Military expenditure (current LCU) in South Korea
South Korea: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 67.92 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
67.92 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 4.7%
World rank
6th
of 168 countries
All-time high
67.92 trillion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
17.40 billion current LCU
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military expenditure in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in South Korea stood at 67.92 trillion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.7% on the previous year and up 64.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in South Korea peaked at 67.92 trillion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 17.40 billion current LCU, in 1960.
South Korea ranks 6th of 168 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 17.40 billion current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 19.60 billion current LCU | +12.6% |
| 1962 | 24.20 billion current LCU | +23.5% |
| 1963 | 24.10 billion current LCU | -0.4% |
| 1964 | 29.40 billion current LCU | +22.0% |
| 1965 | 35.20 billion current LCU | +19.7% |
| 1966 | 48.00 billion current LCU | +36.4% |
| 1967 | 59.00 billion current LCU | +22.9% |
| 1968 | 77.10 billion current LCU | +30.7% |
| 1969 | 100.00 billion current LCU | +29.7% |
| 1970 | 120.00 billion current LCU | +20.0% |
| 1971 | 160.00 billion current LCU | +33.3% |
| 1972 | 209.00 billion current LCU | +30.6% |
| 1973 | 217.00 billion current LCU | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 345.00 billion current LCU | +59.0% |
| 1975 | 499.00 billion current LCU | +44.6% |
| 1976 | 827.00 billion current LCU | +65.7% |
| 1977 | 1.08 trillion current LCU | +31.0% |
| 1978 | 1.54 trillion current LCU | +42.6% |
| 1979 | 1.72 trillion current LCU | +11.1% |
| 1980 | 2.42 trillion current LCU | +41.0% |
| 1981 | 3.04 trillion current LCU | +25.7% |
| 1982 | 3.40 trillion current LCU | +11.7% |
| 1983 | 3.66 trillion current LCU | +7.7% |
| 1984 | 3.84 trillion current LCU | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 4.25 trillion current LCU | +10.8% |
| 1986 | 4.69 trillion current LCU | +10.5% |
| 1987 | 4.97 trillion current LCU | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 5.66 trillion current LCU | +13.8% |
| 1989 | 6.36 trillion current LCU | +12.4% |
| 1990 | 7.16 trillion current LCU | +12.6% |
| 1991 | 8.04 trillion current LCU | +12.3% |
| 1992 | 9.07 trillion current LCU | +12.8% |
| 1993 | 9.94 trillion current LCU | +9.6% |
| 1994 | 10.86 trillion current LCU | +9.3% |
| 1995 | 12.41 trillion current LCU | +14.2% |
| 1996 | 13.20 trillion current LCU | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 14.13 trillion current LCU | +7.0% |
| 1998 | 14.66 trillion current LCU | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 14.38 trillion current LCU | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 15.61 trillion current LCU | +8.6% |
| 2001 | 16.71 trillion current LCU | +7.0% |
| 2002 | 17.64 trillion current LCU | +5.6% |
| 2003 | 18.88 trillion current LCU | +7.0% |
| 2004 | 20.42 trillion current LCU | +8.1% |
| 2005 | 22.69 trillion current LCU | +11.1% |
| 2006 | 24.04 trillion current LCU | +5.9% |
| 2007 | 25.76 trillion current LCU | +7.2% |
| 2008 | 28.73 trillion current LCU | +11.5% |
| 2009 | 31.38 trillion current LCU | +9.2% |
| 2010 | 32.57 trillion current LCU | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 34.35 trillion current LCU | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 35.99 trillion current LCU | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 37.57 trillion current LCU | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 39.54 trillion current LCU | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 41.37 trillion current LCU | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 42.82 trillion current LCU | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 44.45 trillion current LCU | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 47.39 trillion current LCU | +6.6% |
| 2019 | 51.41 trillion current LCU | +8.5% |
| 2020 | 54.40 trillion current LCU | +5.8% |
| 2021 | 58.19 trillion current LCU | +7.0% |
| 2022 | 59.87 trillion current LCU | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 62.41 trillion current LCU | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 64.90 trillion current LCU | +4.0% |
| 2025 | 67.92 trillion current LCU | +4.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 67.92 trillion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 17.84 billion current LCU, 3808.0× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 67.92 trillion current LCU is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 206.67 billion current LCU, 328.7× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current LCU) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +65.7% | 499.00 billion current LCU | 827.00 billion current LCU |
| 1974 | +59.0% | 217.00 billion current LCU | 345.00 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 43.40 billion current LCU | 17.40 billion current LCU | 100.00 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 671.90 billion current LCU | 120.00 billion current LCU | 1.72 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.23 trillion current LCU | 2.42 trillion current LCU | 6.36 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.38 trillion current LCU | 7.16 trillion current LCU | 14.66 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.19 trillion current LCU | 15.61 trillion current LCU | 31.38 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.75 trillion current LCU | 32.57 trillion current LCU | 51.41 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.28 trillion current LCU | 54.40 trillion current LCU | 67.92 trillion current LCU | 6 |
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 military expenditure in South Korea?
- Military expenditure in South Korea was 67.92 trillion current LCU in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 67.92 trillion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.40 billion current LCU in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for military expenditure?
- South Korea ranks 6th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)