Navy comparison: China vs India
Overview
China's 1060-ship navy outnumbers India's 350 vessels (3.0x advantage). Of these, 1042 and 350 are in active service respectively.
The fleet breakdown includes 81 vs 19 submarines, 3 vs 2 aircraft carriers, 62 vs 13 destroyers, 59 vs 20 frigates, 50 vs 23 corvettes, 80 vs 5 amphibious ships, 94 vs 144 patrol boats, 37 vs 0 mine warfare ships, 34 vs 0 unmanned vessels (China vs India).
China's navy is officially the People's Liberation Army Navy, while India's is the Indian Navy.
People's Liberation Army Navy 🇨🇳
| Official Name | People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Total ships | 1060 as of 2026 |
| Active ships | 1042 as of 2026 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
Indian Navy 🇮🇳
| Official Name | Indian Navy |
| Total ships | 350 as of 2026 |
| Active ships | 350 as of 2026 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
Chinese ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 81 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 3 | |
| Destroyers | 62 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 59 | |
| Corvettes | 50 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 94 | |
| Amphibious ships | 80 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 37 | |
| Cargo ships | 27 | |
| Support ships | 479 | |
| Unmanned vessels | 34 | |
| Other ships | 54 | |
Indian ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 19 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 2 | |
| Destroyers | 13 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 20 | |
| Corvettes | 23 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 144 | |
| Amphibious ships | 5 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 0 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 116 | |
| Unmanned vessels | 0 | |
| Other ships | 8 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, China or India?
China has a larger navy with 1,060 ships compared to India's 350 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, China or India?
China operates more submarines with 81 compared to India's 19.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, China or India?
China has 3 aircraft carrier(s) compared to India's 2.
Which navy has more destroyers, China or India?
China operates 62 destroyers compared to India's 13.
Which navy has more frigates, China or India?
China operates 59 frigates compared to India's 20.
How do the China and India navies compare in size?
China's navy is 3.0 times larger than India's in terms of total ships (1,060 vs 350).