Arms imports in China
China: Arms imports was 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
down 83.3%
World rank
50th
of 173 countries
All-time high
3.46 billion SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2005
All-time low
2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1969
Years of data
65
1960–2024
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 173 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.
Arms imports in China, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.36 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1961 | 952.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -59.6% |
| 1962 | 415.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -56.4% |
| 1963 | 450.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +8.4% |
| 1964 | 485.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +7.8% |
| 1965 | 257.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -47.0% |
| 1966 | 227.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -11.7% |
| 1967 | 145.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -36.1% |
| 1968 | 182.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +25.5% |
| 1969 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -98.9% |
| 1970 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +50.0% |
| 1974 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 75.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2400.0% |
| 1978 | 86.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +14.7% |
| 1979 | 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -88.4% |
| 1980 | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -40.0% |
| 1981 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -66.7% |
| 1982 | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +550.0% |
| 1983 | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +92.3% |
| 1984 | 71.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +184.0% |
| 1985 | 113.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +59.2% |
| 1986 | 20.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -82.3% |
| 1987 | 56.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +180.0% |
| 1988 | 104.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +85.7% |
| 1989 | 171.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +64.4% |
| 1990 | 274.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +60.2% |
| 1991 | 445.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +62.4% |
| 1992 | 1.19 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +167.4% |
| 1993 | 1.24 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 310.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -74.9% |
| 1995 | 707.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +128.1% |
| 1996 | 1.50 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +112.3% |
| 1997 | 939.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -37.4% |
| 1998 | 373.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -60.3% |
| 1999 | 1.72 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +361.1% |
| 2000 | 2.47 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +43.7% |
| 2001 | 2.75 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +11.4% |
| 2002 | 2.82 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 2.31 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -17.9% |
| 2004 | 3.23 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +39.4% |
| 2005 | 3.46 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +7.2% |
| 2006 | 2.82 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -18.4% |
| 2007 | 1.69 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -40.1% |
| 2008 | 1.77 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 1.38 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -22.4% |
| 2010 | 939.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -31.8% |
| 2011 | 1.03 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +9.9% |
| 2012 | 1.54 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +49.4% |
| 2013 | 1.22 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -20.8% |
| 2014 | 1.03 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -15.4% |
| 2015 | 1.20 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +15.8% |
| 2016 | 1.21 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 1.54 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +27.1% |
| 2018 | 2.01 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +30.6% |
| 2019 | 1.32 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -34.1% |
| 2020 | 775.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -41.4% |
| 2021 | 686.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -11.5% |
| 2022 | 646.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -5.8% |
| 2023 | 431.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -33.3% |
| 2024 | 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -83.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 5.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- China's 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 58.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 1.2× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | +2400.0% | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 75.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1982 | +550.0% | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1999 | +361.1% | 373.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.72 billion SIPRI trend indicator values |
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
- Democracy, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (1949)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (1949)
- Democracy 0 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 0 (2025)
- Elected parliament 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
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 173 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.