North Korea vs Pakistan: Armed forces personnel, total
North Korea
1.47 million
in 2020
Pakistan
943,000
in 2020
North Korea rank
3rd
Pakistan rank
6th
Armed forces personnel, total over time
- North Korea
- Pakistan
How they compare
North Korea currently reports 1.47 million against 943,000 in Pakistan, a difference of 526,000.
That makes North Korea's figure about 1.6 times Pakistan's.
Across all 33 years both countries report, North Korea has been ahead every year.
North Korea ranks 3rd and Pakistan ranks 6th of 173 countries.
North Korea has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | North Korea | Pakistan | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 939,000 | 501,400 | 437,600 | North Korea |
| 1990s | 1.19 million | 703,800 | 490,600 | North Korea |
| 2000s | 1.29 million | 915,400 | 375,700 | North Korea |
| 2010s | 1.42 million | 940,880 | 474,120 | North Korea |
| 2020s | 1.47 million | 943,000 | 526,000 | North Korea |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher armed forces personnel, total, North Korea or Pakistan?
- North Korea, at 1.47 million against 943,000 in Pakistan as of 2020.
- What is the difference in armed forces personnel, total between North Korea and Pakistan?
- 526,000, with North Korea ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for North Korea and Pakistan?
- 33 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2020.
- How do North Korea and Pakistan rank globally for armed forces personnel, total?
- North Korea ranks 3rd and Pakistan ranks 6th of 173 countries.
- 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.
Individual pages
About this data
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.