What is arms exports in China?

Arms exports in China was 1.13 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

What is the highest arms exports recorded in China?

The highest recorded value was 2.98 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2023.

What is the lowest arms exports recorded in China?

The lowest recorded value was 12.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1963.

How does China rank for arms exports?

China ranks 6th out of 70 countries with data for 2024.

Is arms exports rising or falling in China?

Over the last ten years it is down 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this China data come from?

The figures come from Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Arms exports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Arms exports in China

Name: Arms exports in China
Creator: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
License: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)

China: Arms exports was 1.13 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)

1.13 billion SIPRI trend indicator values

Change on year

down 62.1%

World rank

6th

of 70 countries

All-time high

2.98 billion SIPRI trend indicator values

in 2023

All-time low

12.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values

in 1963

Years of data

1960–2024

Arms exports in China, 1960–2024

Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.

Analysis

In 2024, arms exports in China stood at 1.13 billion SIPRI trend indicator values.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 62.1% on the previous year and down 14.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, arms exports in China peaked at 2.98 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2023 and was at its lowest, 12.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1963.

That places China 6th out of 70 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	330.10 million SIPRI trend indicator values	12.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	746.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	10
1970s	725.40 million SIPRI trend indicator values	224.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	1.31 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	10
1980s	1.51 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	707.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	2.60 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	10
1990s	829.40 million SIPRI trend indicator values	332.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	1.44 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	10
2000s	577.60 million SIPRI trend indicator values	306.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	1.12 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	10
2010s	1.66 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	1.26 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	2.45 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	10
2020s	1.68 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	635.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values	2.98 billion SIPRI trend indicator values	5

Countries ranked near China

3 Germany 2.05 billion SIPRI trend indicator values compare
4 Italy 1.38 billion SIPRI trend indicator values compare
5 Russia 1.34 billion SIPRI trend indicator values compare
7 Israel 1.03 billion SIPRI trend indicator values compare
8 South Korea 964.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
9 United Kingdom 756.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare

See the full ranking of 106 places →

More public sector data for China

Arms imports 72.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
Tax revenue 7.0% (2024)
Taxes on income, profits and capital gains 17.5% (2024)
Taxes on goods and services 28.3% (2024)
Interest payments 3.4% (2021)
Grants and other revenue 9.2% (2024)
Other taxes 0.0% (2024)
Taxes on international trade 1.2% (2024)
Military expenditure 1.7% (2024)
Military expenditure 313.66 billion current USD (2024)

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is arms exports in China?: Arms exports in China was 1.13 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
What is the highest arms exports recorded in China?: The highest recorded value was 2.98 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2023.
What is the lowest arms exports recorded in China?: The lowest recorded value was 12.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1963.
How does China rank for arms exports?: China ranks 6th out of 70 countries with data for 2024.
Is arms exports rising or falling in China?: Over the last ten years it is down 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China data come from?: The figures come from Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Arms exports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

About this data

Indicator: Arms exports (SIPRI trend indicator values)
Unit: SIPRI trend indicator values
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 106 places, 3,345 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed: 06 August 2026

Arms transfers (exports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.