Navy comparison: China vs United States
China's 1036-ship navy outnumbers United States's 474 vessels (2.2x advantage). Of these, 1023 and 243 are in active service respectively. The fleet breakdown includes 73 vs 71 submarines, 3 vs 11 aircraft carriers, 58 vs 78 destroyers, 47 vs 1 frigates, 50 vs 33 corvettes, 107 vs 58 amphibious ships, 94 vs 0 patrol boats, 58 vs 4 mine warfare ships (China vs United States). China's navy is officially the People's Liberation Army Navy, while United States's is the United States 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 |
|
United States Navy 🇺🇸
| Official Name | United States Navy |
| Total ships | 474 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 243 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 | |
United States ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 71 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 11 | |
| Destroyers | 78 | |
| Cruisers | 18 | |
| Frigates | 1 | |
| Corvettes | 33 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 0 | |
| Amphibious ships | 58 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 4 | |
| Cargo ships | 83 | |
| Support ships | 81 | |
| Other ships | 36 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, China or United States?
China has a larger navy with 1,036 ships compared to United States's 474 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, China or United States?
China operates more submarines with 73 compared to United States's 71.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, China or United States?
United States has 11 aircraft carrier(s) compared to China's 3.
Which navy has more destroyers, China or United States?
United States operates 78 destroyers compared to China's 58.
Which navy has more frigates, China or United States?
China operates 47 frigates compared to United States's 1.
How do the China and United States navies compare in size?
China's navy is 2.2 times larger than United States's in terms of total ships (1,036 vs 474).