Here’s a deeply discomforting fact: in 2016, the world spent a startling $1.69 trillion in military expenditure and purchase of weapons! In the same year, the economic and financial cost of violence was estimated at $14.3 trillion. The composite cost of international arms trade and its effect on human life can be said, therefore, to be close to $16 trillion!
This infographic highlights the top 10 list of global arms traders – note that 7 of the 10 global arms companies are based in the USA – and they rule the market with 58% of global sales!
Infographic Source: The 10 Companies That Dominate the Global Arms Trade by Visual Capitalist