Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in South Korea
South Korea: Military expenditure (current USD), per capita was 919.23 current USD per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in South Korea, 1960–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current USD per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure (current usd), per capita in South Korea is 919.23 current USD per person, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 24.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure (current usd), per capita in South Korea peaked at 982.7 current USD per person in 2021 and was at its lowest, 4.6 current USD per person, in 1965.
South Korea ranks 24th of 167 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current USD), per capita in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current USD per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 11.02 current USD per person | — |
| 1961 | 6.1 current USD per person | -44.7% |
| 1962 | 7.02 current USD per person | +15.2% |
| 1963 | 6.8 current USD per person | -3.1% |
| 1964 | 4.91 current USD per person | -27.8% |
| 1965 | 4.6 current USD per person | -6.3% |
| 1966 | 6.01 current USD per person | +30.6% |
| 1967 | 7.24 current USD per person | +20.4% |
| 1968 | 9.04 current USD per person | +24.9% |
| 1969 | 11 current USD per person | +21.7% |
| 1970 | 11.98 current USD per person | +8.9% |
| 1971 | 14.02 current USD per person | +17.0% |
| 1972 | 15.88 current USD per person | +13.3% |
| 1973 | 15.97 current USD per person | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 24.59 current USD per person | +53.9% |
| 1975 | 29.22 current USD per person | +18.9% |
| 1976 | 47.66 current USD per person | +63.1% |
| 1977 | 61.45 current USD per person | +28.9% |
| 1978 | 86.29 current USD per person | +40.4% |
| 1979 | 94.4 current USD per person | +9.4% |
| 1980 | 104.42 current USD per person | +10.6% |
| 1981 | 115.28 current USD per person | +10.4% |
| 1982 | 118.15 current USD per person | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 118.12 current USD per person | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 117.79 current USD per person | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 119.68 current USD per person | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 129.21 current USD per person | +8.0% |
| 1987 | 145.14 current USD per person | +12.3% |
| 1988 | 183.97 current USD per person | +26.8% |
| 1989 | 223.07 current USD per person | +21.3% |
| 1990 | 235.85 current USD per person | +5.7% |
| 1991 | 253.06 current USD per person | +7.3% |
| 1992 | 265.49 current USD per person | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 280.07 current USD per person | +5.5% |
| 1994 | 302.84 current USD per person | +8.1% |
| 1995 | 356.71 current USD per person | +17.8% |
| 1996 | 360.44 current USD per person | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 323.12 current USD per person | -10.4% |
| 1998 | 225.94 current USD per person | -30.1% |
| 1999 | 259.46 current USD per person | +14.8% |
| 2000 | 293.59 current USD per person | +13.2% |
| 2001 | 273.21 current USD per person | -6.9% |
| 2002 | 295.98 current USD per person | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 330.89 current USD per person | +11.8% |
| 2004 | 370.82 current USD per person | +12.1% |
| 2005 | 459.89 current USD per person | +24.0% |
| 2006 | 519.78 current USD per person | +13.0% |
| 2007 | 569.52 current USD per person | +9.6% |
| 2008 | 531.5 current USD per person | -6.7% |
| 2009 | 498.41 current USD per person | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 568.58 current USD per person | +14.1% |
| 2011 | 620.62 current USD per person | +9.2% |
| 2012 | 636.49 current USD per person | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 680.39 current USD per person | +6.9% |
| 2014 | 740 current USD per person | +8.8% |
| 2015 | 716.87 current USD per person | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 720.17 current USD per person | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 762.64 current USD per person | +5.9% |
| 2018 | 834.93 current USD per person | +9.5% |
| 2019 | 851.97 current USD per person | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 889.67 current USD per person | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 982.7 current USD per person | +10.5% |
| 2022 | 897.29 current USD per person | -8.7% |
| 2023 | 924.38 current USD per person | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 919.23 current USD per person | -0.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 919.23 current USD per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 755.22 current USD per person, 1.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 919.23 current USD per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 80.32 current USD per person, 11.4× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.37 current USD per person | 4.6 current USD per person | 11.02 current USD per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 40.15 current USD per person | 11.98 current USD per person | 94.4 current USD per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 137.48 current USD per person | 104.42 current USD per person | 223.07 current USD per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 286.3 current USD per person | 225.94 current USD per person | 360.44 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 414.36 current USD per person | 273.21 current USD per person | 569.52 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 713.26 current USD per person | 568.58 current USD per person | 851.97 current USD per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 922.65 current USD per person | 889.67 current USD per person | 982.7 current USD per person | 5 |
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)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 7 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure (current usd), per capita in South Korea?
- Military expenditure (current usd), per capita in South Korea was 919.23 current USD per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military expenditure (current usd), per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 982.7 current USD per person in 2021.
- What is the lowest military expenditure (current usd), per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.6 current USD per person in 1965.
- How does South Korea rank for military expenditure (current usd), per capita?
- South Korea ranks 24th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure (current usd), per capita rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military expenditure (current USD), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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How this figure is calculated
Military expenditure (current USD) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military expenditure (current USD) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military expenditure SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Military expenditure (current USD) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.