China Military Spending
China spends an estimated 1.7% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $335.0 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1989–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$351.8 billion
Ranked #2 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
1.7%
Ranked #92 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $335.0B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$335.0 billion
Reached in 2025
How the 2026 figures are produced. The share-of-GDP figure is a per-country estimate researched from announced and enacted national defence budgets. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2025 raised by a flat 5%, the same rate applied to every country in this group, so it can rise even where the share-of-GDP path falls. Actual SIPRI figures for China run to 2025.
China Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, China is estimated to have spent $351.8 billion on military and defense, representing 1.7% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. China is the #2 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $335.0 billion to $351.8 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 2.5% in 1992. The historical average military budget is 1.8% of GDP.
Data source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Values are in constant 2024 US dollars. Data for 2026 is an estimate based on government budget announcements.
Historical Military Spending
Military Spending (% of GDP)
Military Spending (USD Billions, 2024 prices)
Historical Data
| Year | Percent of GDP | USD (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027(estimate) | 1.70% | $368,519M |
| 2026(estimate) | 1.70% | $351,768M |
| 2025 | 1.72% | $335,018M |
| 2024 | 1.66% | $311,900M |
| 2023 | 1.62% | $292,221M |
| 2022 | 1.59% | $274,158M |
| 2021 | 1.57% | $262,559M |
| 2020 | 1.72% | $255,895M |
| 2019 | 1.65% | $244,376M |
| 2018 | 1.64% | $233,024M |
| 2017 | 1.68% | $220,129M |
| 2016 | 1.73% | $207,375M |
| 2015 | 1.74% | $196,088M |
| 2014 | 1.71% | $181,814M |
| 2013 | 1.68% | $168,375M |
| 2012 | 1.67% | $155,714M |
| 2011 | 1.63% | $141,206M |
| 2010 | 1.70% | $131,536M |
| 2009 | 1.86% | $125,361M |
| 2008 | 1.69% | $103,311M |
| 2007 | 1.72% | $94,425M |
| 2006 | 1.84% | $85,898M |
| 2005 | 1.85% | $74,625M |
| 2004 | 1.91% | $67,956M |
| 2003 | 1.97% | $61,696M |
| 2002 | 2.03% | $57,008M |
| 2001 | 1.96% | $49,635M |
| 2000 | 1.82% | $41,860M |
| 1999 | 1.85% | $38,674M |
| 1998 | 1.64% | $31,724M |
| 1997 | 1.62% | $29,054M |
| 1996 | 1.64% | $27,234M |
| 1995 | 1.68% | $25,707M |
| 1994 | 1.74% | $24,750M |
| 1993 | 1.99% | $25,723M |
| 1992 | 2.47% | $27,972M |
| 1991 | 2.31% | $23,001M |
| 1990 | 2.45% | $21,640M |
| 1989 | 2.45% | $19,906M |