Israel is the world's tenth largest weapons exporting nation, accounting for some three percent of global arms sales, according to a chart published by the Economist magazine on Sunday.



The five leading arms exporters are the United States, Russia, Germany, China and France, which together accounted for three-quarters of international weapons sales over the past five years, according to the Economist.



After the big five, come the United Kingdom, Spain, Ukraine, Italy and Israel.



The magazine based its chart on figures from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which tracks the arms trade.



The biggest arms importers, according to the chart, were India, China, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.



The country with the fastest growing weapons trade is China, which has tripled its output in five years - overtaking France and poised to overtake Germany. China sells to 35 mainly low- and middle-income countries, but is also a big importer (two-thirds of its weapons come from Russia.)



The U.S., with 29 percent of the total, exports to over 90 nations, with aircraft making up most of its sales. Russia, with 27 percent of the total, exports more ships than any other country. Its weapons exports have significantly increased, thanks in part to being India's biggest supplier, accounting for three-quarters of its arms purchases.



Overall, sales between 2009 and 2013 were 14% higher than the previous five-year period,



Open gallery view World's leading weapons exporters and importers. Credit: Screenshot