Military spending, per square kilometre in China
China: Military spending, per square kilometre was 31,126 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Military spending, per square kilometre in China, 1989–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre.
Analysis
China recorded 31,126 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre for military spending, per square kilometre in 2023. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.6% on the previous year and up 73.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per square kilometre in China peaked at 31,126 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2,120 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre, in 1989.
That places China 39th out of 161 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, per square kilometre in China, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 2,120 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | — |
| 1990 | 2,305 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +8.7% |
| 1991 | 2,450 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +6.3% |
| 1992 | 2,979 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +21.6% |
| 1993 | 2,740 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -8.0% |
| 1994 | 2,636 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | -3.8% |
| 1995 | 2,738 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 2,901 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 1997 | 3,095 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +6.7% |
| 1998 | 3,379 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +9.2% |
| 1999 | 4,119 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +21.9% |
| 2000 | 4,459 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +8.2% |
| 2001 | 5,287 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +18.6% |
| 2002 | 6,072 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +14.9% |
| 2003 | 6,572 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +8.2% |
| 2004 | 7,238 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +10.1% |
| 2005 | 7,949 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 9,150 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +15.1% |
| 2007 | 10,058 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +9.9% |
| 2008 | 11,004 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +9.4% |
| 2009 | 13,353 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +21.3% |
| 2010 | 14,011 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 15,041 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +7.4% |
| 2012 | 16,586 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +10.3% |
| 2013 | 17,935 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +8.1% |
| 2014 | 19,366 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 20,887 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +7.9% |
| 2016 | 22,089 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 23,447 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 24,821 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 2019 | 26,030 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 27,257 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 27,967 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 29,202 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 31,126 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | +6.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 31,126 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7,607 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre, 4.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- China's 31,126 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11,236 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre, 2.8× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,120 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 2,120 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 2,120 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 1 |
| 1990s | 2,934 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 2,305 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 4,119 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 8,114 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 4,459 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 13,353 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 20,021 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 14,011 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 26,030 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 28,888 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 27,257 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 31,126 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 36 Lebanon 39,124 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 37 Saudi Arabia 36,786 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 38 Lithuania 36,448 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 40 Estonia 29,999 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 41 Bangladesh 28,821 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 42 India 28,667 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre 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 square kilometre in China?
- Military spending, per square kilometre in China was 31,126 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per square kilometre recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 31,126 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest military spending, per square kilometre recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,120 constant 2024 US$ per square kilometre in 1989.
- How does China rank for military spending, per square kilometre?
- China ranks 39th out of 161 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, per square kilometre rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 73.6%. 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 square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Military spending Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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 Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.