Navy comparison: China vs India
China's 1036-ship navy outnumbers India's 296 vessels (3.5x advantage). Of these, 1023 and 296 are in active service respectively. The fleet breakdown includes 73 vs 19 submarines, 3 vs 2 aircraft carriers, 58 vs 11 destroyers, 47 vs 14 frigates, 50 vs 21 corvettes, 107 vs 16 amphibious ships, 94 vs 136 patrol boats, 58 vs 0 mine warfare ships (China vs India). China's navy is officially the People's Liberation Army Navy, while India's is the Indian 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 |
|
Indian Navy 🇮🇳
| Official Name | Indian Navy |
| Total ships | 296 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 296 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 | |
Indian ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 19 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 2 | |
| Destroyers | 11 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 14 | |
| Corvettes | 21 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 136 | |
| Amphibious ships | 16 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 0 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 77 | |
| Other ships | 0 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, China or India?
China has a larger navy with 1,036 ships compared to India's 296 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, China or India?
China operates more submarines with 73 compared to India's 19.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, China or India?
China has 3 aircraft carrier(s) compared to India's 2.
Which navy has more destroyers, China or India?
China operates 58 destroyers compared to India's 11.
Which navy has more frigates, China or India?
China operates 47 frigates compared to India's 14.
How do the China and India navies compare in size?
China's navy is 3.5 times larger than India's in terms of total ships (1,036 vs 296).