Navy comparison: China vs United States
Overview
China's 1060-ship navy outnumbers United States's 470 vessels (2.3x advantage). Of these, 1042 and 234 are in active service respectively.
The fleet breakdown includes 81 vs 65 submarines, 3 vs 11 aircraft carriers, 62 vs 79 destroyers, 59 vs 1 frigates, 50 vs 33 corvettes, 80 vs 42 amphibious ships, 94 vs 0 patrol boats, 37 vs 4 mine warfare ships, 34 vs 0 unmanned vessels (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 | 1060 as of 2026 |
| Active ships | 1042 as of 2026 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
United States Navy 🇺🇸
| Official Name | United States Navy |
| Total ships | 470 as of 2026 |
| Active ships | 234 as of 2026 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
Chinese ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 81 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 3 | |
| Destroyers | 62 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 59 | |
| Corvettes | 50 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 94 | |
| Amphibious ships | 80 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 37 | |
| Cargo ships | 27 | |
| Support ships | 479 | |
| Unmanned vessels | 34 | |
| Other ships | 54 | |
United States ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 65 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 11 | |
| Destroyers | 79 | |
| Cruisers | 21 | |
| Frigates | 1 | |
| Corvettes | 33 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 0 | |
| Amphibious ships | 42 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 4 | |
| Cargo ships | 81 | |
| Support ships | 97 | |
| Unmanned vessels | 0 | |
| 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 1,060 ships compared to United States's 470 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, China or United States?
China operates more submarines with 81 compared to United States's 65.
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 79 destroyers compared to China's 62.
Which navy has more frigates, China or United States?
China operates 59 frigates compared to United States's 1.
How do the China and United States navies compare in size?
China's navy is 2.3 times larger than United States's in terms of total ships (1,060 vs 470).