Military spending in China
China: Military spending was 349.48 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Military spending in China, 1860–2023
Source: Barnum et al. - Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending in China is 349.48 billion constant 2022 US$, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 164 years on record.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 139.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in China peaked at 349.48 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 30.58 million constant 2022 US$, in 1865.
China ranks 2nd of 172 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 40.15 million constant 2022 US$ | 30.58 million constant 2022 US$ | 51.64 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 51.32 million constant 2022 US$ | 37.65 million constant 2022 US$ | 62.67 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 71.13 million constant 2022 US$ | 59.25 million constant 2022 US$ | 86.86 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 409.63 million constant 2022 US$ | 77.34 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.19 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.35 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.22 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | 828.09 million constant 2022 US$ | 2.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.62 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 5.57 billion constant 2022 US$ | 814.78 million constant 2022 US$ | 21.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 32.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | 20.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | 48.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 67.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | 45.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | 93.13 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 106.43 billion constant 2022 US$ | 95.03 billion constant 2022 US$ | 117.63 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 49.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | 36.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | 88.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 42.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | 36.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | 49.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 75.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | 52.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | 95.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 171.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | 98.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | 268.73 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 322.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | 286.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | 349.48 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 1 United States 1.06 trillion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 3 Russia 120.26 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 4 India 95.30 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 5 Saudi Arabia 88.35 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for China
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.66 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.0991 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.15 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.34 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 2.06 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 132.6 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in China?
- Military spending in China was 349.48 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023, according to Barnum et al. - Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 349.48 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.58 million constant 2022 US$ in 1865.
- How does China rank for military spending?
- China ranks 2nd out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 139.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. - Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 164 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.