Navy comparison: China vs South Korea
China's 1036-ship navy outnumbers South Korea's 155 vessels (6.7x advantage). Of these, 1023 and 155 are in active service respectively. The fleet breakdown includes 73 vs 22 submarines, 3 vs 0 aircraft carriers, 58 vs 13 destroyers, 47 vs 17 frigates, 50 vs 6 corvettes, 107 vs 23 amphibious ships, 94 vs 35 patrol boats, 58 vs 23 mine warfare ships (China vs South Korea). China's navy is officially the People's Liberation Army Navy, while South Korea's is the Republic of Korea 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 |
|
Republic of Korea Navy 🇰🇷
| Official Name | Republic of Korea Navy |
| Total ships | 155 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 155 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 | |
South Korean ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 22 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 13 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 17 | |
| Corvettes | 6 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 35 | |
| Amphibious ships | 23 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 23 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 4 | |
| Other ships | 12 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, China or South Korea?
China has a larger navy with 1,036 ships compared to South Korea's 155 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, China or South Korea?
China operates more submarines with 73 compared to South Korea's 22.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, China or South Korea?
China has 3 aircraft carrier(s) compared to South Korea's 0.
Which navy has more destroyers, China or South Korea?
China operates 58 destroyers compared to South Korea's 13.
Which navy has more frigates, China or South Korea?
China operates 47 frigates compared to South Korea's 17.
How do the China and South Korea navies compare in size?
China's navy is 6.7 times larger than South Korea's in terms of total ships (1,036 vs 155).