China

Military spending in China

Military spending in China: 2.45% of GDP in 1989 and 1.73% of GDP in 2025, by SIPRI estimates.

Latest, 2025
1.73% of GDP
Since 1989
−0.72 percentage points
Rank, 2025
74 of 151
counting from the highest
Watch it change on the map

% of GDP · SIPRI

Military spending in ChinaMilitary spending in China: 2.45% of GDP in 1989 and 1.73% of GDP in 2025, by SIPRI estimates. The highest was 2.47% of GDP in 1992, the lowest 1.57% of GDP in 2021.
Estimates, SIPRISIPRI estimate

What the numbers say

  • The highest was 2.47% of GDP in 1992, the lowest 1.57% of GDP in 2021.

Every year

% of GDP · SIPRI

YearChina
20251.73
20241.66
20231.62
20221.59
20211.57
20201.72
20191.65
20181.64
20171.68
20161.73
20151.74
20141.71
20131.68
20121.67
20111.63
20101.7
20091.86
20081.69
20071.72
20061.84
20051.85
20041.91
20031.97
20022.03
20011.96
20001.82
19991.86
19981.64
19971.62
19961.64
19951.68
19941.74
19931.99
19922.47
19912.31
19902.45
19892.45
  • Estimate

Good to know

  • What the country spends on its armed forces and defence, as a share of its economy, 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

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