Navy comparison: China vs North Korea
China's 1036-ship navy outnumbers North Korea's 385 vessels (2.7x advantage). Of these, 1023 and 385 are in active service respectively. The fleet breakdown includes 73 vs 73 submarines, 3 vs 0 aircraft carriers, 58 vs 0 destroyers, 47 vs 2 frigates, 50 vs 123 corvettes, 107 vs 0 amphibious ships, 94 vs 187 patrol boats, 58 vs 0 mine warfare ships (China vs North Korea). China's navy is officially the People's Liberation Army Navy, while North Korea's is the Korean People's Army Naval 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 |
|
Korean People's Army Naval Force 🇰🇵
| Official Name | Korean People's Army Naval Force |
| Total ships | 385 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 385 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 | |
North Korean ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 73 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 0 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 2 | |
| Corvettes | 123 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 187 | |
| Amphibious ships | 0 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 0 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 0 | |
| Other ships | 0 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, China or North Korea?
China has a larger navy with 1,036 ships compared to North Korea's 385 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, China or North Korea?
North Korea operates more submarines with 73 compared to China's 73.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, China or North Korea?
China has 3 aircraft carrier(s) compared to North Korea's 0.
Which navy has more destroyers, China or North Korea?
China operates 58 destroyers compared to North Korea's 0.
Which navy has more frigates, China or North Korea?
China operates 47 frigates compared to North Korea's 2.
How do the China and North Korea navies compare in size?
China's navy is 2.7 times larger than North Korea's in terms of total ships (1,036 vs 385).