What is the difference in military expenditure between China and Turkey?

1.23 trillion current LCU, with China ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for China and Turkey?

37 years are reported by both, from 1989 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

China vs Turkey: Military expenditure (current LCU)

China

2.41 trillion current LCU

in 2025

Turkey

1.19 trillion current LCU

in 2025

China rank

27th

Turkey rank

30th

Military expenditure (current LCU) over time

China
Turkey

How they compare

China currently reports 2.41 trillion current LCU against 1.19 trillion current LCU in Turkey, a difference of 1.23 trillion current LCU.

That makes China's figure about 2.0 times Turkey's.

Across all 37 years both countries report, China has been ahead every year.

China ranks 27th and Turkey ranks 30th of 168 countries.

China has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	China	Turkey	Difference	Ahead
1980s	42.36 billion current LCU	7.16 million current LCU	42.36 billion current LCU	China
1990s	98.62 billion current LCU	886.91 million current LCU	97.73 billion current LCU	China
2000s	368.40 billion current LCU	16.09 billion current LCU	352.32 billion current LCU	China
2010s	1.17 trillion current LCU	53.21 billion current LCU	1.12 trillion current LCU	China
2020s	2.06 trillion current LCU	493.06 billion current LCU	1.56 trillion current LCU	China

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher military expenditure, China or Turkey?: China, at 2.41 trillion current LCU against 1.19 trillion current LCU in Turkey as of 2025.
What is the difference in military expenditure between China and Turkey?: 1.23 trillion current LCU, with China ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and Turkey?: 37 years are reported by both, from 1989 to 2025.
How do China and Turkey rank globally for military expenditure?: China ranks 27th and Turkey ranks 30th of 168 countries.
Where does this data come from?: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs Turkey: Military expenditure. Statizoid, drawing on SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Retrieved 07 November 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/compare/military-expenditure-current-lcu/china/turkiye/

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About this data

Indicator: Military expenditure (current LCU)
Unit: current LCU
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 168 places, 8,396 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed: 29 October 2026

Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)