Military spending per military personnel in China
China: Military spending per military personnel was 166,070 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
166,070
Change on year
up 7.2%
World rank
32nd
of 170 countries
All-time high
166,070
in 2022
All-time low
30.58
in 1865
Years of data
163
1860–2022
Military spending per military personnel in China, 1860–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
China recorded 166,070 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 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 30.58, 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 | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 51.64 | — |
| 1861 | 45.93 | -11.1% |
| 1862 | 44.46 | -3.2% |
| 1863 | 37.72 | -15.2% |
| 1864 | 38.93 | +3.2% |
| 1865 | 30.58 | -21.5% |
| 1866 | 32.32 | +5.7% |
| 1867 | 38.68 | +19.7% |
| 1868 | 39.5 | +2.1% |
| 1869 | 41.76 | +5.7% |
| 1870 | 37.65 | -9.8% |
| 1871 | 43.8 | +16.4% |
| 1872 | 45.13 | +3.0% |
| 1873 | 51.03 | +13.1% |
| 1874 | 46.28 | -9.3% |
| 1875 | 48.76 | +5.4% |
| 1876 | 57.38 | +17.7% |
| 1877 | 60.4 | +5.3% |
| 1878 | 60.14 | -0.4% |
| 1879 | 62.67 | +4.2% |
| 1880 | 62.31 | -0.6% |
| 1881 | 59.25 | -4.9% |
| 1882 | 62.64 | +5.7% |
| 1883 | 62.08 | -0.9% |
| 1884 | 69.18 | +11.4% |
| 1885 | 76 | +9.9% |
| 1886 | 73.07 | -3.9% |
| 1887 | 73.45 | +0.5% |
| 1888 | 86.43 | +17.7% |
| 1889 | 86.86 | +0.5% |
| 1890 | 98.79 | +13.7% |
| 1891 | 77.34 | -21.7% |
| 1892 | 96.47 | +24.7% |
| 1893 | 95.06 | -1.5% |
| 1894 | 94.34 | -0.8% |
| 1895 | 122.2 | +29.5% |
| 1896 | 433.38 | +254.6% |
| 1897 | 461.59 | +6.5% |
| 1898 | 1,266 | +174.2% |
| 1899 | 1,351 | +6.8% |
| 1900 | 1,213 | -10.2% |
| 1901 | 1,028 | -15.3% |
| 1902 | 1,115 | +8.5% |
| 1903 | 1,136 | +1.9% |
| 1904 | 1,170 | +3.0% |
| 1905 | 1,228 | +4.9% |
| 1906 | 1,237 | +0.7% |
| 1907 | 1,223 | -1.1% |
| 1908 | 1,241 | +1.4% |
| 1909 | 1,352 | +9.0% |
| 1910 | 1,283 | -5.1% |
| 1911 | 1,319 | +2.8% |
| 1912 | 2,933 | +122.4% |
| 1913 | 4,990 | +70.2% |
| 1914 | 3,076 | -38.4% |
| 1915 | 3,048 | -0.9% |
| 1916 | 2,168 | -28.9% |
| 1917 | 1,813 | -16.3% |
| 1918 | 2,477 | +36.6% |
| 1919 | 1,935 | -21.9% |
| 1920 | 1,558 | -19.5% |
| 1921 | 1,736 | +11.4% |
| 1922 | 1,677 | -3.4% |
| 1923 | 1,580 | -5.8% |
| 1924 | 1,404 | -11.1% |
| 1925 | 1,466 | +4.4% |
| 1926 | 1,544 | +5.3% |
| 1927 | 487.11 | -68.5% |
| 1928 | 821.83 | +68.7% |
| 1929 | 886.42 | +7.9% |
| 1930 | 827 | -6.7% |
| 1931 | 614.16 | -25.7% |
| 1932 | 637.9 | +3.9% |
| 1933 | 935.76 | +46.7% |
| 1934 | 1,413 | +51.0% |
| 1935 | 1,390 | -1.6% |
| 1936 | 1,380 | -0.7% |
| 1937 | 3,311 | +139.9% |
| 1938 | 1,929 | -41.7% |
| 1939 | 1,846 | -4.3% |
| 1940 | 1,775 | -3.8% |
| 1941 | 1,463 | -17.6% |
| 1942 | 260.15 | -82.2% |
| 1943 | 1,180 | +353.6% |
| 1944 | 617.08 | -47.7% |
| 1945 | 666.49 | +8.0% |
| 1946 | 2,108 | +216.3% |
| 1947 | 659.69 | -68.7% |
| 1948 | 1,307 | +98.1% |
| 1949 | 8,225 | +529.5% |
| 1950 | 6,070 | -26.2% |
| 1951 | 9,045 | +49.0% |
| 1952 | 8,356 | -7.6% |
| 1953 | 7,506 | -10.2% |
| 1954 | 7,184 | -4.3% |
| 1955 | 6,912 | -3.8% |
| 1956 | 13,482 | +95.1% |
| 1957 | 15,377 | +14.1% |
| 1958 | 14,392 | -6.4% |
| 1959 | 14,699 | +2.1% |
| 1960 | 14,011 | -4.7% |
| 1961 | 21,382 | +52.6% |
| 1962 | 23,470 | +9.8% |
| 1963 | 22,465 | -4.3% |
| 1964 | 23,000 | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 29,799 | +29.6% |
| 1966 | 29,531 | -0.9% |
| 1967 | 29,354 | -0.6% |
| 1968 | 29,840 | +1.7% |
| 1969 | 32,909 | +10.3% |
| 1970 | 36,095 | +9.7% |
| 1971 | 39,607 | +9.7% |
| 1972 | 36,603 | -7.6% |
| 1973 | 31,587 | -13.7% |
| 1974 | 25,874 | -18.1% |
| 1975 | 24,484 | -5.4% |
| 1976 | 25,134 | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 24,338 | -3.2% |
| 1978 | 23,467 | -3.6% |
| 1979 | 20,658 | -12.0% |
| 1980 | 19,102 | -7.5% |
| 1981 | 11,730 | -38.6% |
| 1982 | 13,440 | +14.6% |
| 1983 | 14,880 | +10.7% |
| 1984 | 10,520 | -29.3% |
| 1985 | 10,071 | -4.3% |
| 1986 | 9,250 | -8.1% |
| 1987 | 10,316 | +11.5% |
| 1988 | 10,509 | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 9,450 | -10.1% |
| 1990 | 10,329 | +9.3% |
| 1991 | 12,880 | +24.7% |
| 1992 | 14,429 | +12.0% |
| 1993 | 14,188 | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 12,962 | -8.6% |
| 1995 | 13,016 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 15,629 | +20.1% |
| 1997 | 16,605 | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 17,347 | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 20,484 | +18.1% |
| 2000 | 18,804 | -8.2% |
| 2001 | 26,552 | +41.2% |
| 2002 | 34,907 | +31.5% |
| 2003 | 37,626 | +7.8% |
| 2004 | 40,308 | +7.1% |
| 2005 | 32,650 | -19.0% |
| 2006 | 30,780 | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 31,644 | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 38,156 | +20.6% |
| 2009 | 43,508 | +14.0% |
| 2010 | 42,989 | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 51,762 | +20.4% |
| 2012 | 55,979 | +8.1% |
| 2013 | 63,860 | +14.1% |
| 2014 | 69,199 | +8.4% |
| 2015 | 74,830 | +8.1% |
| 2016 | 77,024 | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 95,788 | +24.4% |
| 2018 | 111,678 | +16.6% |
| 2019 | 132,052 | +18.2% |
| 2020 | 140,716 | +6.6% |
| 2021 | 154,850 | +10.0% |
| 2022 | 166,070 | +7.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 166,070 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 33,699, 4.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- China's 166,070 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28,962, 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 | 8,225 |
| 1943 | +353.6% | 260.15 | 1,180 |
| 1896 | +254.6% | 122.2 | 433.38 |
| 1946 | +216.3% | 666.49 | 2,108 |
| 1898 | +174.2% | 461.59 | 1,266 |
| 1937 | +139.9% | 1,380 | 3,311 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 40.15 | 30.58 | 51.64 | 10 |
| 1870s | 51.32 | 37.65 | 62.67 | 10 |
| 1880s | 71.13 | 59.25 | 86.86 | 10 |
| 1890s | 409.63 | 77.34 | 1,351 | 10 |
| 1900s | 1,194 | 1,028 | 1,352 | 10 |
| 1910s | 2,504 | 1,283 | 4,990 | 10 |
| 1920s | 1,316 | 487.11 | 1,736 | 10 |
| 1930s | 1,428 | 614.16 | 3,311 | 10 |
| 1940s | 1,826 | 260.15 | 8,225 | 10 |
| 1950s | 10,302 | 6,070 | 15,377 | 10 |
| 1960s | 25,576 | 14,011 | 32,909 | 10 |
| 1970s | 28,785 | 20,658 | 39,607 | 10 |
| 1980s | 11,927 | 9,250 | 19,102 | 10 |
| 1990s | 14,787 | 10,329 | 20,484 | 10 |
| 2000s | 33,494 | 18,804 | 43,508 | 10 |
| 2010s | 77,516 | 42,989 | 132,052 | 10 |
| 2020s | 153,879 | 140,716 | 166,070 | 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 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per military personnel recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 166,070 in 2022.
- What is the lowest military spending per military personnel recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.58 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 163 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).