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

2.52 trillion current USD, with World ahead.

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

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 USD). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

China vs World: Military expenditure (current USD)

China

335.52 billion current USD

in 2025

World

2.86 trillion current USD

in 2025

China rank

2nd

World rank

1st

Military expenditure (current USD) over time

China
World

How they compare

World currently reports 2.86 trillion current USD against 335.52 billion current USD in China, a difference of 2.52 trillion current USD.

That makes World's figure about 8.5 times China's.

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

China ranks 2nd and World ranks 1st of 168 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade	China	World	Difference	Ahead
1980s	11.25 billion current USD	658.02 billion current USD	646.77 billion current USD	World
1990s	13.41 billion current USD	714.41 billion current USD	701.01 billion current USD	World
2000s	48.20 billion current USD	1.11 trillion current USD	1.06 trillion current USD	World
2010s	180.09 billion current USD	1.74 trillion current USD	1.56 trillion current USD	World
2020s	296.56 billion current USD	2.36 trillion current USD	2.06 trillion current USD	World

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher military expenditure, China or World?: World, at 2.86 trillion current USD against 335.52 billion current USD in China as of 2025.
What is the difference in military expenditure between China and World?: 2.52 trillion current USD, with World ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and World?: 37 years are reported by both, from 1989 to 2025.
How do China and World rank globally for military expenditure?: China ranks 2nd and World ranks 1st of 168 countries.
Where does this data come from?: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as Military expenditure (current USD). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs World: 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-usd/china/world/

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About this data

Indicator: Military expenditure (current USD)
Unit: current USD
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 212 places, 10,705 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed: 29 October 2026

Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)