Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) in South Korea
South Korea: Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) was 222.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
222.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
down 78.5%
World rank
36th
of 174 countries
All-time high
1.97 billion SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1996
All-time low
65.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1962
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Arms imports in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
In 2025, arms imports in South Korea stood at 222.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values.
That represents a change of down 78.5% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in South Korea peaked at 1.97 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1996 and was at its lowest, 65.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1962.
South Korea ranks 36th of 174 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 122.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1961 | 113.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -7.4% |
| 1962 | 65.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -42.5% |
| 1963 | 214.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +229.2% |
| 1964 | 332.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +55.1% |
| 1965 | 632.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +90.4% |
| 1966 | 578.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -8.5% |
| 1967 | 137.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -76.3% |
| 1968 | 359.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +162.0% |
| 1969 | 586.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +63.2% |
| 1970 | 100.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -82.9% |
| 1971 | 250.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +150.0% |
| 1972 | 413.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +65.2% |
| 1973 | 269.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -34.9% |
| 1974 | 458.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +70.3% |
| 1975 | 661.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +44.3% |
| 1976 | 556.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -15.9% |
| 1977 | 1.20 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +115.6% |
| 1978 | 399.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -66.7% |
| 1979 | 1.32 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +231.6% |
| 1980 | 877.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -33.7% |
| 1981 | 872.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -0.6% |
| 1982 | 673.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -22.8% |
| 1983 | 496.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -26.3% |
| 1984 | 524.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +5.6% |
| 1985 | 760.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +45.0% |
| 1986 | 857.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +12.8% |
| 1987 | 773.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -9.8% |
| 1988 | 1.24 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +60.0% |
| 1989 | 1.83 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +48.3% |
| 1990 | 1.20 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -34.6% |
| 1991 | 908.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -24.4% |
| 1992 | 782.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -13.9% |
| 1993 | 1.01 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +29.3% |
| 1994 | 1.00 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 1.95 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +94.2% |
| 1996 | 1.97 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 1.22 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -38.2% |
| 1998 | 1.42 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +16.2% |
| 1999 | 1.64 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +15.6% |
| 2000 | 1.39 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -15.0% |
| 2001 | 768.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -44.9% |
| 2002 | 519.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -32.4% |
| 2003 | 767.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +47.8% |
| 2004 | 1.06 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +38.3% |
| 2005 | 801.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -24.5% |
| 2006 | 1.66 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +107.0% |
| 2007 | 1.73 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 1.69 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 798.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -52.8% |
| 2010 | 1.30 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +62.8% |
| 2011 | 1.57 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +20.7% |
| 2012 | 1.08 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -31.3% |
| 2013 | 189.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -82.5% |
| 2014 | 742.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +292.6% |
| 2015 | 268.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -63.9% |
| 2016 | 1.04 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +287.3% |
| 2017 | 962.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 1.03 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +7.1% |
| 2019 | 1.60 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +55.8% |
| 2020 | 1.27 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -20.7% |
| 2021 | 812.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -36.2% |
| 2022 | 423.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -47.9% |
| 2023 | 218.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -48.5% |
| 2024 | 1.03 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +372.9% |
| 2025 | 222.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -78.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 222.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for high income countries, which is 141.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 1.6× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 222.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 56.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 4.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values) in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +372.9% | 218.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.03 billion SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 313.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 65.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 632.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1970s | 562.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 100.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.32 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 890.40 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 496.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.83 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.31 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 782.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.97 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.12 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 519.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.73 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2010s | 977.80 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 189.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.60 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 663.17 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 218.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.27 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 33 Denmark 278.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 34 Spain 237.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 35 France 236.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 37 China 207.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 38 Estonia 204.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 39 New Zealand 200.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
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 (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)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 1.01 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in South Korea?
- Arms imports in South Korea was 222.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2025, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.97 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1996.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1962.
- How does South Korea rank for arms imports?
- South Korea ranks 36th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Arms transfers (imports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.