China
Wins 28/28
Japan
Wins 0/28China leads on 28 of 28 tracked categories.
China holds the stronger Global Firepower rank (#3).
China and Japan are compared here on public military strength data, with China holding the stronger Global Firepower rank over Japan. The sharpest gap is in active personnel, China leads at 2,035,000 versus 251,500. Some figures for China are state-influenced or opaque, so treat this comparison as directional.
China: State-influenced or opaque figures, treat as directional.
Full data
Spec sheet
| China | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| GFP power index | 0.0919 ✓ | 0.1876 |
| GFP rank | 3 ✓ | 7 |
| Economy | ||
| Defense budget (USD) | $336,000,000,000 ✓ | $62,200,000,000 |
| GDP (USD) | $19,498,039,000,000 ✓ | $4,435,163,000,000 |
| Defense spend, % of GDP (%) | 1.7 % | 1.4 % |
| Population | 1,404,890,000 ✓ | 122,810,000 |
| Personnel | ||
| Active personnel | 2,035,000 ✓ | 251,500 |
| Reserve personnel | 510,000 ✓ | 56,000 |
| Paramilitary | 625,000 ✓ | 25,000 |
| Nuclear | ||
| Warheads, total | 620 ✓ | 0 |
| Warheads, deployed | 34 ✓ | 0 |
| Nuclear status | Yes | No |
| Delivery legs | ICBM, SLBM, bomber | N/A |
| NPT status | signatory (nuclear-weapon state) | signatory (non-nuclear-weapon state) |
| First test year | 1964 | N/A |
| Air power | ||
| Total aircraft | 3,529 ✓ | 1,429 |
| Fighters | 1,443 ✓ | 217 |
| Attack aircraft | 371 ✓ | 47 |
| Transport aircraft | 287 ✓ | 53 |
| Helicopters | 1,007 ✓ | 583 |
| Attack helicopters | 281 ✓ | 118 |
| Land power | ||
| Tanks | 5,870 ✓ | 734 |
| Armored fighting vehicles | 152,040 ✓ | 54,390 |
| Self-propelled artillery | 2,940 ✓ | 193 |
| Towed artillery | 1,400 ✓ | 480 |
| Rocket artillery (MLRS) | 2,770 ✓ | 99 |
| Naval power | ||
| Total naval assets | 841 ✓ | 158 |
| Aircraft carriers | 3 ✓ | 0 |
| Submarines | 61 ✓ | 23 |
| Destroyers | 53 ✓ | 41 |
| Frigates | 46 ✓ | 8 |
| Corvettes | 50 ✓ | 0 |
| Patrol vessels | 150 ✓ | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Which has more nuclear warheads, China or Japan? +
China has more nuclear warheads, an estimated 620 in total stockpile.
Which has the bigger defense budget, China or Japan? +
China has the bigger defense budget, at an estimated 336,000,000,000 USD.
Which has more tanks, China or Japan? +
China has more tanks, an estimated 5,870 main battle tanks.
Which has a bigger air force, China or Japan? +
China has more total aircraft, an estimated 3,529.
Which has a bigger navy, China or Japan? +
China has more naval assets, an estimated 841 vessels.
Which has the higher Global Firepower rank, China or Japan? +
China holds the stronger Global Firepower rank, at number 3 worldwide.
Where does this military comparison data come from? +
Sources: Global Firepower 2026, SIPRI 2025, FAS 2026, IMF. Figures are public estimates. Every figure is a public estimate, not classified data, and can vary between sources.
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Sources: Global Firepower 2026, SIPRI 2025, FAS 2026, IMF. Figures are public estimates.