Military Strength: China vs Russia

Overview

Russia (ranked #2 globally) holds a stronger overall military position than China (#3) on the Global Military Index. China fields 2,535,000 active troops vs 1,454,000 for Russia, backed by 510,000 reserves and 1,500,000 paramilitary. China allocates $281B to defense compared to $152B for Russia.

In the air, China operates 3,497 aircraft including 2,043 combat jets, while Russia fields 4,300 with 1,524 fighters.

At sea, China's 1023-ship navy outnumbers Russia's 477 vessels, including 61 and 60 submarines respectively. On the ground, China deploys 6,800 main battle tanks vs 5,750 for Russia.

Both are nuclear powers: China maintains 600 warheads and Russia holds 5,459.

Global Military Index 81.7 (#3)
🪖 Military personnel 2,535,000
– Reserve troops 510,000
– Paramilitary forces 1,500,000
🛩️ Military aircraft 3,497
– incl. combat aircraft 2,043
– incl. bombers 0
– incl. helicopters 1,019
⚓️ Military ships 1023
– incl. aircraft carriers 3
– incl. submarines 61
🚛 Main battle tanks 6,800
💥 Nuclear warheads 600
– incl. deployed 24
Global Military Index 83.6 (#2)
🪖 Military personnel 1,454,000
– Reserve troops 1,500,000
– Paramilitary forces 559,000
🛩️ Military aircraft 4,300
– incl. combat aircraft 1,524
– incl. bombers 152
– incl. helicopters 1,604
⚓️ Military ships 477
– incl. aircraft carriers 2
– incl. submarines 60
🚛 Main battle tanks 5,750
💥 Nuclear warheads 5459
– incl. deployed 1718

🇨🇳 China Global Military Index

81.7
Global Rank: #3
🪖 Manpower (15%) 92.0 Active, reserve & paramilitary: 2740000 effective
🛡️ Ground Firepower (20%) 85.2 Main battle tanks: 6800
⚓ Naval Power (20%) 78.7 Weighted by ship type: carriers, submarines, destroyers...
✈️ Air Power (25%) 79.4 Weighted by aircraft type: combat, bombers, helicopters...
☢️ Nuclear Deterrent (10%) 69.5 Strategic arsenal: 600 warheads
💰 Defense Budget (10%) 83.8 $281.2B annual military spending

🇷🇺 Russia Global Military Index

83.6
Global Rank: #2
🪖 Manpower (15%) 90.1 Active, reserve & paramilitary: 2017700 effective
🛡️ Ground Firepower (20%) 83.5 Main battle tanks: 5750
⚓ Naval Power (20%) 80.1 Weighted by ship type: carriers, submarines, destroyers...
✈️ Air Power (25%) 80.0 Weighted by aircraft type: combat, bombers, helicopters...
☢️ Nuclear Deterrent (10%) 93.4 Strategic arsenal: 5459 warheads
💰 Defense Budget (10%) 79.7 $152.2B annual military spending

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Population 1.4 billion
GDP $18.7 trillion
GDP per capita $13,303
Military Budget $281.2 billion
Share of GDP in Milex 1.5%
Share of Govt Expenditures 0.0%
Military spends per capita $200
Population 143.5 million
GDP $2.2 trillion
GDP per capita $15,145
Military Budget $152.2 billion
Share of GDP in Milex 7.0%
Share of Govt Expenditures 0.0%
Military spends per capita $1060

China Geography

Land Area 9,326,410 km²
Coastline Length 14,500 km

Russia Geography

Land Area 16,378,410 km²
Coastline Length 37,653 km

Military Forces Chart

Economic Metrics Chart

Military Budget Evolution

Military Personnel Evolution

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has more military personnel, China or Russia?
China has approximately 2,535,000 active military personnel compared to Russia's 1,454,000, giving China a 1.7:1 numerical advantage.
Which country has more combat aircraft, China or Russia?
China operates 2,043 combat aircraft compared to Russia's 1,524. This includes fighters, strike aircraft, and multirole combat jets.
Who has the larger navy, China or Russia?
China has a larger navy with 1023 vessels compared to Russia's 477 ships. China operates 61 submarines while Russia has 60.
Which country spends more on defense, China or Russia?
China has a larger defense budget at $281.2 billion (1.8:1 more) compared to Russia's $152.2 billion annually.
Do China and Russia have nuclear weapons?
Yes, both China and Russia possess nuclear weapons. China has approximately 600 nuclear warheads while Russia has 5,459.
How do the tank forces of China and Russia compare?
China operates 6,800 main battle tanks compared to Russia's 5,750. Tank numbers reflect both active inventory and reserves.