Navy comparison: China vs United Kingdom
China's 1036-ship navy outnumbers United Kingdom's 80 vessels (13:1 advantage). Of these, 1023 and 63 are in active service respectively. The fleet breakdown includes 73 vs 9 submarines, 3 vs 2 aircraft carriers, 58 vs 6 destroyers, 47 vs 8 frigates, 50 vs 0 corvettes, 107 vs 0 amphibious ships, 94 vs 26 patrol boats, 58 vs 18 mine warfare ships (China vs United Kingdom). China's navy is officially the People's Liberation Army Navy, while United Kingdom's is the Royal 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 Navy 🇬🇧
| Official Name | Royal Navy |
| Total ships | 80 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 63 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 | |
British ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 9 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 2 | |
| Destroyers | 6 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 8 | |
| Corvettes | 0 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 26 | |
| Amphibious ships | 0 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 18 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 7 | |
| Other ships | 4 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, China or United Kingdom?
China has a larger navy with 1,036 ships compared to United Kingdom's 80 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, China or United Kingdom?
China operates more submarines with 73 compared to United Kingdom's 9.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, China or United Kingdom?
China has 3 aircraft carrier(s) compared to United Kingdom's 2.
Which navy has more destroyers, China or United Kingdom?
China operates 58 destroyers compared to United Kingdom's 6.
Which navy has more frigates, China or United Kingdom?
China operates 47 frigates compared to United Kingdom's 8.
How do the China and United Kingdom navies compare in size?
China's navy is 12.9 times larger than United Kingdom's in terms of total ships (1,036 vs 80).