Military spending per armed forces personnel in China
China: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 100,945 constant 2024 US$ in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Military spending per armed forces personnel in China, 1989–2020
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending per armed forces personnel in China is 100,945 constant 2024 US$, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% on the previous year and up 126.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in China peaked at 100,945 constant 2024 US$ in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5,104 constant 2024 US$, in 1989.
China ranks 34th of 160 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in China, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 5,104 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1990 | 6,183 constant 2024 US$ | +21.1% |
| 1991 | 7,188 constant 2024 US$ | +16.3% |
| 1992 | 8,852 constant 2024 US$ | +23.2% |
| 1993 | 8,489 constant 2024 US$ | -4.1% |
| 1994 | 8,447 constant 2024 US$ | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 6,224 constant 2024 US$ | -26.3% |
| 1996 | 6,586 constant 2024 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1997 | 7,982 constant 2024 US$ | +21.2% |
| 1998 | 8,305 constant 2024 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 10,124 constant 2024 US$ | +21.9% |
| 2000 | 10,706 constant 2024 US$ | +5.7% |
| 2001 | 13,028 constant 2024 US$ | +21.7% |
| 2002 | 15,121 constant 2024 US$ | +16.1% |
| 2003 | 16,452 constant 2024 US$ | +8.8% |
| 2004 | 18,098 constant 2024 US$ | +10.0% |
| 2005 | 19,874 constant 2024 US$ | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 23,828 constant 2024 US$ | +19.9% |
| 2007 | 32,730 constant 2024 US$ | +37.4% |
| 2008 | 35,810 constant 2024 US$ | +9.4% |
| 2009 | 42,568 constant 2024 US$ | +18.9% |
| 2010 | 44,664 constant 2024 US$ | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 47,948 constant 2024 US$ | +7.4% |
| 2012 | 52,026 constant 2024 US$ | +8.5% |
| 2013 | 56,256 constant 2024 US$ | +8.1% |
| 2014 | 60,747 constant 2024 US$ | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 68,972 constant 2024 US$ | +13.5% |
| 2016 | 76,948 constant 2024 US$ | +11.6% |
| 2017 | 81,681 constant 2024 US$ | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 86,465 constant 2024 US$ | +5.9% |
| 2019 | 96,401 constant 2024 US$ | +11.5% |
| 2020 | 100,945 constant 2024 US$ | +4.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 100,945 constant 2024 US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19,504 constant 2024 US$, 5.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- China's 100,945 constant 2024 US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 23,831 constant 2024 US$, 4.2× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5,104 constant 2024 US$ | 5,104 constant 2024 US$ | 5,104 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
| 1990s | 7,838 constant 2024 US$ | 6,183 constant 2024 US$ | 10,124 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 22,821 constant 2024 US$ | 10,706 constant 2024 US$ | 42,568 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 67,211 constant 2024 US$ | 44,664 constant 2024 US$ | 96,401 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 100,945 constant 2024 US$ | 100,945 constant 2024 US$ | 100,945 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
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 per armed forces personnel in China?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in China was 100,945 constant 2024 US$ in 2020, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 100,945 constant 2024 US$ in 2020.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,104 constant 2024 US$ in 1989.
- How does China rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- China ranks 34th out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 126.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per armed forces personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 32 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total military expenditure divided by armed forces personnel. 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.