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Military and security service personnel strengths

China — 6 years of data

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Historical Values
Year Value
2020 assessments of the size of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) vary; approximately 2 million total active duty troops (approximately 1.0 million Ground; 250,000 Navy/Marines; 350,000 Air Force; 120,000 Rocket Forces; 150,000 Strategic Support Forces); 650,000 People’s Armed Police (2019)
2021 information varies; approximately 2 million total active duty troops (approximately 1 million Ground; 250,000 Navy/Marines; 350-400,000 Air Force; 120,000 Rocket Forces; 150-175,000 Strategic Support Forces); estimated 600-650,000 People s Armed Police (2021)
2022 approximately 2 million active-duty troops (approximately 1 million Ground; 250,000 Navy/Marines; 350-400,000 Air Force; 120,000 Rocket Forces; 150-175,000 Strategic Support Forces); estimated 600-650,000 People s Armed Police (2022)
2023 approximately 2 million active-duty troops (approximately 1 million Ground; 250,000 Navy/Marines; 350-400,000 Air Force; 120,000 Rocket Forces; 150-175,000 Strategic Support Forces); estimated 600-650,000 People s Armed Police (2023)
2024 approximately 2 million active-duty troops (approximately 950,000-1 million Ground; 250,000 Navy, including about 50,000 Marines; 350-400,000 Air Force; 120,000 Rocket Forces; 150-175,000 other forces); approximately 500,000 People s Armed Police (2024)
2025 approximately 2 million active-duty PLA (950,000-1 million Ground; 250,000 Navy, including about 50,000 Marines; 350-400,000 Air Force; 120,000 Rocket Forces; 150-175,000 other forces) (2025)