China vs Laos
China vs Laos: Military spending in US dollars
Military spending in US dollars: $335B in China in 2025 and $21.8M in Laos in 2013, by SIPRI estimates. In 2013 the value was higher in China, by $168B, or 7,700 times that in Laos.
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- China has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1992.
Every year
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
| Year | China | Laos |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $335B | – |
| 2024 | $312B | – |
| 2023 | $292B | – |
| 2022 | $274B | – |
| 2021 | $263B | – |
| 2020 | $256B | – |
| 2019 | $244B | – |
| 2018 | $233B | – |
| 2017 | $220B | – |
| 2016 | $207B | – |
| 2015 | $196B | – |
| 2014 | $182B | – |
| 2013 | $168B | $21.8M |
| 2012 | $156B | $21.2M |
| 2011 | $141B | $20.7M |
| 2010 | $132B | $18.5M |
| 2009 | $125B | $18.4M |
| 2008 | $103B | $22M |
| 2007 | $94.4B | $23.8M |
| 2006 | $85.9B | $23.8M |
| 2005 | $74.6B | $23.7M |
| 2004 | $68B | $24.3M |
| 2003 | $61.7B | $25.6M |
| 2002 | $57B | $29.2M |
| 2001 | $49.6B | $31.7M |
| 2000 | $41.9B | $32.8M |
| 1999 | $38.7B | $41.4M |
| 1998 | $31.7B | $94M |
| 1997 | $29.1B | $138M |
| 1996 | $27.2B | $150M |
| 1995 | $25.7B | $196M |
| 1994 | $24.8B | $234M |
| 1993 | $25.7B | $232M |
| 1992 | $28B | $234M |
| 1991 | $23B | – |
| 1990 | $21.6B | – |
| 1989 | $19.9B | – |
- Estimate
Each country on its own
Good to know
- What the country spends on its armed forces and defence, in constant 2024 US dollars so that years compare, by SIPRI’s count.
- Source: Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure Database, https://doi.org/10.55163/CQGC9685.
- Marked points are SIPRI’s own: a dot where it gives the figure as its estimate, a ring where it calls the figure highly uncertain.
- Ranks count the 151 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
China vs Laos
Health
- Life expectancyChina: 78 years in 2023Laos: 69 years in 2023
- Child mortalityChina: 0.6 per 100 live births in 2024Laos: 2.9 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityChina: 5.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023Laos: 31.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionChina: 3.31% in 2017Laos: 2.91% in 2017
- Suicide rateChina: 7.2 per 100,000 people in 2017Laos: 8.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationChina: 1.42 billion people in 2023Laos: 7.67 million people in 2023
- Population growthChina: -0.24% a year in 2023Laos: 1.38% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateChina: 1 births per woman in 2023Laos: 2.42 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationChina: 66.3% in 2025Laos: 40.3% in 2025
- Median ageChina: 39.1 years in 2023Laos: 24.3 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overChina: 14.3% in 2023Laos: 4.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateChina: -0.4 per 1,000 people in 2023Laos: -1.3 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingChina: 1.73% of GDP in 2025Laos: 0.19% of GDP in 2013
- Military spending per personChina: $237 in 2025Laos: $3 in 2013
- Military share of state spendingChina: 5.1% of government spending in 2025Laos: 0.8% of government spending in 2013
- Armed forces personnelChina: 2.54 million people in 2020Laos: 129,000 people in 2020
- National powerChina: 23.41% of world capability in 2022Laos: 0.06% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersChina: 0.33% of the labour force in 2020Laos: 4.08% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsChina: 207 million TIV in 2025Laos: 7 million TIV in 2024