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