Navy comparison: China vs Japan
China's 1036-ship navy outnumbers Japan's 154 vessels (6.7x advantage). Of these, 1023 and 154 are in active service respectively. The fleet breakdown includes 73 vs 25 submarines, 3 vs 0 aircraft carriers, 58 vs 46 destroyers, 47 vs 4 frigates, 50 vs 0 corvettes, 107 vs 16 amphibious ships, 94 vs 6 patrol boats, 58 vs 22 mine warfare ships (China vs Japan). China's navy is officially the People's Liberation Army Navy, while Japan's is the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
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 |
|
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 🇯🇵
| Official Name | Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force |
| Total ships | 154 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 154 as of 2025 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
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 | |
Japanese ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 25 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 46 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 4 | |
| Corvettes | 0 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 6 | |
| Amphibious ships | 16 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 22 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 10 | |
| Other ships | 25 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, China or Japan?
China has a larger navy with 1,036 ships compared to Japan's 154 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, China or Japan?
China operates more submarines with 73 compared to Japan's 25.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, China or Japan?
China has 3 aircraft carrier(s) compared to Japan's 0.
Which navy has more destroyers, China or Japan?
China operates 58 destroyers compared to Japan's 46.
Which navy has more frigates, China or Japan?
China operates 47 frigates compared to Japan's 4.
How do the China and Japan navies compare in size?
China's navy is 6.7 times larger than Japan's in terms of total ships (1,036 vs 154).