Military spending in China
China: Military spending was 335.02 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
335.02 billion constant 2024 US$
Change on year
up 7.4%
World rank
2nd
of 162 countries
All-time high
335.02 billion constant 2024 US$
in 2025
All-time low
19.91 billion constant 2024 US$
in 1989
Years of data
37
1989–2025
Military spending in China, 1989–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
China recorded 335.02 billion constant 2024 US$ for military spending in 2025. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.
The figure is up 7.4% on the previous year and up 70.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in China peaked at 335.02 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 19.91 billion constant 2024 US$, in 1989.
That places China 2nd out of 162 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in China, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 19.91 billion constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1990 | 21.64 billion constant 2024 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1991 | 23.00 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.3% |
| 1992 | 27.97 billion constant 2024 US$ | +21.6% |
| 1993 | 25.72 billion constant 2024 US$ | -8.0% |
| 1994 | 24.75 billion constant 2024 US$ | -3.8% |
| 1995 | 25.71 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 27.23 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.9% |
| 1997 | 29.05 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1998 | 31.72 billion constant 2024 US$ | +9.2% |
| 1999 | 38.67 billion constant 2024 US$ | +21.9% |
| 2000 | 41.86 billion constant 2024 US$ | +8.2% |
| 2001 | 49.63 billion constant 2024 US$ | +18.6% |
| 2002 | 57.01 billion constant 2024 US$ | +14.9% |
| 2003 | 61.70 billion constant 2024 US$ | +8.2% |
| 2004 | 67.96 billion constant 2024 US$ | +10.1% |
| 2005 | 74.62 billion constant 2024 US$ | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 85.90 billion constant 2024 US$ | +15.1% |
| 2007 | 94.42 billion constant 2024 US$ | +9.9% |
| 2008 | 103.31 billion constant 2024 US$ | +9.4% |
| 2009 | 125.36 billion constant 2024 US$ | +21.3% |
| 2010 | 131.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 141.21 billion constant 2024 US$ | +7.4% |
| 2012 | 155.71 billion constant 2024 US$ | +10.3% |
| 2013 | 168.38 billion constant 2024 US$ | +8.1% |
| 2014 | 181.81 billion constant 2024 US$ | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 196.09 billion constant 2024 US$ | +7.9% |
| 2016 | 207.38 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 220.13 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 233.02 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.9% |
| 2019 | 244.38 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 255.90 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 262.56 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 274.16 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 292.22 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.6% |
| 2024 | 311.90 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.7% |
| 2025 | 335.02 billion constant 2024 US$ | +7.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 335.02 billion constant 2024 US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.62 billion constant 2024 US$, 206.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- China's 335.02 billion constant 2024 US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.65 billion constant 2024 US$, 72.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 19.91 billion constant 2024 US$ | 19.91 billion constant 2024 US$ | 19.91 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
| 1990s | 27.55 billion constant 2024 US$ | 21.64 billion constant 2024 US$ | 38.67 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 76.18 billion constant 2024 US$ | 41.86 billion constant 2024 US$ | 125.36 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 187.96 billion constant 2024 US$ | 131.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | 244.38 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 288.63 billion constant 2024 US$ | 255.90 billion constant 2024 US$ | 335.02 billion constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
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 in China?
- Military spending in China was 335.02 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 335.02 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.91 billion constant 2024 US$ in 1989.
- How does China rank for military spending?
- China ranks 2nd out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 70.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.