Total arms sale contracts for 1999 were $30 billion, with deliveries reaching $34 billion. The US was first, with $12 billion in contracts and $18 billion in deliveries. Germany signed contracts worth $4 billion in 1999 compared to $5 billion in 1998 and was second in both years. Russia signed deals of $4.8 billion in 1999, a major increase over the $2.6 billion in 1998. Together, the three top sellers hold 68% of the international arms market. About 78% of all arms deliveries in 1999 were to "developing" nations that had poor economies, poor standards of living and health care, and rampant corruption.--Stephen V Cole