Military spending, annual growth rate in China
China: Military spending, annual growth rate was 3.41 % change on previous year in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.41 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 52.9%
World rank
113th
of 172 countries
All-time high
432.99 % change on previous year
in 1943
All-time low
-78.45 % change on previous year
in 1942
Years of data
163
1861–2023
Military spending, annual growth rate in China, 1861–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
China recorded 3.41 % change on previous year for military spending, annual growth rate in 2023.
The figure is down 52.9% on the previous year and down 75.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, annual growth rate in China peaked at 432.99 % change on previous year in 1943 and was at its lowest, -78.45 % change on previous year, in 1942.
China ranks 113th of 172 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, annual growth rate in China, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1861 | -11.07 % change on previous year | — |
| 1862 | -3.2 % change on previous year | -71.1% |
| 1863 | -15.16 % change on previous year | +373.5% |
| 1864 | 3.23 % change on previous year | -121.3% |
| 1865 | -21.46 % change on previous year | -764.6% |
| 1866 | 5.68 % change on previous year | -126.5% |
| 1867 | 19.69 % change on previous year | +246.5% |
| 1868 | 2.1 % change on previous year | -89.3% |
| 1869 | 5.73 % change on previous year | +172.7% |
| 1870 | -9.85 % change on previous year | -272.0% |
| 1871 | 16.36 % change on previous year | -266.1% |
| 1872 | 3.03 % change on previous year | -81.4% |
| 1873 | 13.06 % change on previous year | +330.4% |
| 1874 | -9.31 % change on previous year | -171.3% |
| 1875 | 5.36 % change on previous year | -157.6% |
| 1876 | 17.69 % change on previous year | +230.0% |
| 1877 | 5.25 % change on previous year | -70.3% |
| 1878 | -0.4191 % change on previous year | -108.0% |
| 1879 | 4.21 % change on previous year | -1103.7% |
| 1880 | -0.5728 % change on previous year | -113.6% |
| 1881 | -4.92 % change on previous year | +758.5% |
| 1882 | 5.72 % change on previous year | -216.3% |
| 1883 | -0.8912 % change on previous year | -115.6% |
| 1884 | 11.44 % change on previous year | -1383.4% |
| 1885 | 9.86 % change on previous year | -13.8% |
| 1886 | -3.86 % change on previous year | -139.1% |
| 1887 | 0.5294 % change on previous year | -113.7% |
| 1888 | 17.67 % change on previous year | +3237.6% |
| 1889 | 0.501 % change on previous year | -97.2% |
| 1890 | 13.73 % change on previous year | +2640.4% |
| 1891 | -21.71 % change on previous year | -258.2% |
| 1892 | 24.73 % change on previous year | -213.9% |
| 1893 | -1.46 % change on previous year | -105.9% |
| 1894 | -0.7549 % change on previous year | -48.4% |
| 1895 | 29.53 % change on previous year | -4012.0% |
| 1896 | 254.64 % change on previous year | +762.2% |
| 1897 | 6.51 % change on previous year | -97.4% |
| 1898 | 174.22 % change on previous year | +2576.3% |
| 1899 | 6.77 % change on previous year | -96.1% |
| 1900 | -10.24 % change on previous year | -251.3% |
| 1901 | -15.26 % change on previous year | +49.0% |
| 1902 | 8.46 % change on previous year | -155.4% |
| 1903 | 1.86 % change on previous year | -78.0% |
| 1904 | 3.02 % change on previous year | +61.9% |
| 1905 | 4.93 % change on previous year | +63.5% |
| 1906 | 0.7364 % change on previous year | -85.1% |
| 1907 | -1.06 % change on previous year | -244.5% |
| 1908 | 1.43 % change on previous year | -234.7% |
| 1909 | 8.95 % change on previous year | +524.4% |
| 1910 | -5.1 % change on previous year | -157.0% |
| 1911 | 3.08 % change on previous year | -160.4% |
| 1912 | -0.2147 % change on previous year | -107.0% |
| 1913 | 70.15 % change on previous year | -32770.5% |
| 1914 | -36.99 % change on previous year | -152.7% |
| 1915 | 7.7 % change on previous year | -120.8% |
| 1916 | 20.91 % change on previous year | +171.5% |
| 1917 | -11.42 % change on previous year | -154.6% |
| 1918 | 97.3 % change on previous year | -952.1% |
| 1919 | -17.06 % change on previous year | -117.5% |
| 1920 | -15.89 % change on previous year | -6.9% |
| 1921 | 16.24 % change on previous year | -202.2% |
| 1922 | 0.569 % change on previous year | -96.5% |
| 1923 | -2.04 % change on previous year | -458.5% |
| 1924 | -7.22 % change on previous year | +253.9% |
| 1925 | 4.42 % change on previous year | -161.2% |
| 1926 | 5.32 % change on previous year | +20.5% |
| 1927 | -68.45 % change on previous year | -1386.5% |
| 1928 | 68.72 % change on previous year | -200.4% |
| 1929 | 7.86 % change on previous year | -88.6% |
| 1930 | -6.7 % change on previous year | -185.3% |
| 1931 | -25.74 % change on previous year | +283.9% |
| 1932 | 3.86 % change on previous year | -115.0% |
| 1933 | 46.7 % change on previous year | +1108.3% |
| 1934 | 51.01 % change on previous year | +9.2% |
| 1935 | -1.61 % change on previous year | -103.1% |
| 1936 | -0.7268 % change on previous year | -54.7% |
| 1937 | 182.19 % change on previous year | -25165.8% |
| 1938 | -73.78 % change on previous year | -140.5% |
| 1939 | 58.16 % change on previous year | -178.8% |
| 1940 | 31.58 % change on previous year | -45.7% |
| 1941 | 4.64 % change on previous year | -85.3% |
| 1942 | -78.45 % change on previous year | -1792.0% |
| 1943 | 432.99 % change on previous year | -651.9% |
| 1944 | -39.92 % change on previous year | -109.2% |
| 1945 | 21.98 % change on previous year | -155.1% |
| 1946 | 175.47 % change on previous year | +698.3% |
| 1947 | -69.79 % change on previous year | -139.8% |
| 1948 | 82.03 % change on previous year | -217.5% |
| 1949 | 338.45 % change on previous year | +312.6% |
| 1950 | 14.86 % change on previous year | -95.6% |
| 1951 | 11.76 % change on previous year | -20.9% |
| 1952 | -6.82 % change on previous year | -158.0% |
| 1953 | -9.4 % change on previous year | +38.0% |
| 1954 | -3.48 % change on previous year | -63.0% |
| 1955 | -6.23 % change on previous year | +78.9% |
| 1956 | 103.51 % change on previous year | -1762.6% |
| 1957 | 15.01 % change on previous year | -85.5% |
| 1958 | -5.64 % change on previous year | -137.6% |
| 1959 | 2.97 % change on previous year | -152.7% |
| 1960 | -3.91 % change on previous year | -231.6% |
| 1961 | 3.81 % change on previous year | -197.7% |
| 1962 | 14.75 % change on previous year | +286.8% |
| 1963 | 4.04 % change on previous year | -72.6% |
| 1964 | 12.62 % change on previous year | +212.2% |
| 1965 | 13.07 % change on previous year | +3.6% |
| 1966 | 7.36 % change on previous year | -43.7% |
| 1967 | 3.61 % change on previous year | -51.0% |
| 1968 | 5.03 % change on previous year | +39.4% |
| 1969 | 11.47 % change on previous year | +128.0% |
| 1970 | 10.45 % change on previous year | -8.8% |
| 1971 | 14.35 % change on previous year | +37.3% |
| 1972 | -5.41 % change on previous year | -137.7% |
| 1973 | -7.74 % change on previous year | +43.2% |
| 1974 | 8.38 % change on previous year | -208.2% |
| 1975 | -5.37 % change on previous year | -164.1% |
| 1976 | 2.65 % change on previous year | -149.4% |
| 1977 | -3.16 % change on previous year | -219.3% |
| 1978 | 0.9058 % change on previous year | -128.6% |
| 1979 | -10.01 % change on previous year | -1205.6% |
| 1980 | -6.53 % change on previous year | -34.8% |
| 1981 | -37.27 % change on previous year | +471.1% |
| 1982 | 4.92 % change on previous year | -113.2% |
| 1983 | 4.35 % change on previous year | -11.6% |
| 1984 | -29.3 % change on previous year | -772.9% |
| 1985 | -4.27 % change on previous year | -85.4% |
| 1986 | -9.71 % change on previous year | +127.4% |
| 1987 | -2.32 % change on previous year | -76.1% |
| 1988 | 9.09 % change on previous year | -491.6% |
| 1989 | -7.22 % change on previous year | -179.5% |
| 1990 | -1.91 % change on previous year | -73.6% |
| 1991 | 14 % change on previous year | -834.7% |
| 1992 | 10.63 % change on previous year | -24.1% |
| 1993 | -5.72 % change on previous year | -153.8% |
| 1994 | -11.66 % change on previous year | +103.9% |
| 1995 | 0.4229 % change on previous year | -103.6% |
| 1996 | 8.59 % change on previous year | +1932.3% |
| 1997 | 4.24 % change on previous year | -50.6% |
| 1998 | 4.47 % change on previous year | +5.4% |
| 1999 | 9 % change on previous year | +101.3% |
| 2000 | 7.48 % change on previous year | -16.9% |
| 2001 | 16.07 % change on previous year | +114.9% |
| 2002 | 29.19 % change on previous year | +81.6% |
| 2003 | 6.84 % change on previous year | -76.6% |
| 2004 | 7.27 % change on previous year | +6.3% |
| 2005 | -18.93 % change on previous year | -360.3% |
| 2006 | -5.73 % change on previous year | -69.7% |
| 2007 | 2.81 % change on previous year | -149.0% |
| 2008 | 12.56 % change on previous year | +347.4% |
| 2009 | 18.36 % change on previous year | +46.2% |
| 2010 | 3.33 % change on previous year | -81.9% |
| 2011 | 20.41 % change on previous year | +513.1% |
| 2012 | 8.15 % change on previous year | -60.1% |
| 2013 | 14.08 % change on previous year | +72.8% |
| 2014 | 10.64 % change on previous year | -24.4% |
| 2015 | 8.14 % change on previous year | -23.5% |
| 2016 | 2.93 % change on previous year | -64.0% |
| 2017 | 16.37 % change on previous year | +458.0% |
| 2018 | 8.68 % change on previous year | -46.9% |
| 2019 | 18.24 % change on previous year | +110.1% |
| 2020 | 6.56 % change on previous year | -64.0% |
| 2021 | 10.04 % change on previous year | +53.1% |
| 2022 | 7.25 % change on previous year | -27.9% |
| 2023 | 3.41 % change on previous year | -52.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 3.41 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.16 % change on previous year, 66% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
- China's 3.41 % change on previous year is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.33 % change on previous year, 1.0× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, annual growth rate in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | +32770.5% | -0.2147 % change on previous year | 70.15 % change on previous year |
| 1937 | +25165.8% | -0.7268 % change on previous year | 182.19 % change on previous year |
| 1895 | +4012.0% | -0.7549 % change on previous year | 29.53 % change on previous year |
| 1888 | +3237.6% | 0.5294 % change on previous year | 17.67 % change on previous year |
| 1890 | +2640.4% | 0.501 % change on previous year | 13.73 % change on previous year |
| 1898 | +2576.3% | 6.51 % change on previous year | 174.22 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | -1.61 % change on previous year | -21.46 % change on previous year | 19.69 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1870s | 4.54 % change on previous year | -9.85 % change on previous year | 17.69 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1880s | 3.55 % change on previous year | -4.92 % change on previous year | 17.67 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1890s | 48.62 % change on previous year | -21.71 % change on previous year | 254.64 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.2823 % change on previous year | -15.26 % change on previous year | 8.95 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1910s | 12.84 % change on previous year | -36.99 % change on previous year | 97.3 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.9523 % change on previous year | -68.45 % change on previous year | 68.72 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1930s | 23.34 % change on previous year | -73.78 % change on previous year | 182.19 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1940s | 89.9 % change on previous year | -78.45 % change on previous year | 432.99 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1950s | 11.65 % change on previous year | -9.4 % change on previous year | 103.51 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.19 % change on previous year | -3.91 % change on previous year | 14.75 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.5042 % change on previous year | -10.01 % change on previous year | 14.35 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | -7.83 % change on previous year | -37.27 % change on previous year | 9.09 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.21 % change on previous year | -11.66 % change on previous year | 14 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.59 % change on previous year | -18.93 % change on previous year | 29.19 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.1 % change on previous year | 2.93 % change on previous year | 20.41 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.82 % change on previous year | 3.41 % change on previous year | 10.04 % change on previous year | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 110 Costa Rica 3.76 % change on previous year compare
- 111 Venezuela 3.63 % change on previous year compare
- 112 Kuwait 3.53 % change on previous year compare
- 114 Chile 3.41 % change on previous year compare
- 115 Sweden 3.3 % change on previous year compare
- 116 New Zealand 3.25 % change on previous year compare
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending, annual growth rate in China?
- Military spending, annual growth rate in China was 3.41 % change on previous year in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, annual growth rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 432.99 % change on previous year in 1943.
- What is the lowest military spending, annual growth rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -78.45 % change on previous year in 1942.
- How does China rank for military spending, annual growth rate?
- China ranks 113th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, annual growth rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 75.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 163 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Military spending. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Military spending Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Military spending. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.