China vs United States: Military spending gmsd
China
349.48 billion
in 2023
United States
1.06 trillion
in 2023
China rank
2nd
United States rank
1st
Military spending gmsd over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 1.06 trillion against 349.48 billion in China, a difference of 715.47 billion.
That makes United States's figure about 3.0 times China's.
Across all 164 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.
China ranks 2nd and United States ranks 1st of 172 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 17 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 40.15 million | 8.20 billion | 8.16 billion | United States |
| 1870s | 51.32 million | 1.35 billion | 1.30 billion | United States |
| 1880s | 71.13 million | 1.33 billion | 1.26 billion | United States |
| 1890s | 409.63 million | 3.02 billion | 2.62 billion | United States |
| 1900s | 1.19 billion | 5.91 billion | 4.72 billion | United States |
| 1910s | 1.85 billion | 29.28 billion | 27.43 billion | United States |
| 1920s | 2.13 billion | 10.79 billion | 8.66 billion | United States |
| 1930s | 2.33 billion | 13.99 billion | 11.65 billion | United States |
| 1940s | 5.57 billion | 444.98 billion | 439.41 billion | United States |
| 1950s | 32.61 billion | 376.83 billion | 344.21 billion | United States |
| 1960s | 67.03 billion | 429.77 billion | 362.74 billion | United States |
| 1970s | 106.43 billion | 392.68 billion | 286.25 billion | United States |
| 1980s | 49.87 billion | 531.55 billion | 481.68 billion | United States |
| 1990s | 42.09 billion | 508.22 billion | 466.13 billion | United States |
| 2000s | 75.87 billion | 661.16 billion | 585.29 billion | United States |
| 2010s | 171.12 billion | 789.72 billion | 618.60 billion | United States |
| 2020s | 322.23 billion | 1.02 trillion | 700.85 billion | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher military spending gmsd, China or United States?
- United States, at 1.06 trillion against 349.48 billion in China as of 2023.
- What is the difference in military spending gmsd between China and United States?
- 715.47 billion, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 164 years are reported by both, from 1860 to 2023.
- How do China and United States rank globally for military spending gmsd?
- China ranks 2nd and United States ranks 1st of 172 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Military spending gmsd. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.