Navy comparison: China vs South Korea
Overview
China's 1060-ship navy outnumbers South Korea's 156 vessels (6.8x advantage). Of these, 1042 and 156 are in active service respectively.
The fleet breakdown includes 81 vs 22 submarines, 3 vs 0 aircraft carriers, 62 vs 13 destroyers, 59 vs 18 frigates, 50 vs 6 corvettes, 80 vs 21 amphibious ships, 94 vs 35 patrol boats, 37 vs 23 mine warfare ships, 34 vs 0 unmanned vessels (China vs South Korea).
China's navy is officially the People's Liberation Army Navy, while South Korea's is the Republic of Korea 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 |
|
Republic of Korea Navy 🇰🇷
| Official Name | Republic of Korea Navy |
| Total ships | 156 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 156 as of 2025 |
| 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 | |
South Korean ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 22 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 13 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 18 | |
| Corvettes | 6 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 35 | |
| Amphibious ships | 21 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 23 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 4 | |
| Unmanned vessels | 0 | |
| Other ships | 14 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, China or South Korea?
China has a larger navy with 1,060 ships compared to South Korea's 156 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, China or South Korea?
China operates more submarines with 81 compared to South Korea's 22.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, China or South Korea?
China has 3 aircraft carrier(s) compared to South Korea's 0.
Which navy has more destroyers, China or South Korea?
China operates 62 destroyers compared to South Korea's 13.
Which navy has more frigates, China or South Korea?
China operates 59 frigates compared to South Korea's 18.
How do the China and South Korea navies compare in size?
China's navy is 6.8 times larger than South Korea's in terms of total ships (1,060 vs 156).