Republic of Korea vs Low & middle income: Military expenditure

Republic of Korea
47.57 billion current USD
in 2024
Low & middle income
687.69 billion current USD
in 2024
Republic of Korea rank
11th
Low & middle income rank
9th

Military expenditure over time

  • Republic of Korea
  • Low & middle income
0200.0B400.0B600.0B196019922024

How they compare

Low & middle income currently reports 687.69 billion current USD against 47.57 billion current USD in Republic of Korea, a difference of 640.12 billion current USD.

That makes Low & middle income's figure about 14.5 times Republic of Korea's.

Across all 36 years both countries report, Low & middle income has been ahead every year.

Republic of Korea ranks 11th and Low & middle income ranks 9th of 167 countries.

Low & middle income has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Republic of Korea Low & middle income Difference Ahead
1980s 9.47 billion current USD 83.08 billion current USD 73.61 billion current USD Low & middle income
1990s 12.85 billion current USD 94.10 billion current USD 81.25 billion current USD Low & middle income
2000s 20.02 billion current USD 182.57 billion current USD 162.55 billion current USD Low & middle income
2010s 36.28 billion current USD 429.71 billion current USD 393.44 billion current USD Low & middle income
2020s 47.75 billion current USD 595.62 billion current USD 547.87 billion current USD Low & middle income

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher military expenditure, Republic of Korea or Low & middle income?
Low & middle income, at 687.69 billion current USD against 47.57 billion current USD in Republic of Korea as of 2024.
What is the difference in military expenditure between Republic of Korea and Low & middle income?
640.12 billion current USD, with Low & middle income ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Republic of Korea and Low & middle income?
36 years are reported by both, from 1989 to 2024.
How do Republic of Korea and Low & middle income rank globally for military expenditure?
Republic of Korea ranks 11th and Low & middle income ranks 9th of 167 countries.
Where does this data come from?
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as Military expenditure (current USD). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Republic of Korea vs Low & middle income: Military expenditure. Statizoid, drawing on SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/compare/military-expenditure-current-usd/korea-rep/low-and-middle-income/

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About this data

Indicator
Military expenditure (current USD)
Unit
current USD
Source
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
211 places, 10,601 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed

Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)