East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) vs Republic of Korea: Armed forces personnel, total

East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
5.29 million
in 2020
Republic of Korea
569,000
in 2020
East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) rank
14th
Republic of Korea rank
11th

Armed forces personnel, total over time

  • East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
  • Republic of Korea
02.0M4.0M6.0M198520022020

How they compare

East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) currently reports 5.29 million against 569,000 in Republic of Korea, a difference of 4.72 million.

That makes East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)'s figure about 9.3 times Republic of Korea's.

Across all 33 years both countries report, East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) has been ahead every year.

East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 14th and Republic of Korea ranks 11th of 46 groups.

East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) Republic of Korea Difference Ahead
1980s 6.16 million 622,500 5.54 million East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
1990s 5.94 million 698,850 5.24 million East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
2000s 6.07 million 688,050 5.39 million East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
2010s 5.63 million 639,400 4.99 million East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
2020s 5.29 million 569,000 4.72 million East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher armed forces personnel, total, East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) or Republic of Korea?
East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries), at 5.29 million against 569,000 in Republic of Korea as of 2020.
What is the difference in armed forces personnel, total between East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) and Republic of Korea?
4.72 million, with East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) and Republic of Korea?
33 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2020.
How do East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) and Republic of Korea rank globally for armed forces personnel, total?
East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 14th and Republic of Korea ranks 11th of 46 groups.
Where does this data come from?
The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies, published as Armed forces personnel, total. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) vs Republic of Korea: Armed forces personnel, total. Statizoid, drawing on The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/compare/armed-forces-personnel-total/east-asia-and-pacific-ida-and-ibrd-countries/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Armed forces personnel, total
Source
The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
219 places, 6,823 data points, 1985–2020
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.