Accuracy
We provide an assessment of the accuracy of figures reported by the sources.
This is not an indication of the reliability of the source. Instead it is
a consequence of many figures being reported by sources are rounded or
are approximations.
The accuracy column contains one of three words 'low', 'medium' and 'high'.
These are defined as:
low: the source supplied estimates accurate to, and figures rounded
to, more than the nearest USD 1000 (for example, a report that a country had
exported USD 1.2 million worth of ammunition);
medium: the source supplied estimates accurate to, and figures rounded
to, USD 1000 or less (for example, a report that a country exported $59
000 worth of small arms).
In addition, all instances in which the person responsible for data entry has
calculated a figure are defined as 'medium'. For example, if small arms were
defined as comprising 56.879% of a country's total arms exports of USD 200 000,
then we would calculate the figure as being USD 113 758. As the figure had not been
directly supplied by the source, it's accuracy would be described as being
'medium'.
high: the source supplied figures with no evident estimation, rounding
or calculation.
Please note that an assessment of the reliability of the source is provided
in a different column (reliability). It is possible for a reliable source to
provide an inaccurate figure (for example, a government repot might state that
approximately USD 500 000 worth of small arms were exported during a particular
year).
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