Military spending, per unit of GDP in China
China: Military spending, per unit of GDP was 0.0172 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military spending, per unit of GDP in China, 1989–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending, per unit of gdp in China is 0.0172 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 3.2% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per unit of gdp in China peaked at 0.0653 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1992 and was at its lowest, 0.0144 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, in 2021.
China ranks 77th of 160 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Military spending, per unit of GDP in China, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 0.0571 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1990 | 0.0599 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 0.0598 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 0.0653 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.1% |
| 1993 | 0.0576 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.8% |
| 1994 | 0.0437 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -24.2% |
| 1995 | 0.0348 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -20.2% |
| 1996 | 0.0314 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.0% |
| 1997 | 0.03 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.3% |
| 1998 | 0.0306 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 0.035 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +14.5% |
| 2000 | 0.0342 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 0.0366 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.1% |
| 2002 | 0.0383 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 0.0366 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 0.0342 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.5% |
| 2005 | 0.0322 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 0.0308 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 0.0262 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -14.9% |
| 2008 | 0.0221 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -15.5% |
| 2009 | 0.0242 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.1% |
| 2010 | 0.0212 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.1% |
| 2011 | 0.0184 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.3% |
| 2012 | 0.018 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 0.0173 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 0.017 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 0.0174 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 0.0181 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 0.0176 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 0.0165 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.2% |
| 2019 | 0.0168 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 0.0171 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 0.0144 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | -15.5% |
| 2022 | 0.015 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 0.016 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.9% |
| 2024 | 0.0167 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.1% |
| 2025 | 0.0172 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 0.0172 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0132 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- China's 0.0172 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.0134 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP, 1.3× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0571 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0571 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0571 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 1 |
| 1990s | 0.0448 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.03 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0653 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0315 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0221 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0383 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0178 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0165 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0212 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.016 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0144 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.0172 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 74 North Macedonia 0.0181 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 75 Italy 0.0178 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 76 Montenegro 0.0176 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 78 Eswatini 0.0171 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 79 Turkey 0.0168 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 80 Georgia 0.0167 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP 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 unit of gdp in China?
- Military spending, per unit of gdp in China was 0.0172 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 0.0653 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1992.
- What is the lowest military spending, per unit of gdp recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0144 constant 2024 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2021.
- How does China rank for military spending, per unit of gdp?
- China ranks 77th out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per unit of gdp rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, per unit of GDP. 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 GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ GDP (current US$)
Computed from
- Military spending Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
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 GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.