China
Military spending in US dollars in China
Military spending in US dollars in China: $19.9B in 1989 and $335B in 2025, by SIPRI estimates.
- Latest, 2025
- $335B
- Since 1989
- +$315B
- Rank, 2025
- 2 of 151
- counting from the highest
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
Every year
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
| Year | China |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2012 | $156B |
| 2011 | $141B |
| 2010 | $132B |
| 2009 | $125B |
| 2008 | $103B |
| 2007 | $94.4B |
| 2006 | $85.9B |
| 2005 | $74.6B |
| 2004 | $68B |
| 2003 | $61.7B |
| 2002 | $57B |
| 2001 | $49.6B |
| 2000 | $41.9B |
| 1999 | $38.7B |
| 1998 | $31.7B |
| 1997 | $29.1B |
| 1996 | $27.2B |
| 1995 | $25.7B |
| 1994 | $24.8B |
| 1993 | $25.7B |
| 1992 | $28B |
| 1991 | $23B |
| 1990 | $21.6B |
| 1989 | $19.9B |
- Estimate
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 in numbers
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Military
- Military spending1.73% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending per person$237 in 2025
- Military share of state spending5.1% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnel2.54 million people in 2020
- National power23.41% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workers0.33% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms imports207 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exports880 million TIV in 2025