain

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 1.5%
• Largest weapons deal with US: SSM — new ATACMS Block-1A
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: combat helicopter — new AH-1Z Viper
• Bahrain’s military expenditure, 2023: $1.4 billion — or 3.11% of Bahrain’s GDP

15. Poland

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 1.7%
• Largest weapons deal with US: ABM missile — new MIM-104 PAC-3 MSE
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: guided rocket — new GMLRS
• Poland’s military expenditure, 2023: $31.6 billion — or 3.83% of Poland’s GDP

14. Italy

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 2.1%
• Largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-35A Lightning-2
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-35B Lightning-2
• Italy’s military expenditure, 2023: $35.5 billion — or 1.61% of Italy’s GDP

13. India

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 3.1%
• Largest weapons deal with US: ASW aircraft — new P-8A Poseidon
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: combat helicopter — new AH-64E Apache
• India’s military expenditure, 2023: $83.6 billion — or 2.44% of India’s GDP

12. UAE

UAE introduces compulsory military service (BY-SA 2.0) by theglobalpanorama

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 3.2%
• Largest weapons deal with US: ABM missile — new MIM-104 PAC-3 MSE
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: SSM — new ATACMS Block-1A
• UAE’s military expenditure, 2023: N/A

11. Norway

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 3.4%
• Largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-35A Lightning-2
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: ASW aircraft — new P-8A Poseidon
• Norway’s military expenditure, 2023: $8.7 billion — or 1.61% of Norway’s GDP

10. Israel

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 3.6%
• Largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-35A Lightning-2
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: APC/IFV — new Namer
• Israel’s military expenditure, 2023: $27.5 billion — or 5.32% of Israel’s GDP

9. Kuwait

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 4.5%
• Largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F/A-18E Super Hornet
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: tank — new M-1A2S Abrams
• Kuwait’s military expenditure, 2023: $7.8 billion — or 4.90% of Kuwait’s GDP

8. Netherlands

The Netherlands military honor Fallen, War Veterans (BY 2.0) by ResoluteSupportMedia

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 4.6%
• Largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-35A Lightning-2
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: transport helicopter — new CH-47F Chinook
• Netherlands’s military expenditure, 2023: $16.6 billion — or 1.53% of Netherlands’s GDP

7. Ukraine

On Day of Defenders of Ukraine President presents orders of Gold Star, Cross of Combat Merit awards, awards military units with honorary titles. (CC0 1.0) by President Of Ukraine

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 4.7%
• Largest weapons deal with US: guided rocket — second hand GMLRS
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: loitering munition — new Phoenix Ghost
• Ukraine’s military expenditure, 2023: $64.8 billion — or 36.65% of Ukraine’s GDP

6. United Kingdom

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 5.1%
• Largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-35B Lightning-2
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: ASW aircraft — new P-8A Poseidon
• United Kingdom’s military expenditure, 2023: $74.9 billion — or 2.26% of United Kingdom’s GDP

5. South Korea

Flag of South Korea on soldiers arm. Flag of South Korea on military uniforms (collage). (Shutterstock.com) by Bumble Dee

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 5.3%
• Largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-35A Lightning-2
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-35A Lightning-2
• South Korea’s military expenditure, 2023: $47.9 billion — or 2.81% of South Korea’s GDP

4. Australia

170408-A-TW998-009 (Public Domain) by West Point - The U.S. Military Academy

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 7.1%
• Largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-35A Lightning-2
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: ASW aircraft — new P-8A Poseidon
• Australia’s military expenditure, 2023: $32.3 billion — or 1.92% of Australia’s GDP

3. Qatar

Soldiers at Military Parade on Qatar National Day on the 18th of December 2018. Photo by Ijas Muhammed Photography (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Ijasmuhammed

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 8.2%
• Largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-15 Advanced Eagle
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: APC/IFV — new Namer
• Qatar’s military expenditure, 2022: $15.4 billion — or 6.96% of Qatar’s GDP

2. Japan

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 9.5%
• Largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-35A Lightning-2
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-35A Lightning-2
• Japan’s military expenditure, 2023: $50.2 billion — or 1.20% of Japan’s GDP

1. Saudi Arabia

• Share of U.S. arms exports, 2019-2023: 15.1%
• Largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-15 Advanced Eagle
• 2nd largest weapons deal with US: FGA aircraft — new F-15 Advanced Eagle
• Saudi Arabia’s military expenditure, 2023: $75.8 billion — or 7.09% of Saudi Arabia’s GDP