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Military Strength: Flag of China China vs Flag of Laos Laos

China (ranked #2 globally) holds a stronger overall military position than Laos (#107) on the ARMS Index. China fields 2,535,000 active troops — 20:1 Laos's 129,000, backed by 510,000 reserves and 1,500,000 paramilitary. China's $281B defense budget is 12386:1 that of Laos ($0.02B).

Military Strength
China Laos
ARMS Index 85.1 (#2) 18.8 (#107)
Military personnel 2,535,000 129,000
– Reserve troops 510,000 0
– Paramilitary forces 1,500,000 100,000
Military aircraft 3,731 32
– incl. combat aircraft 2,043 4
– incl. bombers 234 0
– incl. helicopters 1,019 23
Military ships 1,005 0
– incl. aircraft carriers 3 0
– incl. submarines 62 0
Main battle tanks 6,800 160
Nuclear warheads 620 0
– incl. deployed 34 0
Military Forces Chart

ARMS Index

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🇨🇳 China World #2
85.1/ 100
Six-pillar composite: manpower, ground forces, naval power, air power, nuclear deterrent and defense budget, with a readiness modifier from budget per soldier. Full methodology.
Pillar Weight Score Basis
Manpower 15% 98.7 2740000 effective
Ground forces 20% 87.2 6800 main battle tanks
Naval power 20% 100.0 Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines
Air power 25% 91.0 Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age
Nuclear deterrent 10% 62.8 620 warheads
Defense budget 10% 91.8 $281B, PPP-adjusted
Readiness modifier ×1.09 Budget per soldier
🇱🇦 Laos World #107
18.8/ 100
Six-pillar composite: manpower, ground forces, naval power, air power, nuclear deterrent and defense budget, with a readiness modifier from budget per soldier. Full methodology.
Pillar Weight Score Basis
Manpower 15% 61.2 59100 effective
Ground forces 20% 50.4 160 main battle tanks
Naval power 20% 0.0 Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines
Air power 25% 25.7 Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age
Nuclear deterrent 10% 0.0 No declared capability
Defense budget 10% 9.6 $23M, PPP-adjusted
Readiness modifier ×0.80 Budget per soldier

Country Profile

Economy & Geography
China Laos
Population 1.4 billion 7.8 million
GDP $18.7 trillion $16.5 billion
GDP per capita $13,303 $2,124
Military budget $281B $23M
– share of GDP 1.5% 0.2%
– share of govt spending 0.0% 0.8%
– per capita spending $200 $4
Land area 9,326,410 km² 230,800 km²
Coastline 14,500 km 0 km
Military Budget Evolution
Military Personnel Evolution
Economic Metrics Chart
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Frequently Asked Questions

Who has more military personnel, China or Laos?
China has approximately 2,535,000 active military personnel compared to Laos's 129,000, giving China a 20:1 numerical advantage.
Which country has more combat aircraft, China or Laos?
China operates 2,043 combat aircraft compared to Laos's 4. This includes fighters, strike aircraft, and multirole combat jets.
Who has the larger navy, China or Laos?
China has a larger navy with 1005 vessels compared to Laos's 0 ships. China operates 62 submarines while Laos has 0.
Which country spends more on defense, China or Laos?
China has a larger defense budget at $281.2 billion (12386:1 more) compared to Laos's $23 million annually.
Do China and Laos have nuclear weapons?
China possesses nuclear weapons with approximately 620 warheads, while Laos does not have nuclear weapons.
How do the tank forces of China and Laos compare?
China operates 6,800 main battle tanks compared to Laos's 160. Tank numbers reflect both active inventory and reserves.