Navy comparison: China vs South Africa
China's 1036-ship navy outnumbers South Africa's 49 vessels (21:1 advantage). Of these, 1023 and 49 are in active service respectively. The fleet breakdown includes 73 vs 3 submarines, 3 vs 0 aircraft carriers, 58 vs 0 destroyers, 47 vs 4 frigates, 50 vs 0 corvettes, 107 vs 0 amphibious ships, 94 vs 33 patrol boats, 58 vs 2 mine warfare ships (China vs South Africa). China's navy is officially the People's Liberation Army Navy, while South Africa's is the South African 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 |
|
South African Navy 🇿🇦
| Official Name | South African Navy |
| Total ships | 49 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 49 as of 2025 |
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 | |
South African ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 3 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 0 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 4 | |
| Corvettes | 0 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 33 | |
| Amphibious ships | 0 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 2 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 7 | |
| Other ships | 0 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, China or South Africa?
China has a larger navy with 1,036 ships compared to South Africa's 49 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, China or South Africa?
China operates more submarines with 73 compared to South Africa's 3.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, China or South Africa?
China has 3 aircraft carrier(s) compared to South Africa's 0.
Which navy has more destroyers, China or South Africa?
China operates 58 destroyers compared to South Africa's 0.
Which navy has more frigates, China or South Africa?
China operates 47 frigates compared to South Africa's 4.
How do the China and South Africa navies compare in size?
China's navy is 21.1 times larger than South Africa's in terms of total ships (1,036 vs 49).