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

345.78 billion current LCU, with Ukraine ahead.

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

32 years are reported by both, from 1993 to 2024.

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 Ukraine: Military expenditure

China

2.25 trillion current LCU

in 2024

Ukraine

2.60 trillion current LCU

in 2024

China rank

26th

Ukraine rank

23rd

Military expenditure over time

China
Ukraine

How they compare

Ukraine currently reports 2.60 trillion current LCU against 2.25 trillion current LCU in China, a difference of 345.78 billion current LCU.

That makes Ukraine's figure about 1.2 times China's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 32 shared years of data; in 1993 it was China ahead.

China ranks 26th and Ukraine ranks 23rd of 167 countries.

China has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	China	Ukraine	Difference	Ahead
1990s	117.00 billion current LCU	2.24 billion current LCU	114.76 billion current LCU	China
2000s	368.40 billion current LCU	13.52 billion current LCU	354.88 billion current LCU	China
2010s	1.17 trillion current LCU	72.61 billion current LCU	1.10 trillion current LCU	China
2020s	1.99 trillion current LCU	1.34 trillion current LCU	647.97 billion current LCU	China

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher military expenditure, China or Ukraine?: Ukraine, at 2.60 trillion current LCU against 2.25 trillion current LCU in China as of 2024.
What is the difference in military expenditure between China and Ukraine?: 345.78 billion current LCU, with Ukraine ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and Ukraine?: 32 years are reported by both, from 1993 to 2024.
How do China and Ukraine rank globally for military expenditure?: China ranks 26th and Ukraine ranks 23rd of 167 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 Ukraine: Military expenditure. Statizoid, drawing on SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Retrieved 20 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/compare/military-expenditure-current-lcu/china/ukraine/

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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: 167 places, 8,248 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed: 20 August 2026

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