Military expenditure in South Korea
South Korea: Military expenditure was 2.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
2.6%
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
44th
of 164 countries
All-time high
7.2%
in 1960
All-time low
2.2%
in 2004
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Military expenditure in South Korea, 1960–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in South Korea is 2.6%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% on the previous year and up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in South Korea peaked at 7.2% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 2004.
South Korea ranks 44th of 164 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Military expenditure in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.2% | — |
| 1961 | 6.7% | -6.0% |
| 1962 | 6.9% | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 4.8% | -29.8% |
| 1964 | 4.1% | -14.3% |
| 1965 | 4.4% | +6.7% |
| 1966 | 4.7% | +6.3% |
| 1967 | 4.7% | -0.1% |
| 1968 | 4.7% | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 4.7% | -0.8% |
| 1970 | 4.4% | -6.2% |
| 1971 | 4.7% | +7.5% |
| 1972 | 5.0% | +5.8% |
| 1973 | 4.0% | -19.5% |
| 1974 | 4.5% | +12.6% |
| 1975 | 4.9% | +7.4% |
| 1976 | 5.9% | +21.1% |
| 1977 | 6.0% | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 6.4% | +5.6% |
| 1979 | 5.5% | -13.3% |
| 1980 | 6.4% | +15.8% |
| 1981 | 6.4% | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 6.2% | -2.7% |
| 1983 | 5.7% | -8.2% |
| 1984 | 5.3% | -8.2% |
| 1985 | 5.2% | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 4.9% | -5.3% |
| 1987 | 4.5% | -9.7% |
| 1988 | 4.3% | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 4.3% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 4.0% | -6.7% |
| 1991 | 3.7% | -7.3% |
| 1992 | 3.7% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 3.4% | -7.4% |
| 1994 | 3.2% | -6.6% |
| 1995 | 2.9% | -9.4% |
| 1996 | 2.7% | -5.1% |
| 1997 | 2.7% | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 2.8% | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 2.5% | -10.8% |
| 2000 | 2.3% | -7.3% |
| 2001 | 2.3% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 2.2% | -4.9% |
| 2003 | 2.2% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 2.2% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 2.3% | +5.3% |
| 2006 | 2.3% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 2.4% | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 2.4% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 2.4% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 2.4% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 2.4% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 2.5% | +6.7% |
| 2020 | 2.6% | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 2.6% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 2.6% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | -1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.3% | 4.1% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.1% | 4.0% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.3% | 4.3% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.2% | 2.5% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More public sector data for South Korea
- Arms imports 1.01 billion SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- 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)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 919.23 current USD per person (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0254 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate -0.4824 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 47.57 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 2,234 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in South Korea?
- Military expenditure in South Korea was 2.6% in 2024, 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 7.2% in 1960.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 2004.
- How does South Korea rank for military expenditure?
- South Korea ranks 44th out of 164 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product