Russia, the U.S., and China Account for 40% of Global Submarine Fleets

What we’re showing

The top 12 countries by their number of military submarines as of July 2024, based on data from GlobalFirepower.com.

Key Takeaways

• Russia ranks first with 65 submarines, followed by the U.S. (64) and China (61).
• Russia, the U.S., and China account for 40% of the global submarine fleet.
• U.S. submarine technology is one generation, or 10 to 20 years, ahead of China's, according to Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. 
• The latest addition to the U.S. Navy, the Columbia-class nuclear submarine, is the most sophisticated vessel of its kind. It is stealthy and equipped with 16 missile tubes.