Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) in South Korea
South Korea: Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) was 2.0% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Armed forces personnel in South Korea, 1990–2020
Source: The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Measured in % of total labor force.
Analysis
In 2020, armed forces personnel in South Korea stood at 2.0%. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.
The figure is down 6.5% on the previous year and down 24.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel in South Korea peaked at 3.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 2020.
That places South Korea 28th out of 171 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.
Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.4% | — |
| 1991 | 3.9% | +11.9% |
| 1992 | 3.8% | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 3.7% | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | -16.5% |
| 1996 | 3.1% | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 3.0% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 3.1% | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 3.1% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 3.0% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 3.0% | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 3.0% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 2.9% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 2.9% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 2.9% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 2.8% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 2.8% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 2.7% | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 2.6% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 2.6% | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 2.5% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 2.5% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | -6.5% |
| 2015 | 2.3% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 2.2% | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 2.1% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 2.0% | -6.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.9%, 2.2× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.0%, 1.9× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.4% | 3.0% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.9% | 2.7% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More public sector data for South Korea
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 222.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 19.5 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0005 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 362.84 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel in South Korea?
- Armed forces personnel in South Korea was 2.0% in 2020, according to The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 2020.
- How does South Korea rank for armed forces personnel?
- South Korea ranks 28th out of 171 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance, International Institute for Strategic Studies, published as part of Armed forces personnel (% of total labor force). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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. Labor force comprises all people who meet the International Labour Organization's definition of the economically active population.