Navy comparison: Canada vs China
China's 1036-ship navy outnumbers Canada's 159 vessels (6.5x advantage). Of these, 66 and 1023 are in active service respectively. The fleet breakdown includes 16 vs 73 submarines, 0 vs 3 aircraft carriers, 15 vs 58 destroyers, 12 vs 47 frigates, 0 vs 50 corvettes, 0 vs 107 amphibious ships, 26 vs 94 patrol boats, 12 vs 0 coastal boats, 0 vs 58 mine warfare ships (Canada vs China). Canada's navy is officially the Royal Canadian Navy, while China's is the People's Liberation Army Navy.
Royal Canadian Navy 🇨🇦
| Official Name | Royal Canadian Navy |
| Total ships | 159 as of 2026 |
| Active ships | 66 as of 2026 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
People's Liberation Army Navy 🇨🇳
| Official Name | People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Total ships | 1036 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 1023 as of 2025 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
Canadian ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 16 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 15 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 12 | |
| Corvettes | 0 | |
| Coastal boats | 12 | |
| Patrol boats | 26 | |
| Amphibious ships | 0 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 0 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 36 | |
| Other ships | 42 | |
Chinese ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 73 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 3 | |
| Destroyers | 58 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 47 | |
| Corvettes | 50 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 94 | |
| Amphibious ships | 107 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 58 | |
| Cargo ships | 27 | |
| Support ships | 468 | |
| Other ships | 51 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, Canada or China?
China has a larger navy with 1,036 ships compared to Canada's 159 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, Canada or China?
China operates more submarines with 73 compared to Canada's 16.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, Canada or China?
China has 3 aircraft carrier(s) compared to Canada's 0.
Which navy has more destroyers, Canada or China?
China operates 58 destroyers compared to Canada's 15.
Which navy has more frigates, Canada or China?
China operates 47 frigates compared to Canada's 12.
How do the Canada and China navies compare in size?
China's navy is 6.5 times larger than Canada's in terms of total ships (1,036 vs 159).