Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) in China
China: Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) was 207.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
207.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
up 191.5%
World rank
37th
of 174 countries
All-time high
3.47 billion SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2005
All-time low
1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1970
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Arms imports in China, 1960–2025
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 207.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 191.5% on the previous year and down 82.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in China peaked at 3.47 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2005 and was at its lowest, 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1970.
That places China 37th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) 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 | 225.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -12.5% |
| 1967 | 144.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -36.0% |
| 1968 | 180.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +25.0% |
| 1969 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -98.9% |
| 1970 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -50.0% |
| 1971 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +7100.0% |
| 1978 | 83.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +15.3% |
| 1979 | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -90.4% |
| 1980 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -50.0% |
| 1981 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -50.0% |
| 1982 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +150.0% |
| 1983 | 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +220.0% |
| 1984 | 62.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +287.5% |
| 1985 | 104.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +67.7% |
| 1986 | 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -89.4% |
| 1987 | 47.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +327.3% |
| 1988 | 97.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +106.4% |
| 1989 | 163.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +68.0% |
| 1990 | 267.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +63.8% |
| 1991 | 439.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +64.4% |
| 1992 | 1.18 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +169.7% |
| 1993 | 1.23 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 304.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -75.3% |
| 1995 | 701.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +130.6% |
| 1996 | 1.50 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +113.4% |
| 1997 | 940.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -37.2% |
| 1998 | 375.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -60.1% |
| 1999 | 1.72 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +359.2% |
| 2000 | 2.47 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +43.6% |
| 2001 | 2.75 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +11.4% |
| 2002 | 2.83 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 2.33 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -17.8% |
| 2004 | 3.24 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +39.1% |
| 2005 | 3.47 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +7.1% |
| 2006 | 2.83 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -18.3% |
| 2007 | 1.70 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -40.0% |
| 2008 | 1.78 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 1.38 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -22.5% |
| 2010 | 940.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -32.0% |
| 2011 | 1.03 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +9.9% |
| 2012 | 1.54 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +49.3% |
| 2013 | 1.22 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -20.8% |
| 2014 | 1.03 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -15.4% |
| 2015 | 1.19 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +15.2% |
| 2016 | 1.21 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 1.55 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +27.9% |
| 2018 | 2.25 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +45.8% |
| 2019 | 1.57 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -30.3% |
| 2020 | 775.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -50.7% |
| 2021 | 685.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -11.6% |
| 2022 | 646.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -5.7% |
| 2023 | 428.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -33.7% |
| 2024 | 71.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -83.4% |
| 2025 | 207.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +191.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 207.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 13.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- China's 207.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 56.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 3.7× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) 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 | +7100.0% | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1999 | +359.2% | 375.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.72 billion SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 546.70 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.36 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1970s | 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 83.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 51.10 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 163.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 865.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 267.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.72 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.48 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.38 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 3.47 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.35 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 940.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.25 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 468.67 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 71.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 775.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 34 Spain 237.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 35 France 236.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 36 South Korea 222.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 38 Estonia 204.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 39 New Zealand 200.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 40 Vietnam 177.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for China
- Democracy, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (1949)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, 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)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.0511 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -83.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 222.62 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0167 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in China?
- Arms imports in China was 207.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2025, 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 3.47 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2005.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1970.
- How does China rank for arms imports?
- China ranks 37th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 82.6%. 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 — 66 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.