Military spending gmsd in China
China: Military spending gmsd was 349.48 billion in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
349.48 billion
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
2nd
of 172 countries
All-time high
349.48 billion
in 2023
All-time low
30.58 million
in 1865
Years of data
164
1860–2023
Military spending gmsd in China, 1860–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending gmsd in China is 349.48 billion, 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 gmsd in China peaked at 349.48 billion in 2023 and was at its lowest, 30.58 million, 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.
Military spending gmsd in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 51.64 million | — |
| 1861 | 45.93 million | -11.1% |
| 1862 | 44.46 million | -3.2% |
| 1863 | 37.72 million | -15.2% |
| 1864 | 38.93 million | +3.2% |
| 1865 | 30.58 million | -21.5% |
| 1866 | 32.32 million | +5.7% |
| 1867 | 38.68 million | +19.7% |
| 1868 | 39.50 million | +2.1% |
| 1869 | 41.76 million | +5.7% |
| 1870 | 37.65 million | -9.8% |
| 1871 | 43.80 million | +16.4% |
| 1872 | 45.13 million | +3.0% |
| 1873 | 51.03 million | +13.1% |
| 1874 | 46.28 million | -9.3% |
| 1875 | 48.76 million | +5.4% |
| 1876 | 57.38 million | +17.7% |
| 1877 | 60.40 million | +5.3% |
| 1878 | 60.14 million | -0.4% |
| 1879 | 62.67 million | +4.2% |
| 1880 | 62.31 million | -0.6% |
| 1881 | 59.25 million | -4.9% |
| 1882 | 62.64 million | +5.7% |
| 1883 | 62.08 million | -0.9% |
| 1884 | 69.18 million | +11.4% |
| 1885 | 76.00 million | +9.9% |
| 1886 | 73.07 million | -3.9% |
| 1887 | 73.45 million | +0.5% |
| 1888 | 86.43 million | +17.7% |
| 1889 | 86.86 million | +0.5% |
| 1890 | 98.79 million | +13.7% |
| 1891 | 77.34 million | -21.7% |
| 1892 | 96.47 million | +24.7% |
| 1893 | 95.06 million | -1.5% |
| 1894 | 94.34 million | -0.8% |
| 1895 | 122.20 million | +29.5% |
| 1896 | 433.38 million | +254.6% |
| 1897 | 461.59 million | +6.5% |
| 1898 | 1.27 billion | +174.2% |
| 1899 | 1.35 billion | +6.8% |
| 1900 | 1.21 billion | -10.2% |
| 1901 | 1.03 billion | -15.3% |
| 1902 | 1.11 billion | +8.5% |
| 1903 | 1.14 billion | +1.9% |
| 1904 | 1.17 billion | +3.0% |
| 1905 | 1.23 billion | +4.9% |
| 1906 | 1.24 billion | +0.7% |
| 1907 | 1.22 billion | -1.1% |
| 1908 | 1.24 billion | +1.4% |
| 1909 | 1.35 billion | +9.0% |
| 1910 | 1.28 billion | -5.1% |
| 1911 | 1.32 billion | +3.1% |
| 1912 | 1.32 billion | -0.2% |
| 1913 | 2.25 billion | +70.2% |
| 1914 | 1.41 billion | -37.0% |
| 1915 | 1.52 billion | +7.7% |
| 1916 | 1.84 billion | +20.9% |
| 1917 | 1.63 billion | -11.4% |
| 1918 | 3.22 billion | +97.3% |
| 1919 | 2.67 billion | -17.1% |
| 1920 | 2.25 billion | -15.9% |
| 1921 | 2.61 billion | +16.2% |
| 1922 | 2.63 billion | +0.6% |
| 1923 | 2.57 billion | -2.0% |
| 1924 | 2.39 billion | -7.2% |
| 1925 | 2.49 billion | +4.4% |
| 1926 | 2.63 billion | +5.3% |
| 1927 | 828.09 million | -68.5% |
| 1928 | 1.40 billion | +68.7% |
| 1929 | 1.51 billion | +7.9% |
| 1930 | 1.41 billion | -6.7% |
| 1931 | 1.04 billion | -25.7% |
| 1932 | 1.08 billion | +3.9% |
| 1933 | 1.59 billion | +46.7% |
| 1934 | 2.40 billion | +51.0% |
| 1935 | 2.36 billion | -1.6% |
| 1936 | 2.35 billion | -0.7% |
| 1937 | 6.62 billion | +182.2% |
| 1938 | 1.74 billion | -73.8% |
| 1939 | 2.75 billion | +58.2% |
| 1940 | 3.61 billion | +31.6% |
| 1941 | 3.78 billion | +4.6% |
| 1942 | 814.78 million | -78.4% |
| 1943 | 4.34 billion | +433.0% |
| 1944 | 2.61 billion | -39.9% |
| 1945 | 3.18 billion | +22.0% |
| 1946 | 8.77 billion | +175.5% |
| 1947 | 2.65 billion | -69.8% |
| 1948 | 4.82 billion | +82.0% |
| 1949 | 21.14 billion | +338.4% |
| 1950 | 24.28 billion | +14.9% |
| 1951 | 27.14 billion | +11.8% |
| 1952 | 25.29 billion | -6.8% |
| 1953 | 22.91 billion | -9.4% |
| 1954 | 22.11 billion | -3.5% |
| 1955 | 20.73 billion | -6.2% |
| 1956 | 42.20 billion | +103.5% |
| 1957 | 48.53 billion | +15.0% |
| 1958 | 45.80 billion | -5.6% |
| 1959 | 47.15 billion | +3.0% |
| 1960 | 45.31 billion | -3.9% |
| 1961 | 47.04 billion | +3.8% |
| 1962 | 53.98 billion | +14.8% |
| 1963 | 56.16 billion | +4.0% |
| 1964 | 63.25 billion | +12.6% |
| 1965 | 71.52 billion | +13.1% |
| 1966 | 76.78 billion | +7.4% |
| 1967 | 79.55 billion | +3.6% |
| 1968 | 83.55 billion | +5.0% |
| 1969 | 93.13 billion | +11.5% |
| 1970 | 102.87 billion | +10.5% |
| 1971 | 117.63 billion | +14.4% |
| 1972 | 111.27 billion | -5.4% |
| 1973 | 102.66 billion | -7.7% |
| 1974 | 111.26 billion | +8.4% |
| 1975 | 105.28 billion | -5.4% |
| 1976 | 108.07 billion | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 104.66 billion | -3.2% |
| 1978 | 105.60 billion | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 95.03 billion | -10.0% |
| 1980 | 88.83 billion | -6.5% |
| 1981 | 55.72 billion | -37.3% |
| 1982 | 58.46 billion | +4.9% |
| 1983 | 61.01 billion | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 43.13 billion | -29.3% |
| 1985 | 41.29 billion | -4.3% |
| 1986 | 37.28 billion | -9.7% |
| 1987 | 36.41 billion | -2.3% |
| 1988 | 39.72 billion | +9.1% |
| 1989 | 36.86 billion | -7.2% |
| 1990 | 36.15 billion | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 41.22 billion | +14.0% |
| 1992 | 45.60 billion | +10.6% |
| 1993 | 42.99 billion | -5.7% |
| 1994 | 37.98 billion | -11.7% |
| 1995 | 38.14 billion | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 41.42 billion | +8.6% |
| 1997 | 43.17 billion | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 45.10 billion | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 49.16 billion | +9.0% |
| 2000 | 52.84 billion | +7.5% |
| 2001 | 61.33 billion | +16.1% |
| 2002 | 79.24 billion | +29.2% |
| 2003 | 84.66 billion | +6.8% |
| 2004 | 90.81 billion | +7.3% |
| 2005 | 73.63 billion | -18.9% |
| 2006 | 69.41 billion | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 71.36 billion | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 80.32 billion | +12.6% |
| 2009 | 95.06 billion | +18.4% |
| 2010 | 98.23 billion | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 118.28 billion | +20.4% |
| 2012 | 127.91 billion | +8.1% |
| 2013 | 145.92 billion | +14.1% |
| 2014 | 161.44 billion | +10.6% |
| 2015 | 174.58 billion | +8.1% |
| 2016 | 179.70 billion | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 209.11 billion | +16.4% |
| 2018 | 227.26 billion | +8.7% |
| 2019 | 268.73 billion | +18.2% |
| 2020 | 286.36 billion | +6.6% |
| 2021 | 315.12 billion | +10.0% |
| 2022 | 337.95 billion | +7.2% |
| 2023 | 349.48 billion | +3.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 349.48 billion is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.25 billion, 279.2× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- China's 349.48 billion is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.15 billion, 84.3× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending gmsd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | +433.0% | 814.78 million | 4.34 billion |
| 1949 | +338.4% | 4.82 billion | 21.14 billion |
| 1896 | +254.6% | 122.20 million | 433.38 million |
| 1937 | +182.2% | 2.35 billion | 6.62 billion |
| 1946 | +175.5% | 3.18 billion | 8.77 billion |
| 1898 | +174.2% | 461.59 million | 1.27 billion |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 40.15 million | 30.58 million | 51.64 million | 10 |
| 1870s | 51.32 million | 37.65 million | 62.67 million | 10 |
| 1880s | 71.13 million | 59.25 million | 86.86 million | 10 |
| 1890s | 409.63 million | 77.34 million | 1.35 billion | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.19 billion | 1.03 billion | 1.35 billion | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.85 billion | 1.28 billion | 3.22 billion | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.13 billion | 828.09 million | 2.63 billion | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.33 billion | 1.04 billion | 6.62 billion | 10 |
| 1940s | 5.57 billion | 814.78 million | 21.14 billion | 10 |
| 1950s | 32.61 billion | 20.73 billion | 48.53 billion | 10 |
| 1960s | 67.03 billion | 45.31 billion | 93.13 billion | 10 |
| 1970s | 106.43 billion | 95.03 billion | 117.63 billion | 10 |
| 1980s | 49.87 billion | 36.41 billion | 88.83 billion | 10 |
| 1990s | 42.09 billion | 36.15 billion | 49.16 billion | 10 |
| 2000s | 75.87 billion | 52.84 billion | 95.06 billion | 10 |
| 2010s | 171.12 billion | 98.23 billion | 268.73 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | 322.23 billion | 286.36 billion | 349.48 billion | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 1 United States 1.06 trillion compare
- 3 Russia 120.26 billion compare
- 4 India 95.30 billion compare
- 5 Saudi Arabia 88.35 billion 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 gmsd in China?
- Military spending gmsd in China was 349.48 billion in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending gmsd recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 349.48 billion in 2023.
- What is the lowest military spending gmsd recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.58 million in 1865.
- How does China rank for military spending gmsd?
- China ranks 2nd out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending gmsd 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending gmsd. 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).