Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in China
China: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 5.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in China, 1989–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.
Analysis
China recorded 5.1% for military expenditure in 2025.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and down 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in China peaked at 16.9% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 4.9%, in 2022.
That places China 85th out of 164 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 general government expenditure) in China, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 13.2% | — |
| 1990 | 13.7% | +4.1% |
| 1991 | 14.3% | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 16.9% | +18.3% |
| 1993 | 14.8% | -12.3% |
| 1994 | 14.1% | -4.8% |
| 1995 | 15.2% | +7.6% |
| 1996 | 15.0% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 14.1% | -5.7% |
| 1998 | 13.1% | -7.4% |
| 1999 | 12.5% | -4.1% |
| 2000 | 11.3% | -9.4% |
| 2001 | 11.4% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 11.2% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 11.0% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 10.9% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 10.2% | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 10.2% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 9.6% | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 7.6% | -20.6% |
| 2009 | 7.4% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 7.0% | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 6.2% | -11.5% |
| 2012 | 6.0% | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 6.0% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 6.0% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | -6.4% |
| 2016 | 5.5% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 5.3% | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 4.9% | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 4.9% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 4.9% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 5.0% | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 5.1% | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 5.1% | +1.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 5.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.9%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- China's 5.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.9%, 1.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 13.2% | 13.2% | 13.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 14.4% | 12.5% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.1% | 7.4% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.7% | 4.9% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 4.9% | 5.1% | 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 5.1% 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 16.9% in 1992.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.9% in 2022.
- How does China rank for military expenditure?
- China ranks 85th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.6%. 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 general government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure