Arms imports in China
China: Arms imports was 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Arms imports in China, 1960–2024
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
The most recent figure for arms imports in China is 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 83.3% on the previous year and down 93.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in China peaked at 3.46 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2005 and was at its lowest, 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1969.
That places China 50th out of 171 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 547.20 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.36 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.90 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 86.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 58.10 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 171.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 869.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 274.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.72 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.47 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.38 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 3.46 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.30 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 939.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.01 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 522.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 775.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 47 Senegal 77.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 48 Bangladesh 75.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 49 Thailand 73.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 50 Egypt 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 52 Nigeria 67.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 53 Sweden 66.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for China
- Tax revenue 7.0% (2024)
- Taxes on income, profits and capital gains 17.5% (2024)
- Taxes on goods and services 28.3% (2024)
- Interest payments 3.4% (2021)
- Grants and other revenue 9.2% (2024)
- Other taxes 0.0% (2024)
- Taxes on international trade 1.2% (2024)
- Military expenditure 313.66 billion current USD (2024)
- Military expenditure 1.7% (2024)
- Armed forces personnel, total 2.54 million (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in China?
- Arms imports in China was 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 3.46 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2005.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1969.
- How does China rank for arms imports?
- China ranks 50th out of 171 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 93.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Arms transfers (imports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.