East Asia & Pacific vs South Korea: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure)
East Asia & Pacific
5.4%
in 2024
South Korea
10.8%
in 2025
East Asia & Pacific rank
32nd
South Korea rank
31st
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) over time
- East Asia & Pacific
- South Korea
How they compare
South Korea currently reports 10.8% against 5.4% in East Asia & Pacific, a difference of 5.4%.
That makes South Korea's figure about 2.0 times East Asia & Pacific's.
Across all 30 years both countries report, South Korea has been ahead every year.
East Asia & Pacific ranks 32nd and South Korea ranks 31st of 44 groups.
South Korea has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | East Asia & Pacific | South Korea | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.9% | 17.6% | 11.6% | South Korea |
| 2000s | 5.8% | 12.8% | 7.0% | South Korea |
| 2010s | 5.4% | 12.6% | 7.2% | South Korea |
| 2020s | 5.1% | 10.8% | 5.7% | South Korea |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher military expenditure, East Asia & Pacific or South Korea?
- South Korea, at 10.8% against 5.4% in East Asia & Pacific as of 2025.
- What is the difference in military expenditure between East Asia & Pacific and South Korea?
- 5.4%, with South Korea ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for East Asia & Pacific and South Korea?
- 30 years are reported by both, from 1995 to 2024.
- How do East Asia & Pacific and South Korea rank globally for military expenditure?
- East Asia & Pacific ranks 32nd and South Korea ranks 31st of 44 groups.
- Where does this data come from?
- SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure