Navy comparison: China vs Malaysia
China's 1036-ship navy outnumbers Malaysia's 109 vessels (9.5x advantage). Of these, 1023 and 97 are in active service respectively. The fleet breakdown includes 73 vs 2 submarines, 3 vs 0 aircraft carriers, 58 vs 0 destroyers, 47 vs 7 frigates, 50 vs 7 corvettes, 107 vs 0 amphibious ships, 94 vs 10 patrol boats, 0 vs 62 coastal boats, 58 vs 4 mine warfare ships (China vs Malaysia). China's navy is officially the People's Liberation Army Navy, while Malaysia's is the Royal Malaysian Navy.
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 |
|
Royal Malaysian Navy 🇲🇾
| Official Name | Royal Malaysian Navy |
| Total ships | 109 as of 2026 |
| Active ships | 97 as of 2026 |
| 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 | |
Malaysian ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 2 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 0 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 7 | |
| Corvettes | 7 | |
| Coastal boats | 62 | |
| Patrol boats | 10 | |
| Amphibious ships | 0 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 4 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 13 | |
| Other ships | 4 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, China or Malaysia?
China has a larger navy with 1,036 ships compared to Malaysia's 109 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, China or Malaysia?
China operates more submarines with 73 compared to Malaysia's 2.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, China or Malaysia?
China has 3 aircraft carrier(s) compared to Malaysia's 0.
Which navy has more destroyers, China or Malaysia?
China operates 58 destroyers compared to Malaysia's 0.
Which navy has more frigates, China or Malaysia?
China operates 47 frigates compared to Malaysia's 7.
How do the China and Malaysia navies compare in size?
China's navy is 9.5 times larger than Malaysia's in terms of total ships (1,036 vs 109).