A steady rise in arms sales since the late 1990s continues. Today the combined sale of the top 100 arms companies amounts to some $268 billion. US and West European companies accounted for most of this sum: 63.3% was accounted for by 40 US companies, and 29.4% by 36 West European companies.

In the post-cold war period concentration within the arms industry has increased: the top 5 companies' share of arms sales has increased from 22 per cent in 1990 to 44 per cent in 2003.

National shares of arms sales of the top 100 arms-producing
companies in the world (excluding China)