The United States currently has the most powerful military in the world. However, China is close on its heels. China has been rapidly modernizing its own military and investing heavily in advanced military technology for the past several years. As the country acquires new hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence, space-based capabilities, and cyber warfare, its military power continues to grow and evolve. So, here at 24/7 Wall St., we took a deep dive to determine how China’s military stacks up against the US. (These are the most powerful militaries in the world.)

Using data from Global Firepower’s 2024 report on international military capabilities, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed how China’s military strength compares to America’s. We reviewed the estimated assets — both military and non-military — that could impact the outcome of a war between the two countries. The assets on this list fall into one of eight categories: manpower, airpower, land power, naval power, infrastructure, natural resources, finances, and weapons of mass destruction. Nuclear stockpile estimates are from the Federation of Atomic Scientists. All other estimates are as reported by Global Firepower.

Why It Matters

Despite ongoing conflicts in which Russia and Hamas are actively attacking American interests, recent statements from Defense Department officials suggest that China poses the greatest threat to national security. War between China and the United States — two of the world’s largest military powers — would be devastating, and preparing for such an eventuality is a top priority for the DOD. While the American military is currently estimated to be stronger than the Chinese military, China’s rapid militarization may swing the power dynamic in the coming years and decades.

Manpower: Total Population

• United States’ estimated capacity: 339.7 million people
• China’s estimated capacity: 1.4 billion people
• Advantage: China (+1.1 million or billion people)

Manpower: Labor Force

• United States’ estimated capacity: 164.8 million people
• China’s estimated capacity: 791.4 million people
• Advantage: China (+626.6 million people)

Manpower: Fit-For-Service

• United States’ estimated capacity: 124.0 million people
• China’s estimated capacity: 626.0 million people
• Advantage: China (+502.0 million people)

Manpower: Reaching Military Age Annually

• United States’ estimated capacity: 4.4 million people
• China’s estimated capacity: 19.8 million people
• Advantage: China (+15.4 million people)

Manpower: Paramilitary Forces

• United States’ estimated capacity: – 0 troops
• China’s estimated capacity: 625,000 troops
• Advantage: China (+625,000 troops)

Manpower: Reserve Personnel

• United States’ estimated capacity: 799,500 reservists
• China’s estimated capacity: 510,000 reservists
• Advantage: United States (+289,500 reservists)

Manpower: Active Personnel

• United States’ estimated capacity: 1.3 million troops
• China’s estimated capacity: 2.0 million troops
• Advantage: China (+707,000 troops)

Manpower: Total Military Personnel

• United States’ estimated capacity: 2.1 million people
• China’s estimated capacity: 3.2 million people
• Advantage: China (+1.0 million people)

Airpower: Dedicated Attack Aircraft

• United States’ estimated capacity: 896 aircraft
• China’s estimated capacity: 371 aircraft
• Advantage: United States (+525 aircraft)

Airpower: Special-Mission Aircraft

• United States’ estimated capacity: 695 aircraft
• China’s estimated capacity: 112 aircraft
• Advantage: United States (+583 aircraft)

Airpower: Aerial Tankers

• United States’ estimated capacity: 606 aircraft
• China’s estimated capacity: 10 aircraft
• Advantage: United States (+596 aircraft)

Airpower: Fighter Aircraft

• United States’ estimated capacity: 1,854 aircraft
• China’s estimated capacity: 1,207 aircraft
• Advantage: United States (+647 aircraft)

Airpower: Transport Aircraft

• United States’ estimated capacity: 957 aircraft
• China’s estimated capacity: 289 aircraft
• Advantage: United States (+668 aircraft)

Airpower: Attack Helicopters

• United States’ estimated capacity: 1,000 aircraft
• China’s estimated capacity: 281 aircraft
• Advantage: United States (+719 aircraft)

Airpower: Trainer Aircraft

• United States’ estimated capacity: 2,648 aircraft
• China’s estimated capacity: 402 aircraft
• Advantage: United States (+2,246 aircraft)

Airpower: Helicopters

• United States’ estimated capacity: 5,737 aircraft
• China’s estimated capacity: 913 aircraft
• Advantage: United States (+4,824 aircraft)

Airpower: Total Aircraft

• United States’ estimated capacity: 13,209 aircraft
• China’s estimated capacity: 3,304 aircraft
• Advantage: United States (+9,905 aircraft)

Airpower: Air Force Personnel

• United States’ estimated capacity: 701,319 troops
• China’s estimated capacity: 400,000 troops
• Advantage: United States (+301,319 troops)

Land Power: Towed Artillery

• United States’ estimated capacity: 1,267 pieces
• China’s estimated capacity: 1,434 pieces
• Advantage: China (+167 pieces)

Land Power: Tanks

• United States’ estimated capacity: 4,657 vehicles
• China’s estimated capacity: 5,000 vehicles
• Advantage: China (+343 vehicles)

Land Power: Self-Propelled Artillery

• United States’ estimated capacity: 1,595 pieces
• China’s estimated capacity: 3,850 pieces
• Advantage: China (+2,255 pieces)

Land Power: Mobile Rocket Projectors

• United States’ estimated capacity: 694 pieces
• China’s estimated capacity: 3,180 pieces
• Advantage: China (+2,486 pieces)

Land Power: Armored Vehicles

• United States’ estimated capacity: 360,069 vehicles
• China’s estimated capacity: 174,300 vehicles
• Advantage: United States (+185,769 vehicles)

Land Power: Army Personnel

• United States’ estimated capacity: 1.4 million troops
• China’s estimated capacity: 2.5 million troops
• Advantage: China (+1.1 million troops)

Naval Power: Destroyers

• United States’ estimated capacity: 75 hulls
• China’s estimated capacity: 49 hulls
• Advantage: United States (+26 hulls)

Naval Power: Aircraft Carriers

• United States’ estimated capacity: 11 hulls
• China’s estimated capacity: 2 hulls
• Advantage: United States (+9 hulls)

Naval Power: Helicopter Carriers

• United States’ estimated capacity: 9 hulls
• China’s estimated capacity: 3 hulls
• Advantage: United States (+6 hulls)

Naval Power: Submarines

• United States’ estimated capacity: 64 hulls
• China’s estimated capacity: 61 hulls
• Advantage: United States (+3 hulls)

Naval Power: Mine Warfare Vessels

• United States’ estimated capacity: 8 hulls
• China’s estimated capacity: 36 hulls
• Advantage: China (+28 hulls)

Naval Power: Frigates

• United States’ estimated capacity: 0 hulls
• China’s estimated capacity: 42 hulls
• Advantage: China (+42 hulls)

Naval Power: Corvettes

• United States’ estimated capacity: 23 hulls
• China’s estimated capacity: 72 hulls
• Advantage: China (+49 hulls)

Naval Power: Patrol Vessels

• United States’ estimated capacity: 5 hulls
• China’s estimated capacity: 150 hulls
• Advantage: China (+145 hulls)

Naval Power: Fleet Strength

• United States’ estimated capacity: 472 hulls
• China’s estimated capacity: 730 hulls
• Advantage: China (+258 hulls)

Naval Power: Navy Personnel

• United States’ estimated capacity: 667,108 troops
• China’s estimated capacity: 380,000 troops
• Advantage: United States (+287,108 troops)

Natural Resources: Oil Production

• United States’ estimated capacity: 18.0 million barrels per day
• China’s estimated capacity: 4.7 million barrels per day
• Advantage: United States (+13.3 million barrels per day)

Natural Resources: Proven Oil Reserves

• United States’ estimated capacity: 50.0 billion barrels
• China’s estimated capacity: 26.0 billion barrels
• Advantage: United States (+24.0 billion barrels)

Infrastructure: Airports

• United States’ estimated capacity: 13,513 airports
• China’s estimated capacity: 507 airports
• Advantage: United States (+13,006 airports)

Infrastructure: Ports and Terminals

• United States’ estimated capacity: 35 ports and terminals
• China’s estimated capacity: 22 ports and terminals
• Advantage: United States (+13 ports and terminals)

Financials: Defense Budget

• United States’ estimated capacity: $831.8 billion
• China’s estimated capacity: $227.0 billion
• Advantage: United States (+$604.8 billion)

Weapons of Mass Destruction: Nuclear Weapons

• United States’ estimated capacity: 5,044 warheads
• China’s estimated capacity: 500 warheads
• Advantage: United States (+4,544 warheads)

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