Navy comparison: 
China vs 
Japan
China's 1033-ship navy outnumbers Japan's 169 vessels (6.1:1 advantage). Of these, 1005 and 158 are in active service respectively.
SEAS (Sea Equipment Aggregate Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
China
Japan
Bars: weighted contribution to the SEAS Index (hulls × category weight × size, era and propulsion factors, minor vessels capped at 30 % of the combatant points; the air-wing, sustainment, armament and availability multipliers apply on top) · figures: active hulls at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
| China | Japan | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | People's Liberation Army Navy | Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | |
| Total ships | 1,033 | 169 | 🇨🇳 6.1× |
| Active ships | 1,005 | 158 | 🇨🇳 6.4× |
| On order / planned | 0 | 8 | 🇯🇵 |
| Submarines | 62 | 23 | 🇨🇳 2.7× |
| Principal surface combatants | 121 | 52 | 🇨🇳 2.3× |
| Aircraft carriers | 3 | 2 | 🇨🇳 1.5× |
| Amphibious ships | 81 | 3 | 🇨🇳 27× |
Show full breakdown · 4 more rowsHide the 4 extra rows
| Corvettes | 50 | 0 | 🇨🇳 |
| Patrol boats | 94 | 6 | 🇨🇳 16× |
| Mine warfare | 37 | 18 | 🇨🇳 2.1× |
| Auxiliaries | 523 | 54 | 🇨🇳 9.7× |
Backbone classes one per tier held
Analyst Assessment
Verdict
Edge: China
China's PLA Navy holds a decisive and widening overall edge over Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force, fielding roughly 1,005 active hulls against 158, three carriers to two light carriers, and a shipbuilding base that adds tonnage faster than any rival. Japan retains genuine quality advantages in anti-submarine warfare, crew training and mine countermeasures, but its force is sized for homeland defence and alliance integration rather than independent blue-water competition.
Domain by domain
Surface combatants
Edge: China
🇨🇳 China121 principal combatants: 62 destroyers led by 35 Type 052D with vertical-launch anti-ship and land-attack missiles, 47 Type 054A frigates, plus 50 Type 056 corvettes for littoral patrol.
🇯🇵 Japan52 principal combatants: 42 destroyers including Aegis ships and 9 Murasame, plus 10 new Mogami frigates. Smaller, highly capable, air-defence and ASW-focused, no corvette tier.
Submarines
Edge: China
🇨🇳 China62 boats, a mixed nuclear and conventional force built around 18 Type 039A air-independent-propulsion attack submarines, plus ballistic-missile boats basing at Longpo for deterrent patrols.
🇯🇵 Japan23 conventionally powered boats, 12 Sōryū-class with AIP and lithium-ion variants, widely regarded as among the quietest diesel-electric submarines afloat; no nuclear propulsion or SSBN leg.
Carriers & naval aviation
Edge: China
🇨🇳 ChinaThree carriers including the catapult-equipped Type 003 Fujian, enabling larger fixed-wing air wings, airborne early warning and the beginnings of sustained blue-water carrier operations.
🇯🇵 JapanTwo Izumo-class light carriers converted for short take-off/vertical landing F-35B operations; small air wings, no catapults, oriented to sea control and ASW helicopter work.
Amphibious & expeditionary
Edge: China
🇨🇳 China81 amphibious hulls including 15 Type 072A landing ships alongside larger LPDs and assault ships, supporting joint landing operations and sustained distant deployments.
🇯🇵 JapanThree Osumi-class tank landing ships only; amphibious capacity is limited to island resupply and small-scale rapid deployment, heavily reliant on ground-force lift.
Shipbuilding & sustainment
Edge: China
🇨🇳 China442 support and 27 cargo ships underpin distant operations, backed by the world's largest shipbuilding industry producing multiple destroyer and frigate classes in parallel.
🇯🇵 Japan11 support ships and a small, high-quality yard base delivering steady but low-rate output such as the Mogami class; sustainment leans on the US alliance and home basing.
Wildcards
- Alliance access and interoperability Japan operates alongside US forces homeported at Yokosuka and Sasebo, with shared Aegis data links and ASW networks. That coalition weight is not captured in hull counts and materially narrows the gap in a contested scenario.
- Geography of the first island chain Japan's six bases sit astride the straits any PLA Navy sortie into the Pacific must transit, giving its submarines and 18 mine-warfare vessels disproportionate leverage in a chokepoint campaign.
- Expeditionary basing footprint China's 15 bases include Djibouti, Ream and reclaimed South China Sea features such as Fiery Cross and Mischief Reef, extending sustained reach well beyond Japan's largely home-waters posture.
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Analysis generated by a language model from the figures on this page and public sources; it is an informed reading, not a military assessment or a prediction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, China or Japan?
China has a larger navy with 1,033 ships compared to Japan's 169 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, China or Japan?
China operates more submarines with 85 compared to Japan's 27.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, China or Japan?
China has 3 aircraft carrier(s) compared to Japan's 2.
Which navy has more destroyers, China or Japan?
China operates 66 destroyers compared to Japan's 42.
Which navy has more frigates, China or Japan?
China operates 59 frigates compared to Japan's 17.
How do the China and Japan navies compare in size?
China's navy is 6.1 times larger than Japan's in terms of total ships (1,033 vs 169).