Military expenditure (current LCU) in China
China: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 2.41 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.41 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 7.4%
World rank
27th
of 168 countries
All-time high
2.41 trillion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
42.36 billion current LCU
in 1989
Years of data
37
1989–2025
Military expenditure in China, 1989–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in China stood at 2.41 trillion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.
The figure is up 7.4% on the previous year and up 97.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in China peaked at 2.41 trillion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 42.36 billion current LCU, in 1989.
China ranks 27th of 168 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in China, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 42.36 billion current LCU | — |
| 1990 | 47.48 billion current LCU | +12.1% |
| 1991 | 52.18 billion current LCU | +9.9% |
| 1992 | 67.52 billion current LCU | +29.4% |
| 1993 | 71.22 billion current LCU | +5.5% |
| 1994 | 85.04 billion current LCU | +19.4% |
| 1995 | 103.43 billion current LCU | +21.6% |
| 1996 | 118.69 billion current LCU | +14.7% |
| 1997 | 130.15 billion current LCU | +9.7% |
| 1998 | 141.00 billion current LCU | +8.3% |
| 1999 | 169.49 billion current LCU | +20.2% |
| 2000 | 184.09 billion current LCU | +8.6% |
| 2001 | 219.85 billion current LCU | +19.4% |
| 2002 | 250.66 billion current LCU | +14.0% |
| 2003 | 274.33 billion current LCU | +9.4% |
| 2004 | 313.73 billion current LCU | +14.4% |
| 2005 | 350.63 billion current LCU | +11.8% |
| 2006 | 410.26 billion current LCU | +17.0% |
| 2007 | 472.71 billion current LCU | +15.2% |
| 2008 | 547.84 billion current LCU | +15.9% |
| 2009 | 659.93 billion current LCU | +20.5% |
| 2010 | 714.42 billion current LCU | +8.3% |
| 2011 | 809.53 billion current LCU | +13.3% |
| 2012 | 916.09 billion current LCU | +13.2% |
| 2013 | 1.02 trillion current LCU | +11.0% |
| 2014 | 1.12 trillion current LCU | +10.1% |
| 2015 | 1.22 trillion current LCU | +9.4% |
| 2016 | 1.32 trillion current LCU | +7.9% |
| 2017 | 1.42 trillion current LCU | +7.8% |
| 2018 | 1.54 trillion current LCU | +8.1% |
| 2019 | 1.66 trillion current LCU | +7.9% |
| 2020 | 1.78 trillion current LCU | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 1.84 trillion current LCU | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 1.96 trillion current LCU | +6.5% |
| 2023 | 2.10 trillion current LCU | +6.8% |
| 2024 | 2.24 trillion current LCU | +7.0% |
| 2025 | 2.41 trillion current LCU | +7.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 2.41 trillion current LCU is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.44 billion current LCU, 43.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- China's 2.41 trillion current LCU is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 206.67 billion current LCU, 11.7× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 42.36 billion current LCU | 42.36 billion current LCU | 42.36 billion current LCU | 1 |
| 1990s | 98.62 billion current LCU | 47.48 billion current LCU | 169.49 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 368.40 billion current LCU | 184.09 billion current LCU | 659.93 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.17 trillion current LCU | 714.42 billion current LCU | 1.66 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.06 trillion current LCU | 1.78 trillion current LCU | 2.41 trillion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
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 207.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in China?
- Military expenditure in China was 2.41 trillion current LCU in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.41 trillion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.36 billion current LCU in 1989.
- How does China rank for military expenditure?
- China ranks 27th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 97.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)