What Small Arms Survey does

Small Arms Survey is an independent, Geneva-based nonprofit research organization founded in 1999 to produce impartial, evidence-based knowledge on small arms proliferation, armed violence, and arms-control policy. It operates four global databases (Global Firearms Holdings, Global Violent Deaths, Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer, and Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites) and runs a portfolio of geographically focused research projects, including the Human Security Baseline Assessment for Sudan and South Sudan (since 2006), Security Assessment in North Africa (since 2011), ATTUNE for the Indo-Pacific (since 2024), and Ukraine-focused initiatives launched after the 2022 Russian invasion. The organization is structured around two operational units — Data and Analytics (DnA), which builds datasets and methodologies, and Policy and Capacity Support (PACS), which translates research into policy advice for international and regional arms-control mechanisms.

Outputs are distributed free of charge through a website resource library, 18+ podcast episodes on iTunes and Spotify, 39+ events and webinars per year, a YouTube channel, and a newsletter, reaching governments, policymakers, academic researchers, and civil-society organizations. The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial: revenue comes from multi-year contributions by sovereign donors including the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, US Department of State, and German Federal Foreign Office, alongside historically active funders (Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, UK) and institutional donors such as the National Endowment for Democracy, US Institute of Peace, and Danish Demining Group. Recent operational priorities include the new UN Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management, gender-responsive arms control, privately manufactured firearms, and arms-trafficking research in the Caribbean (via an MoU with CARICOM IMPACS).

Name

Small Arms Survey

Legal name

Small Arms Survey

Website

https://smallarmssurvey.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Small Arms Survey is a Geneva-based nonprofit founded in 1999 that produces evidence-based research and global databases on small arms and armed violence, serving governments, policymakers, researchers, and civil society worldwide through freely distributed publications, podcasts, and policy advisory work.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funders: The Small Arms Survey receives financial support from government funders including Japan (Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Switzerland (Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs), Norway (Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), US Department of State, and previously from Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, UK, as well as organizations like Danish Demining Group, National Endowment for Democracy, and United States Institute of Peace

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Small Arms Survey is an independent research organization that produces impartial, evidence-based, and policy-relevant knowledge on all aspects of small arms and armed violence. It maintains four global databases (Global Firearms Holdings, Global Violent Deaths, Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer, and Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites), conducts regional research projects on conflict zones, and publishes briefing papers, reports, podcasts, and policy guidance for governments, policymakers, researchers, and civil society.

Product overview

Small Arms Survey is a research organization (not a software product company) that provides impartial, evidence-based, and policy-relevant knowledge on all aspects of small arms and armed violence. The organization operates a portfolio of four global databases (Global Firearms Holdings, Global Violent Deaths, Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer, and UEMS), conducts regional research projects (HSBA for Sudan/South Sudan, SANA for North Africa, ATTUNE, Gender-responsive Arms Control, Ukraine projects), and produces publications including Briefing Papers, Situation Updates, Reports, Podcasts, Infographics, and How-to Guides. The Data and Analytics (DnA) unit focuses on gathering information and developing methodologies, while the Policy and Capacity Support (PACS) unit provides policy advice and capacity support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HSBA (Human Security Baseline Assessment): Multi-year research project on Sudan and South Sudan covering political and conflict-related developments, arms transfers, and armed groups.
• SANA (Security Assessment in North Africa)
• ATTUNE
• SPLASH

Products and services

• Global Firearms Holdings Database Tracks and provides data on firearms holdings worldwide, noting that there are more than one billion firearms in the world, the vast majority in civilian hands. Offered free to the public as a core research database.
• Global Violent Deaths (GVD) Database Compiles statistics on violent deaths globally, spanning from 2004 to 2021 and updated over time. Offered free to researchers, policymakers, and civil society.
• Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer Assesses the transparency of top and major exporters of small arms — states that are significant in the global small arms trade. Used by governments and researchers to evaluate arms trade transparency.
• Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS) Database Defines UEMS and tracks accidental explosions of abandoned, damaged, improperly stored, or properly stored munitions at munitions sites worldwide.
• Policy and Capacity Support (PACS) Service Provides research-informed policy advice to enable the development and implementation of international and regional mechanisms and processes to combat illicit flow of small arms and ammunition. Targeted at governments and multilateral bodies.
• Data and Analytics (DnA) Service Conducts extensive research on global trends on small arms and armed violence to provide international and national stakeholders with data required for informed debate and evidence-based policy decisions.
• Human Security Baseline Assessment (HSBA) for Sudan and South Sudan Multi-year research project launched in 2006 that generates empirical research on evolving political and conflict-related developments in Sudan and South Sudan to inform policy and humanitarian responses to ongoing crises. Funded by Japan, Switzerland, Norway, and the US Department of State.
• Security Assessment in North Africa (SANA) Project Regional research project focusing on security assessment in North Africa, covering Libya, Tunisia, and the Sahel region. Topics include arms trafficking, violent deaths, and security dynamics.
• ATTUNE — Arms Trade Treaty Universalization in the Indo-Pacific Project addressing challenges to Arms Trade Treaty universalization and compliance in the Indo-Pacific region, engaging with countries including India, Australia, and Japan.
• SPLASH — Stopping Proliferation of Lethal Arms at Sea and Harbours Project focused on preventing the proliferation of lethal arms at sea and in harbors, addressing maritime routes of illicit arms trafficking.
• Small Arms Survey Podcasts Podcast series covering topics on small arms control, armed violence, gender dimensions, regional conflicts, and policy discussions. Contains 18+ episodes distributed on iTunes and Spotify.
• Events and Webinars Program Regular events, webinars, launches, and panel discussions on small arms control topics, including Geneva Peace Week events and report launches. 39+ events hosted.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 580,000 violent deaths tracked globally in 2021, with about 45% inflicted by firearms
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Center for Security Studies (CENSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced the 'Weapons Compass: Proliferation and Control of Arms and Ammunition in Wartime Ukraine' report, analyzing small arms proliferation in Ukraine since the Russian full-scale invasion in February 2022
• CARICOM IMPACScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on firearms-related violence and trafficking research in the Caribbean region

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): London-based international affairs think tank with research on conflict, governance, and security — comparable in independent research-and-policy-support model though broader than small arms specifically.
• RAND Corporation: Large US-based policy research organization with a Global Security division covering arms control, illicit trafficking, and violent conflict — comparable as a research-driven, government-funded policy consultancy but at vastly larger scale.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: US-based foreign-policy research organization covering global security, nonproliferation, and conflict — overlapping on arms-control research and donor-funded policy analysis at broader geopolitical scope.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Bipartisan US policy research organization covering defense, security, and international affairs — overlapping on illicit weapons, ammunition, and armed violence research but with a much wider portfolio.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): Broader security and defense research institute publishing The Military Balance and Strategic Survey — overlapping on arms transfers and security analysis but covering a much wider portfolio than small arms specifically.

Direct peers

• Arms Control Association: US-based nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to public education and policy advocacy on arms control — a direct thematic peer on small arms and conventional weapons policy.
• Stimson Center: Washington-based think tank conducting research on security, arms control, and illicit weapons — overlapping significantly on small arms policy, ammunition management, and global governance.
• International Crisis Group: Independent organization working to prevent wars and shape policy on conflict-affected states — directly comparable in field research, briefing-paper output, and government/multilateral donor model.
• Saferworld: Independent international organization working to prevent armed violence and support arms control — closely comparable in mission, multi-region programming, and donor-funded model.
• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI): Independent research institute producing data, analysis, and policy recommendations on armed conflict, arms transfers, and military expenditure — the closest direct parallel to Small Arms Survey in scope and methodology.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SmallArmsSurvey
• Xx.com/SmallArmsSurvey
• Facebookfacebook.com/SmallArmsSurvey
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/small-arms-survey

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Small Arms Survey