China Military Size 1985-2024

Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if the training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.
  • China military size for 2020 was 2,535,000.00, a 0% increase from 2019.
  • China military size for 2019 was 2,535,000.00, a 5.94% decline from 2018.
  • China military size for 2018 was 2,695,000.00, a 0% increase from 2017.
  • China military size for 2017 was 2,695,000.00, a 0% increase from 2016.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Number of People
China 2,535,000.00
Russia 1,454,000.00
Brazil 762,000.00
Iran 650,000.00
Turkey 512,000.00
Iraq 459,000.00
Thailand 455,000.00
Colombia 428,000.00
Venezuela 343,000.00
Mexico 341,000.00
Algeria 326,000.00
Belarus 158,000.00
Peru 158,000.00
Malaysia 136,000.00
Romania 128,000.00
Jordan 116,000.00
South Africa 89,000.00
Azerbaijan 82,000.00
Lebanon 80,000.00
Cuba 76,000.00
Kazakhstan 71,000.00
Dominican Republic 71,000.00
Turkmenistan 57,000.00
Armenia 47,000.00
Guatemala 43,000.00
Ecuador 42,000.00
Bulgaria 37,000.00
Serbia 32,000.00
Paraguay 29,000.00
Namibia 16,000.00
North Macedonia 16,000.00
Montenegro 12,000.00
Bosnia 11,000.00
Costa Rica 10,000.00
Botswana 9,000.00
Albania 8,000.00
Gabon 7,000.00
Jamaica 6,000.00
Fiji 4,000.00
Mauritius 3,000.00
Guyana 3,000.00
Suriname 2,000.00
Belize 2,000.00
Equatorial Guinea 1,000.00
Libya 0.00
China Military Size - Historical Data
Year Number of People Annual % Change
2020 2,535,000.00 0.00%
2019 2,535,000.00 -5.94%
2018 2,695,000.00 0.00%
2017 2,695,000.00 0.00%
2016 2,695,000.00 -5.21%
2015 2,843,000.00 -5.01%
2014 2,993,000.00 0.00%
2013 2,993,000.00 0.00%
2012 2,993,000.00 1.63%
2011 2,945,000.00 0.00%
2010 2,945,000.00 0.00%
2009 2,945,000.00 2.08%
2008 2,885,000.00 0.00%
2007 2,885,000.00 -19.97%
2006 3,605,000.00 -3.99%
2005 3,755,000.00 0.00%
2004 3,755,000.00 0.13%
2003 3,750,000.00 -0.53%
2002 3,770,000.00 -1.05%
2001 3,810,000.00 -2.56%
2000 3,910,000.00 2.36%
1999 3,820,000.00 0.00%
1998 3,820,000.00 4.95%
1997 3,640,000.00 -11.97%
1996 4,135,000.00 0.12%
1995 4,130,000.00 40.96%
1994 2,930,000.00 -3.30%
1993 3,030,000.00 -4.11%
1992 3,160,000.00 -1.25%
1991 3,200,000.00 -8.57%
1990 3,500,000.00 -10.26%
1989 3,900,000.00 0.00%
1985 3,900,000.00 0.00%