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.
| 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% |
