Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in South Korea
South Korea: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 10.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in South Korea, 1995–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in South Korea is 10.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 4.2% on the previous year and down 14.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in South Korea peaked at 20.3% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 9.7%, in 2022.
That places South Korea 31st out of 164 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 20.3% | — |
| 1996 | 18.5% | -8.8% |
| 1997 | 18.2% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 16.4% | -9.6% |
| 1999 | 14.5% | -11.5% |
| 2000 | 14.4% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 13.5% | -6.6% |
| 2002 | 13.7% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 12.2% | -10.9% |
| 2004 | 11.7% | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 12.6% | +7.3% |
| 2006 | 12.3% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 12.1% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 12.5% | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 12.8% | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 13.2% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 13.0% | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 12.7% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 12.6% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 12.8% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 12.6% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 12.6% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 12.3% | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 12.2% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 11.8% | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 11.2% | -5.7% |
| 2021 | 10.9% | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 9.7% | -11.2% |
| 2023 | 11.2% | +16.2% |
| 2024 | 11.3% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 10.8% | -4.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 10.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.8%, 2.3× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 10.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.9%, 2.2× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.6% | 14.5% | 20.3% | 5 |
| 2000s | 12.8% | 11.7% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.6% | 11.8% | 13.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.8% | 9.7% | 11.3% | 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 10.8% 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 20.3% in 1995.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.7% in 2022.
- How does South Korea rank for military expenditure?
- South Korea ranks 31st out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.6%. 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 general government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure