Military spending, per capita in China
China: Military spending, per capita was 247.73 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
247.73 constant 2022 US$ per person
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
56th
of 171 countries
All-time high
247.73 constant 2022 US$ per person
in 2023
All-time low
31.65 constant 2022 US$ per person
in 1995
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Military spending, per capita in China, 1960–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2022 US$ per person.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending, per capita in China stood at 247.73 constant 2022 US$ per person. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 131.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in China peaked at 247.73 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2023 and was at its lowest, 31.65 constant 2022 US$ per person, in 1995.
China ranks 56th of 171 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, per capita in China, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 67.93 constant 2022 US$ per person | — |
| 1961 | 71.24 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.9% |
| 1962 | 81.08 constant 2022 US$ per person | +13.8% |
| 1963 | 82.31 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.5% |
| 1964 | 90.57 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.0% |
| 1965 | 100 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.4% |
| 1966 | 104.41 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.4% |
| 1967 | 105.43 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.0% |
| 1968 | 107.88 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 117 constant 2022 US$ per person | +8.5% |
| 1970 | 125.71 constant 2022 US$ per person | +7.4% |
| 1971 | 139.85 constant 2022 US$ per person | +11.3% |
| 1972 | 129.08 constant 2022 US$ per person | -7.7% |
| 1973 | 116.4 constant 2022 US$ per person | -9.8% |
| 1974 | 123.57 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.2% |
| 1975 | 114.89 constant 2022 US$ per person | -7.0% |
| 1976 | 116.12 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 110.93 constant 2022 US$ per person | -4.5% |
| 1978 | 110.44 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.4% |
| 1979 | 98.07 constant 2022 US$ per person | -11.2% |
| 1980 | 90.52 constant 2022 US$ per person | -7.7% |
| 1981 | 56.06 constant 2022 US$ per person | -38.1% |
| 1982 | 57.96 constant 2022 US$ per person | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 59.62 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 41.6 constant 2022 US$ per person | -30.2% |
| 1985 | 39.29 constant 2022 US$ per person | -5.6% |
| 1986 | 34.95 constant 2022 US$ per person | -11.0% |
| 1987 | 33.59 constant 2022 US$ per person | -3.9% |
| 1988 | 36.06 constant 2022 US$ per person | +7.3% |
| 1989 | 32.95 constant 2022 US$ per person | -8.6% |
| 1990 | 31.85 constant 2022 US$ per person | -3.3% |
| 1991 | 35.82 constant 2022 US$ per person | +12.5% |
| 1992 | 39.14 constant 2022 US$ per person | +9.3% |
| 1993 | 36.48 constant 2022 US$ per person | -6.8% |
| 1994 | 31.86 constant 2022 US$ per person | -12.6% |
| 1995 | 31.65 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 34.02 constant 2022 US$ per person | +7.5% |
| 1997 | 35.1 constant 2022 US$ per person | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 36.32 constant 2022 US$ per person | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 39.24 constant 2022 US$ per person | +8.1% |
| 2000 | 41.85 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.6% |
| 2001 | 48.22 constant 2022 US$ per person | +15.2% |
| 2002 | 61.89 constant 2022 US$ per person | +28.3% |
| 2003 | 65.71 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 70.07 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.6% |
| 2005 | 56.47 constant 2022 US$ per person | -19.4% |
| 2006 | 52.94 constant 2022 US$ per person | -6.3% |
| 2007 | 54.15 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 60.63 constant 2022 US$ per person | +12.0% |
| 2009 | 71.41 constant 2022 US$ per person | +17.8% |
| 2010 | 73.43 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 87.94 constant 2022 US$ per person | +19.8% |
| 2012 | 94.46 constant 2022 US$ per person | +7.4% |
| 2013 | 107.04 constant 2022 US$ per person | +13.3% |
| 2014 | 117.68 constant 2022 US$ per person | +9.9% |
| 2015 | 126.52 constant 2022 US$ per person | +7.5% |
| 2016 | 129.49 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 149.77 constant 2022 US$ per person | +15.7% |
| 2018 | 162.01 constant 2022 US$ per person | +8.2% |
| 2019 | 190.89 constant 2022 US$ per person | +17.8% |
| 2020 | 202.93 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.3% |
| 2021 | 223.12 constant 2022 US$ per person | +9.9% |
| 2022 | 239.31 constant 2022 US$ per person | +7.3% |
| 2023 | 247.73 constant 2022 US$ per person | +3.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 247.73 constant 2022 US$ per person is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 106.01 constant 2022 US$ per person, 2.3× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- China's 247.73 constant 2022 US$ per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 81.86 constant 2022 US$ per person, 3.0× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 92.78 constant 2022 US$ per person | 67.93 constant 2022 US$ per person | 117 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 118.51 constant 2022 US$ per person | 98.07 constant 2022 US$ per person | 139.85 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 48.26 constant 2022 US$ per person | 32.95 constant 2022 US$ per person | 90.52 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 35.15 constant 2022 US$ per person | 31.65 constant 2022 US$ per person | 39.24 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.33 constant 2022 US$ per person | 41.85 constant 2022 US$ per person | 71.41 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 123.92 constant 2022 US$ per person | 73.43 constant 2022 US$ per person | 190.89 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 228.27 constant 2022 US$ per person | 202.93 constant 2022 US$ per person | 247.73 constant 2022 US$ per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 53 Ireland 283.38 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 54 Botswana 257.7 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 55 Jordan 250.03 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 57 Trinidad and Tobago 236.76 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 58 Colombia 236.31 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 59 Panama 233.02 constant 2022 US$ per person 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, per capita in China?
- Military spending, per capita in China was 247.73 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 247.73 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2023.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.65 constant 2022 US$ per person in 1995.
- How does China rank for military spending, per capita?
- China ranks 56th out of 171 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 131.4%. 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, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military spending Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
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
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.