Military expenditure (% of GDP) in China
China: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 1.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in China, 1989–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in China is 1.7%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 3.6% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in China peaked at 2.5% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2021.
That places China 87th out of 167 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in China, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 2.4% | — |
| 1990 | 2.5% | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 2.3% | -5.8% |
| 1992 | 2.5% | +7.0% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | -19.6% |
| 1994 | 1.7% | -12.5% |
| 1995 | 1.7% | -3.6% |
| 1996 | 1.6% | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 1.6% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 1.6% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 1.9% | +12.9% |
| 2000 | 1.8% | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 2.0% | +7.9% |
| 2002 | 2.0% | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 2.0% | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 1.9% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 1.8% | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 1.8% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 1.7% | -6.5% |
| 2008 | 1.7% | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 1.9% | +10.2% |
| 2010 | 1.7% | -8.5% |
| 2011 | 1.6% | -4.2% |
| 2012 | 1.7% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 1.7% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 1.7% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 1.7% | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 1.6% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 1.7% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 1.7% | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 1.6% | -8.7% |
| 2022 | 1.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 1.7% | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 1.7% | +3.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.4%, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- China's 1.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.4%, 1.2× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 1.9% | 1.6% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.9% | 1.7% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 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 1.7% 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 2.5% in 1992.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2021.
- How does China rank for military expenditure?
- China ranks 87th out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product