Military expenditure (current USD), per square kilometre in China
China: Military expenditure (current USD), per square kilometre was 31,616 current USD per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure (current USD), per square kilometre in China, 1989–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current USD per square kilometre.
Analysis
China recorded 31,616 current USD per square kilometre for military expenditure (current usd), per square kilometre in 2023. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and up 80.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure (current usd), per square kilometre in China peaked at 31,616 current USD per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1,044 current USD per square kilometre, in 1991.
China ranks 38th of 166 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 USD), per square kilometre in China, year by year
| Year | current USD per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 1,198 current USD per square kilometre | — |
| 1990 | 1,057 current USD per square kilometre | -11.8% |
| 1991 | 1,044 current USD per square kilometre | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 1,304 current USD per square kilometre | +24.9% |
| 1993 | 1,317 current USD per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 1,051 current USD per square kilometre | -20.2% |
| 1995 | 1,319 current USD per square kilometre | +25.5% |
| 1996 | 1,521 current USD per square kilometre | +15.3% |
| 1997 | 1,672 current USD per square kilometre | +10.0% |
| 1998 | 1,814 current USD per square kilometre | +8.5% |
| 1999 | 2,181 current USD per square kilometre | +20.2% |
| 2000 | 2,369 current USD per square kilometre | +8.6% |
| 2001 | 2,829 current USD per square kilometre | +19.4% |
| 2002 | 3,226 current USD per square kilometre | +14.0% |
| 2003 | 3,530 current USD per square kilometre | +9.4% |
| 2004 | 4,037 current USD per square kilometre | +14.4% |
| 2005 | 4,558 current USD per square kilometre | +12.9% |
| 2006 | 5,481 current USD per square kilometre | +20.2% |
| 2007 | 6,619 current USD per square kilometre | +20.8% |
| 2008 | 8,398 current USD per square kilometre | +26.9% |
| 2009 | 10,290 current USD per square kilometre | +22.5% |
| 2010 | 11,240 current USD per square kilometre | +9.2% |
| 2011 | 13,345 current USD per square kilometre | +18.7% |
| 2012 | 15,458 current USD per square kilometre | +15.8% |
| 2013 | 17,476 current USD per square kilometre | +13.1% |
| 2014 | 19,398 current USD per square kilometre | +11.0% |
| 2015 | 20,935 current USD per square kilometre | +7.9% |
| 2016 | 21,148 current USD per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 22,416 current USD per square kilometre | +6.0% |
| 2018 | 24,768 current USD per square kilometre | +10.5% |
| 2019 | 25,599 current USD per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 27,478 current USD per square kilometre | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 30,456 current USD per square kilometre | +10.8% |
| 2022 | 31,098 current USD per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 31,616 current USD per square kilometre | +1.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 31,616 current USD per square kilometre is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7,668 current USD per square kilometre, 4.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- China's 31,616 current USD per square kilometre is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11,375 current USD per square kilometre, 2.8× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,198 current USD per square kilometre | 1,198 current USD per square kilometre | 1,198 current USD per square kilometre | 1 |
| 1990s | 1,428 current USD per square kilometre | 1,044 current USD per square kilometre | 2,181 current USD per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,134 current USD per square kilometre | 2,369 current USD per square kilometre | 10,290 current USD per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,178 current USD per square kilometre | 11,240 current USD per square kilometre | 25,599 current USD per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 30,162 current USD per square kilometre | 27,478 current USD per square kilometre | 31,616 current USD per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 35 Azerbaijan 43,093 current USD per square kilometre compare
- 36 Saudi Arabia 36,175 current USD per square kilometre compare
- 37 Lithuania 34,551 current USD per square kilometre compare
- 39 Bangladesh 29,103 current USD per square kilometre compare
- 40 Estonia 28,925 current USD per square kilometre compare
- 41 Lebanon 27,978 current USD per square kilometre 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)
- 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 square kilometre in China?
- Military expenditure (current usd), per square kilometre in China was 31,616 current USD per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military expenditure (current usd), per square kilometre recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 31,616 current USD per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest military expenditure (current usd), per square kilometre recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,044 current USD per square kilometre in 1991.
- How does China rank for military expenditure (current usd), per square kilometre?
- China ranks 38th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military expenditure (current usd), per square kilometre rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 80.9%. 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 square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 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 Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military expenditure (current USD) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Military expenditure SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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 Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.