Military spending per military personnel in China
China: Military spending per military personnel was 166,070 constant 2022 US$ in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
166,070 constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 7.2%
World rank
32nd
of 170 countries
All-time high
166,070 constant 2022 US$
in 2022
All-time low
30.58 constant 2022 US$
in 1865
Years of data
163
1860–2022
Military spending per military personnel in China, 1860–2022
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
China recorded 166,070 constant 2022 US$ for military spending per military personnel in 2022. That is the highest value across all 163 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.2% on the previous year and up 196.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per military personnel in China peaked at 166,070 constant 2022 US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 30.58 constant 2022 US$, in 1865.
China ranks 32nd of 170 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending per military personnel in China, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 51.64 constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1861 | 45.93 constant 2022 US$ | -11.1% |
| 1862 | 44.46 constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 1863 | 37.72 constant 2022 US$ | -15.2% |
| 1864 | 38.93 constant 2022 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1865 | 30.58 constant 2022 US$ | -21.5% |
| 1866 | 32.32 constant 2022 US$ | +5.7% |
| 1867 | 38.68 constant 2022 US$ | +19.7% |
| 1868 | 39.5 constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1869 | 41.76 constant 2022 US$ | +5.7% |
| 1870 | 37.65 constant 2022 US$ | -9.8% |
| 1871 | 43.8 constant 2022 US$ | +16.4% |
| 1872 | 45.13 constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1873 | 51.03 constant 2022 US$ | +13.1% |
| 1874 | 46.28 constant 2022 US$ | -9.3% |
| 1875 | 48.76 constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1876 | 57.38 constant 2022 US$ | +17.7% |
| 1877 | 60.4 constant 2022 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1878 | 60.14 constant 2022 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1879 | 62.67 constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1880 | 62.31 constant 2022 US$ | -0.6% |
| 1881 | 59.25 constant 2022 US$ | -4.9% |
| 1882 | 62.64 constant 2022 US$ | +5.7% |
| 1883 | 62.08 constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1884 | 69.18 constant 2022 US$ | +11.4% |
| 1885 | 76 constant 2022 US$ | +9.9% |
| 1886 | 73.07 constant 2022 US$ | -3.9% |
| 1887 | 73.45 constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 1888 | 86.43 constant 2022 US$ | +17.7% |
| 1889 | 86.86 constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 1890 | 98.79 constant 2022 US$ | +13.7% |
| 1891 | 77.34 constant 2022 US$ | -21.7% |
| 1892 | 96.47 constant 2022 US$ | +24.7% |
| 1893 | 95.06 constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1894 | 94.34 constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1895 | 122.2 constant 2022 US$ | +29.5% |
| 1896 | 433.38 constant 2022 US$ | +254.6% |
| 1897 | 461.59 constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1898 | 1,266 constant 2022 US$ | +174.2% |
| 1899 | 1,351 constant 2022 US$ | +6.8% |
| 1900 | 1,213 constant 2022 US$ | -10.2% |
| 1901 | 1,028 constant 2022 US$ | -15.3% |
| 1902 | 1,115 constant 2022 US$ | +8.5% |
| 1903 | 1,136 constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1904 | 1,170 constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1905 | 1,228 constant 2022 US$ | +4.9% |
| 1906 | 1,237 constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 1907 | 1,223 constant 2022 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1908 | 1,241 constant 2022 US$ | +1.4% |
| 1909 | 1,352 constant 2022 US$ | +9.0% |
| 1910 | 1,283 constant 2022 US$ | -5.1% |
| 1911 | 1,319 constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 1912 | 2,933 constant 2022 US$ | +122.4% |
| 1913 | 4,990 constant 2022 US$ | +70.2% |
| 1914 | 3,076 constant 2022 US$ | -38.4% |
| 1915 | 3,048 constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1916 | 2,168 constant 2022 US$ | -28.9% |
| 1917 | 1,813 constant 2022 US$ | -16.3% |
| 1918 | 2,477 constant 2022 US$ | +36.6% |
| 1919 | 1,935 constant 2022 US$ | -21.9% |
| 1920 | 1,558 constant 2022 US$ | -19.5% |
| 1921 | 1,736 constant 2022 US$ | +11.4% |
| 1922 | 1,677 constant 2022 US$ | -3.4% |
| 1923 | 1,580 constant 2022 US$ | -5.8% |
| 1924 | 1,404 constant 2022 US$ | -11.1% |
| 1925 | 1,466 constant 2022 US$ | +4.4% |
| 1926 | 1,544 constant 2022 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1927 | 487.11 constant 2022 US$ | -68.5% |
| 1928 | 821.83 constant 2022 US$ | +68.7% |
| 1929 | 886.42 constant 2022 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1930 | 827 constant 2022 US$ | -6.7% |
| 1931 | 614.16 constant 2022 US$ | -25.7% |
| 1932 | 637.9 constant 2022 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1933 | 935.76 constant 2022 US$ | +46.7% |
| 1934 | 1,413 constant 2022 US$ | +51.0% |
| 1935 | 1,390 constant 2022 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1936 | 1,380 constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1937 | 3,311 constant 2022 US$ | +139.9% |
| 1938 | 1,929 constant 2022 US$ | -41.7% |
| 1939 | 1,846 constant 2022 US$ | -4.3% |
| 1940 | 1,775 constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1941 | 1,463 constant 2022 US$ | -17.6% |
| 1942 | 260.15 constant 2022 US$ | -82.2% |
| 1943 | 1,180 constant 2022 US$ | +353.6% |
| 1944 | 617.08 constant 2022 US$ | -47.7% |
| 1945 | 666.49 constant 2022 US$ | +8.0% |
| 1946 | 2,108 constant 2022 US$ | +216.3% |
| 1947 | 659.69 constant 2022 US$ | -68.7% |
| 1948 | 1,307 constant 2022 US$ | +98.1% |
| 1949 | 8,225 constant 2022 US$ | +529.5% |
| 1950 | 6,070 constant 2022 US$ | -26.2% |
| 1951 | 9,045 constant 2022 US$ | +49.0% |
| 1952 | 8,356 constant 2022 US$ | -7.6% |
| 1953 | 7,506 constant 2022 US$ | -10.2% |
| 1954 | 7,184 constant 2022 US$ | -4.3% |
| 1955 | 6,912 constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1956 | 13,482 constant 2022 US$ | +95.1% |
| 1957 | 15,377 constant 2022 US$ | +14.1% |
| 1958 | 14,392 constant 2022 US$ | -6.4% |
| 1959 | 14,699 constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1960 | 14,011 constant 2022 US$ | -4.7% |
| 1961 | 21,382 constant 2022 US$ | +52.6% |
| 1962 | 23,470 constant 2022 US$ | +9.8% |
| 1963 | 22,465 constant 2022 US$ | -4.3% |
| 1964 | 23,000 constant 2022 US$ | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 29,799 constant 2022 US$ | +29.6% |
| 1966 | 29,531 constant 2022 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1967 | 29,354 constant 2022 US$ | -0.6% |
| 1968 | 29,840 constant 2022 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1969 | 32,909 constant 2022 US$ | +10.3% |
| 1970 | 36,095 constant 2022 US$ | +9.7% |
| 1971 | 39,607 constant 2022 US$ | +9.7% |
| 1972 | 36,603 constant 2022 US$ | -7.6% |
| 1973 | 31,587 constant 2022 US$ | -13.7% |
| 1974 | 25,874 constant 2022 US$ | -18.1% |
| 1975 | 24,484 constant 2022 US$ | -5.4% |
| 1976 | 25,134 constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 24,338 constant 2022 US$ | -3.2% |
| 1978 | 23,467 constant 2022 US$ | -3.6% |
| 1979 | 20,658 constant 2022 US$ | -12.0% |
| 1980 | 19,102 constant 2022 US$ | -7.5% |
| 1981 | 11,730 constant 2022 US$ | -38.6% |
| 1982 | 13,440 constant 2022 US$ | +14.6% |
| 1983 | 14,880 constant 2022 US$ | +10.7% |
| 1984 | 10,520 constant 2022 US$ | -29.3% |
| 1985 | 10,071 constant 2022 US$ | -4.3% |
| 1986 | 9,250 constant 2022 US$ | -8.1% |
| 1987 | 10,316 constant 2022 US$ | +11.5% |
| 1988 | 10,509 constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 9,450 constant 2022 US$ | -10.1% |
| 1990 | 10,329 constant 2022 US$ | +9.3% |
| 1991 | 12,880 constant 2022 US$ | +24.7% |
| 1992 | 14,429 constant 2022 US$ | +12.0% |
| 1993 | 14,188 constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 12,962 constant 2022 US$ | -8.6% |
| 1995 | 13,016 constant 2022 US$ | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 15,629 constant 2022 US$ | +20.1% |
| 1997 | 16,605 constant 2022 US$ | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 17,347 constant 2022 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 20,484 constant 2022 US$ | +18.1% |
| 2000 | 18,804 constant 2022 US$ | -8.2% |
| 2001 | 26,552 constant 2022 US$ | +41.2% |
| 2002 | 34,907 constant 2022 US$ | +31.5% |
| 2003 | 37,626 constant 2022 US$ | +7.8% |
| 2004 | 40,308 constant 2022 US$ | +7.1% |
| 2005 | 32,650 constant 2022 US$ | -19.0% |
| 2006 | 30,780 constant 2022 US$ | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 31,644 constant 2022 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 38,156 constant 2022 US$ | +20.6% |
| 2009 | 43,508 constant 2022 US$ | +14.0% |
| 2010 | 42,989 constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 51,762 constant 2022 US$ | +20.4% |
| 2012 | 55,979 constant 2022 US$ | +8.1% |
| 2013 | 63,860 constant 2022 US$ | +14.1% |
| 2014 | 69,199 constant 2022 US$ | +8.4% |
| 2015 | 74,830 constant 2022 US$ | +8.1% |
| 2016 | 77,024 constant 2022 US$ | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 95,788 constant 2022 US$ | +24.4% |
| 2018 | 111,678 constant 2022 US$ | +16.6% |
| 2019 | 132,052 constant 2022 US$ | +18.2% |
| 2020 | 140,716 constant 2022 US$ | +6.6% |
| 2021 | 154,850 constant 2022 US$ | +10.0% |
| 2022 | 166,070 constant 2022 US$ | +7.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 166,070 constant 2022 US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 33,699 constant 2022 US$, 4.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- China's 166,070 constant 2022 US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28,962 constant 2022 US$, 5.7× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending per military personnel in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | +529.5% | 1,307 constant 2022 US$ | 8,225 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1943 | +353.6% | 260.15 constant 2022 US$ | 1,180 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1896 | +254.6% | 122.2 constant 2022 US$ | 433.38 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1946 | +216.3% | 666.49 constant 2022 US$ | 2,108 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1898 | +174.2% | 461.59 constant 2022 US$ | 1,266 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1937 | +139.9% | 1,380 constant 2022 US$ | 3,311 constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 40.15 constant 2022 US$ | 30.58 constant 2022 US$ | 51.64 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 51.32 constant 2022 US$ | 37.65 constant 2022 US$ | 62.67 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 71.13 constant 2022 US$ | 59.25 constant 2022 US$ | 86.86 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 409.63 constant 2022 US$ | 77.34 constant 2022 US$ | 1,351 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 1,194 constant 2022 US$ | 1,028 constant 2022 US$ | 1,352 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 2,504 constant 2022 US$ | 1,283 constant 2022 US$ | 4,990 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 1,316 constant 2022 US$ | 487.11 constant 2022 US$ | 1,736 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 1,428 constant 2022 US$ | 614.16 constant 2022 US$ | 3,311 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 1,826 constant 2022 US$ | 260.15 constant 2022 US$ | 8,225 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 10,302 constant 2022 US$ | 6,070 constant 2022 US$ | 15,377 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 25,576 constant 2022 US$ | 14,011 constant 2022 US$ | 32,909 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 28,785 constant 2022 US$ | 20,658 constant 2022 US$ | 39,607 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 11,927 constant 2022 US$ | 9,250 constant 2022 US$ | 19,102 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 14,787 constant 2022 US$ | 10,329 constant 2022 US$ | 20,484 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 33,494 constant 2022 US$ | 18,804 constant 2022 US$ | 43,508 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 77,516 constant 2022 US$ | 42,989 constant 2022 US$ | 132,052 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 153,879 constant 2022 US$ | 140,716 constant 2022 US$ | 166,070 constant 2022 US$ | 3 |
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 military personnel in China?
- Military spending per military personnel in China was 166,070 constant 2022 US$ in 2022, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per military personnel recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 166,070 constant 2022 US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest military spending per military personnel recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.58 constant 2022 US$ in 1865.
- How does China rank for military spending per military personnel?
- China ranks 32nd out of 170 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military spending per military personnel rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 196.7%. 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); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.