Korea vs Low & middle income: Armed forces personnel

Korea
2.0%
in 2020
Low & middle income
0.7%
in 2020
Korea rank
28th
Low & middle income rank
26th

Armed forces personnel over time

  • Korea
  • Low & middle income
1234199020052020

How they compare

Korea currently reports 2.0% against 0.7% in Low & middle income, a difference of 1.3%.

That makes Korea's figure about 2.7 times Low & middle income's.

Across all 31 years both countries report, Korea has been ahead every year.

Korea ranks 28th and Low & middle income ranks 26th of 171 countries.

Korea has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Korea Low & middle income Difference Ahead
1990s 3.4% 0.9% 2.4% Korea
2000s 2.9% 0.9% 2.0% Korea
2010s 2.4% 0.8% 1.6% Korea
2020s 2.0% 0.7% 1.3% Korea

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher armed forces personnel, Korea or Low & middle income?
Korea, at 2.0% against 0.7% in Low & middle income as of 2020.
What is the difference in armed forces personnel between Korea and Low & middle income?
1.3%, with Korea ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Korea and Low & middle income?
31 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2020.
How do Korea and Low & middle income rank globally for armed forces personnel?
Korea ranks 28th and Low & middle income ranks 26th of 171 countries.
Where does this data come from?
The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies, published as Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Korea vs Low & middle income: Armed forces personnel. Statizoid, drawing on The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/compare/armed-forces-personnel-percent-of-total-labor-force/korea-rep/low-and-middle-income/

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About this data

Indicator
Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force)
Unit
% of total labor force
Source
The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
217 places, 6,411 data points, 1990–2020
Last refreshed

Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if the training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces. Labor force comprises all people who meet the International Labour Organization's definition of the economically active population.