Weapons and Markets

There are an estimated 875 million small arms in circulation worldwide, produced by more than 1,000 companies from nearly 100 countries. All countries—and numerous non-state armed groups—procure small arms; the Small Arms Survey estimates that their annual authorized trade exceeds USD 8.5 billion. Accurate assessments are difficult, complicated by the reluctance of many states to report publicly on their legal production, exports, and imports of small arms. Analysis of their illegal activities is even more difficult. Significantly, many important exporters are not major producers of small arms, with substantial numbers of legally acquired small arms entering illicit markets through corruption, seizure, and loss.

The Small Arms Survey provides information on:

• definitions of small arms and light weapons
• the producers who make them
• the range and specifications of the products
• their import, their export, and the value of these transfers 
• where they are held, and who possesses the stockpiles.

The Survey has also developed a number of tools to assist with identifying, tracing, and monitoring weapons proliferation and movement:

• The Ammunition Tracing Kit
• The Transparency Barometer
• The Weapons ID Database
• Small Arms ID Cards

Further information on various small arms control measures—such as disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) programmes, security sector reform (SSR) initiatives, and stockpile management or surplus destruction activities—are available on the control measures section of this website.