East Asia & Pacific vs Republic of Korea: Armed forces personnel, total

East Asia & Pacific
7.91 million
in 2020
Republic of Korea
569,000
in 2020
East Asia & Pacific rank
9th
Republic of Korea rank
11th

Armed forces personnel, total over time

  • East Asia & Pacific
  • Republic of Korea
02.0M4.0M6.0M8.0M10.0M198520022020

How they compare

East Asia & Pacific currently reports 7.91 million against 569,000 in Republic of Korea, a difference of 7.34 million.

That makes East Asia & Pacific's figure about 13.9 times Republic of Korea's.

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

East Asia & Pacific ranks 9th and Republic of Korea ranks 11th of 44 groups.

East Asia & Pacific has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade East Asia & Pacific Republic of Korea Difference Ahead
1980s 8.53 million 622,500 7.91 million East Asia & Pacific
1990s 8.65 million 698,850 7.95 million East Asia & Pacific
2000s 8.88 million 688,050 8.19 million East Asia & Pacific
2010s 8.39 million 639,400 7.75 million East Asia & Pacific
2020s 7.91 million 569,000 7.34 million East Asia & Pacific

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher armed forces personnel, total, East Asia & Pacific or Republic of Korea?
East Asia & Pacific, at 7.91 million against 569,000 in Republic of Korea as of 2020.
What is the difference in armed forces personnel, total between East Asia & Pacific and Republic of Korea?
7.34 million, with East Asia & Pacific ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for East Asia & Pacific and Republic of Korea?
33 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2020.
How do East Asia & Pacific and Republic of Korea rank globally for armed forces personnel, total?
East Asia & Pacific ranks 9th and Republic of Korea ranks 11th of 44 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 vs Republic of Korea: Armed forces personnel, total. Statizoid, drawing on The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/compare/armed-forces-personnel-total/east-asia-and-pacific/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.