Military spending, per capita in China
China: Military spending, per capita was 238.18 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending, per capita in China, 1989–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per person.
Analysis
In 2025, military spending, per capita in China stood at 238.18 constant 2024 US$ per person. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.
That represents a change of up 7.6% on the previous year and up 67.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in China peaked at 238.18 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025 and was at its lowest, 17.79 constant 2024 US$ per person, in 1989.
China ranks 59th of 161 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 2024 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 17.79 constant 2024 US$ per person | — |
| 1990 | 19.06 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.1% |
| 1991 | 19.99 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 24.01 constant 2024 US$ per person | +20.1% |
| 1993 | 21.83 constant 2024 US$ per person | -9.1% |
| 1994 | 20.77 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.9% |
| 1995 | 21.34 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 22.37 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 23.62 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.6% |
| 1998 | 25.54 constant 2024 US$ per person | +8.1% |
| 1999 | 30.87 constant 2024 US$ per person | +20.9% |
| 2000 | 33.15 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.4% |
| 2001 | 39.03 constant 2024 US$ per person | +17.7% |
| 2002 | 44.52 constant 2024 US$ per person | +14.1% |
| 2003 | 47.89 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.6% |
| 2004 | 52.43 constant 2024 US$ per person | +9.5% |
| 2005 | 57.24 constant 2024 US$ per person | +9.2% |
| 2006 | 65.52 constant 2024 US$ per person | +14.5% |
| 2007 | 71.65 constant 2024 US$ per person | +9.4% |
| 2008 | 77.99 constant 2024 US$ per person | +8.9% |
| 2009 | 94.17 constant 2024 US$ per person | +20.7% |
| 2010 | 98.33 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 104.98 constant 2024 US$ per person | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 114.99 constant 2024 US$ per person | +9.5% |
| 2013 | 123.51 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 132.53 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.3% |
| 2015 | 142.11 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.2% |
| 2016 | 149.43 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 157.66 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 166.12 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 173.59 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 181.34 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 185.9 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 194.14 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 207.15 constant 2024 US$ per person | +6.7% |
| 2024 | 221.37 constant 2024 US$ per person | +6.9% |
| 2025 | 238.18 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 238.18 constant 2024 US$ per person is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 101.55 constant 2024 US$ per person, 2.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- China's 238.18 constant 2024 US$ per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 87.22 constant 2024 US$ per person, 2.7× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 17.79 constant 2024 US$ per person | 17.79 constant 2024 US$ per person | 17.79 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1 |
| 1990s | 22.94 constant 2024 US$ per person | 19.06 constant 2024 US$ per person | 30.87 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.36 constant 2024 US$ per person | 33.15 constant 2024 US$ per person | 94.17 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 136.32 constant 2024 US$ per person | 98.33 constant 2024 US$ per person | 173.59 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 204.68 constant 2024 US$ per person | 181.34 constant 2024 US$ per person | 238.18 constant 2024 US$ per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 56 Chile 259.41 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 57 Colombia 257.25 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 58 Albania 241.79 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 60 Botswana 232.18 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 61 Seychelles 228.28 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 62 Libya 219.01 constant 2024 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 238.18 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 238.18 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.79 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1989.
- How does China rank for military spending, per capita?
- China ranks 59th out of 161 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.6%. 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 — 37 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 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – 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.