Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in China
China: Military expenditure (current USD), per capita was 222.62 current USD per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in China, 1989–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current USD per person.
Analysis
China recorded 222.62 current USD per person for military expenditure (current usd), per capita in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.8% on the previous year and up 67.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure (current usd), per capita in China peaked at 222.62 current USD per person in 2024 and was at its lowest, 8.28 current USD per person, in 1994.
That places China 59th out of 167 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.
Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in China, year by year
| Year | current USD per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 10.06 current USD per person | — |
| 1990 | 8.74 current USD per person | -13.1% |
| 1991 | 8.52 current USD per person | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 10.51 current USD per person | +23.4% |
| 1993 | 10.49 current USD per person | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 8.28 current USD per person | -21.1% |
| 1995 | 10.28 current USD per person | +24.2% |
| 1996 | 11.72 current USD per person | +14.1% |
| 1997 | 12.76 current USD per person | +8.9% |
| 1998 | 13.71 current USD per person | +7.5% |
| 1999 | 16.34 current USD per person | +19.2% |
| 2000 | 17.61 current USD per person | +7.8% |
| 2001 | 20.88 current USD per person | +18.6% |
| 2002 | 23.65 current USD per person | +13.3% |
| 2003 | 25.72 current USD per person | +8.8% |
| 2004 | 29.25 current USD per person | +13.7% |
| 2005 | 32.82 current USD per person | +12.2% |
| 2006 | 39.25 current USD per person | +19.6% |
| 2007 | 47.15 current USD per person | +20.1% |
| 2008 | 59.52 current USD per person | +26.2% |
| 2009 | 72.56 current USD per person | +21.9% |
| 2010 | 78.88 current USD per person | +8.7% |
| 2011 | 93.15 current USD per person | +18.1% |
| 2012 | 107.17 current USD per person | +15.1% |
| 2013 | 120.35 current USD per person | +12.3% |
| 2014 | 132.75 current USD per person | +10.3% |
| 2015 | 142.43 current USD per person | +7.3% |
| 2016 | 143.06 current USD per person | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 150.72 current USD per person | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 165.77 current USD per person | +10.0% |
| 2019 | 170.72 current USD per person | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 182.82 current USD per person | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 202.45 current USD per person | +10.7% |
| 2022 | 206.74 current USD per person | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 210.41 current USD per person | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 222.62 current USD per person | +5.8% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 222.62 current USD per person is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 91.94 current USD per person, 2.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- China's 222.62 current USD per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 80.32 current USD per person, 2.8× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.06 current USD per person | 10.06 current USD per person | 10.06 current USD per person | 1 |
| 1990s | 11.14 current USD per person | 8.28 current USD per person | 16.34 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.84 current USD per person | 17.61 current USD per person | 72.56 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 130.5 current USD per person | 78.88 current USD per person | 170.72 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 205.01 current USD per person | 182.82 current USD per person | 222.62 current USD per person | 5 |
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)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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 military expenditure (current usd), per capita in China?
- Military expenditure (current usd), per capita in China was 222.62 current USD per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military expenditure (current usd), per capita recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 222.62 current USD per person in 2024.
- What is the lowest military expenditure (current usd), per capita recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.28 current USD per person in 1994.
- How does China rank for military expenditure (current usd), per capita?
- China ranks 59th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure (current usd), per capita rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military expenditure (current USD), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military expenditure (current USD) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military expenditure (current USD) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military expenditure SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Military expenditure (current USD) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.