Five US companies lead the global arms market with $198.3 billion in revenues, while China emerges as a major competitor with three firms in the top 10

Key Takeaways:

  • Lockheed Martin leads with $60.8 billion in arms revenue.
  • The top ten companies' combined revenue from arms production was $307.3 billion.
  • The top five corporations are all from the United States.
  • BAE Systems, based in the United Kingdom, remains Europe's strongest defence contractor, ranking sixth.
  • Russia and the United Kingdom each have one company among the top ten.
  • China secures three slots in the top 10, with a total revenue of $57.5 billion.

According to the most recent SIPRI rankings, US corporations led the global arms sector in 2023. Lockheed Martin topped the list with $60.8 billion in arms revenues, followed by RTX and Northrop Grumman. Boeing and General Dynamics completed the top five.

The United Kingdom's BAE Systems was Europe's top defence firm, placing sixth globally, while Russia's Rostec came in seventh. China maintained a significant presence, with AVIC, NORINCO, and CETC rounding out the top 10.

Source:

SIPRI Arms Industry Database

Period:

2023
HTML code to embed chart
Want a bespoke report?
Reach out
Click to copy HTML embed code
Tags
Related Insights
Nigeria's Peace Index scores have worsened since 2008, reaching the highest to date in 2015
  • Nigeria has consistently ranked among the least peaceful countries, with scores remaining in the lower band from 2008 to 2025.
  • Peacefulness worsened sharply between 2013 and 2015, marking one of Nigeria’s most unstable periods.
  • A mild improvement occurred between 2017 and 2022, although overall peacefulness remained low.
  • Nigeria’s score deteriorated again in 2025, rising from 2.77 to 2.87 and reversing recent stability.
Protest activity in Nigeria increased significantly during Goodluck Jonathan's tenure, growing from 53 in 2011 to 696 in 2015
  • Nigeria recorded 971 protests and violent demonstrations in 2024.
  • Protest numbers have grown 50-fold since 2000, signalling a consistent rise in public mobilisation.
  • The most significant surge occurred between 2011 and 2015, under Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
  • Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure saw the highest number of recorded protests — peaking at 1,008 in 2020.
  • Despite a change in leadership, protest activity remains elevated under Bola Tinubu.
The number of protests in Kenya skyrocketed to a record 2,008 events in 2024, marking a seven-fold increase from the 2022 total of 239
  • Kenya recorded 2,008 protests in 2024, the highest in its modern history.
  • The number of protest events increased seven-fold between 2022 and 2024.
  • Social media has become a major mobilisation tool for civic expression.
  • Rising cost of living, taxation, and unemployment remain the top drivers of unrest.
North African countries led in protests in Africa, topped by Morocco, which recorded 3,654 protests in 2024
  • Africa recorded 12,581 protests and violent demonstrations in 2024.
  • Morocco led the continent with 3,654 protests, far ahead of others.
  • Kenya ranked second with 2,008 protests.
  • South Africa (1,715) and Nigeria (971) followed, driven by economic and political frustrations.
  • North African countries, such as Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya, accounted for a significant share of protests.
  • The bottom 10 countries, including Lesotho, Gambia, and Seychelles, recorded fewer than 10 protests each.
  • Djibouti and Eritrea reported zero protests.
India leads the world in protest events with 22.1K, while Morocco leads in Africa, making it into the top 15 globally
  • India recorded the highest number of protests and demonstration events globally in 2024 (22.1K).
  • The United States followed with 10.5K protest events.
  • Yemen (8.2K) ranked third, reflecting the instability and ongoing conflict-driven unrest.
  • Pakistan (7.3K) and France (6.9K) rounded out the top five, underscoring the diverse sources of civic agitation.
  • Morocco (3.7K) was Africa’s leading country for protest activity, placing 12th globally.
  • The global total of protest and violent demonstration events reached 153,573 in 2024.
Kenya’s mobile banking fraud in 2024 exposed KES 981.7 billion, leading to losses of KES 810.7 billion
  • Kenya’s total fraud exposure in 2024 hit KES 2.0T, with KES 1.6T actually lost.
  • Mobile banking fraud was the largest contributor, with KES 981.7B exposed and KES 810.7B lost.
  • Mobile banking had an 82.6% loss rate, making it one of the riskiest fraud channels.
  • Computer fraud and internet scams recorded 100% loss rates, showing no funds were recovered.
  • Identity theft saw 97.9% of exposed amounts lost, translating to KES 199.1B.
  • Card fraud had a lower loss rate (59.9%) but still cost banks and customers KES 263.3B.
POPULAR TOPICS
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Get periodic updates about the African startup space, access to our reports, among others.
Subscribe Here
Subscription Form
A product of Techpoint Africa. All rights reserved