Military spending, annual growth rate in North Korea
North Korea: Military spending, annual growth rate was 9.69 % change on previous year in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
9.69 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 9.5%
World rank
45th
of 172 countries
All-time high
256.52 % change on previous year
in 1958
All-time low
-45 % change on previous year
in 1959
Years of data
70
1949–2018
Military spending, annual growth rate in North Korea, 1949–2018
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 9.69 % change on previous year for military spending, annual growth rate in 2018.
That represents a change of down 9.5% on the previous year and up 161.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, annual growth rate in North Korea peaked at 256.52 % change on previous year in 1958 and was at its lowest, -45 % change on previous year, in 1959.
North Korea ranks 45th of 172 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, annual growth rate in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 13 % change on previous year | — |
| 1950 | -16.25 % change on previous year | -225.0% |
| 1951 | 5.91 % change on previous year | -136.4% |
| 1952 | 13.21 % change on previous year | +123.7% |
| 1953 | 18.52 % change on previous year | +40.1% |
| 1954 | 6.21 % change on previous year | -66.5% |
| 1955 | 7.51 % change on previous year | +21.0% |
| 1956 | 23.59 % change on previous year | +214.0% |
| 1957 | 22.31 % change on previous year | -5.4% |
| 1958 | 256.52 % change on previous year | +1049.7% |
| 1959 | -45 % change on previous year | -117.5% |
| 1960 | -15.94 % change on previous year | -64.6% |
| 1961 | 1.6 % change on previous year | -110.0% |
| 1962 | 15.84 % change on previous year | +890.8% |
| 1963 | 4.65 % change on previous year | -70.6% |
| 1964 | 6.11 % change on previous year | +31.2% |
| 1965 | 13.34 % change on previous year | +118.6% |
| 1966 | 3.87 % change on previous year | -71.0% |
| 1967 | 15.6 % change on previous year | +303.0% |
| 1968 | 19.36 % change on previous year | +24.1% |
| 1969 | 4.1 % change on previous year | -78.8% |
| 1970 | -2.33 % change on previous year | -156.8% |
| 1971 | 2.79 % change on previous year | -219.7% |
| 1972 | -9 % change on previous year | -422.9% |
| 1973 | 1.19 % change on previous year | -113.3% |
| 1974 | 14.32 % change on previous year | +1100.5% |
| 1975 | 1.87 % change on previous year | -86.9% |
| 1976 | 12.57 % change on previous year | +572.5% |
| 1977 | -3.03 % change on previous year | -124.1% |
| 1978 | -11.13 % change on previous year | +266.6% |
| 1979 | 3.13 % change on previous year | -128.1% |
| 1980 | 4.62 % change on previous year | +47.7% |
| 1981 | 23.79 % change on previous year | +415.1% |
| 1982 | 11.08 % change on previous year | -53.4% |
| 1983 | 17.32 % change on previous year | +56.3% |
| 1984 | 25.29 % change on previous year | +46.0% |
| 1985 | 8.39 % change on previous year | -66.8% |
| 1986 | 0.3864 % change on previous year | -95.4% |
| 1987 | -0.0518 % change on previous year | -113.4% |
| 1988 | 2.21 % change on previous year | -4367.4% |
| 1989 | 0.9502 % change on previous year | -57.0% |
| 1990 | 1.75 % change on previous year | +83.9% |
| 1991 | -5.11 % change on previous year | -392.6% |
| 1992 | 5.55 % change on previous year | -208.7% |
| 1993 | -2.62 % change on previous year | -147.1% |
| 1994 | -8.44 % change on previous year | +222.4% |
| 1995 | -7.23 % change on previous year | -14.3% |
| 1996 | -12.87 % change on previous year | +78.0% |
| 1997 | -32.08 % change on previous year | +149.2% |
| 1998 | -16.38 % change on previous year | -48.9% |
| 1999 | -5.15 % change on previous year | -68.5% |
| 2000 | 6.34 % change on previous year | -223.1% |
| 2001 | 16.13 % change on previous year | +154.3% |
| 2002 | 35.9 % change on previous year | +122.6% |
| 2003 | 5.05 % change on previous year | -85.9% |
| 2004 | 0.4671 % change on previous year | -90.8% |
| 2005 | -22.35 % change on previous year | -4885.8% |
| 2006 | -9.51 % change on previous year | -57.4% |
| 2007 | -12.22 % change on previous year | +28.5% |
| 2008 | -15.65 % change on previous year | +28.0% |
| 2009 | -12.73 % change on previous year | -18.7% |
| 2010 | -15.41 % change on previous year | +21.0% |
| 2011 | -10.78 % change on previous year | -30.0% |
| 2012 | -10.56 % change on previous year | -2.0% |
| 2013 | -12.14 % change on previous year | +14.9% |
| 2014 | -17.37 % change on previous year | +43.1% |
| 2015 | -14.46 % change on previous year | -16.8% |
| 2016 | -0.4238 % change on previous year | -97.1% |
| 2017 | 10.7 % change on previous year | -2624.9% |
| 2018 | 9.69 % change on previous year | -9.5% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 9.69 % change on previous year is above the median for low income countries, which is 7.99 % change on previous year, 1.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 9.69 % change on previous year is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.33 % change on previous year, 2.9× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, annual growth rate in North 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | -4885.8% | 0.4671 % change on previous year | -22.35 % change on previous year |
| 1988 | +4367.4% | -0.0518 % change on previous year | 2.21 % change on previous year |
| 2017 | +2624.9% | -0.4238 % change on previous year | 10.7 % change on previous year |
| 1974 | +1100.5% | 1.19 % change on previous year | 14.32 % change on previous year |
| 1958 | +1049.7% | 22.31 % change on previous year | 256.52 % change on previous year |
| 1962 | +890.8% | 1.6 % change on previous year | 15.84 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 13 % change on previous year | 13 % change on previous year | 13 % change on previous year | 1 |
| 1950s | 29.25 % change on previous year | -45 % change on previous year | 256.52 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.85 % change on previous year | -15.94 % change on previous year | 19.36 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.04 % change on previous year | -11.13 % change on previous year | 14.32 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.4 % change on previous year | -0.0518 % change on previous year | 25.29 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | -8.26 % change on previous year | -32.08 % change on previous year | 5.55 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.8577 % change on previous year | -22.35 % change on previous year | 35.9 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | -6.75 % change on previous year | -17.37 % change on previous year | 10.7 % change on previous year | 9 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 42 Portugal 10.03 % change on previous year compare
- 43 Nicaragua 9.98 % change on previous year compare
- 44 Ethiopia 9.75 % change on previous year compare
- 46 Peru 9.58 % change on previous year compare
- 47 Iran 9.2 % change on previous year compare
- 48 Netherlands 9.05 % change on previous year compare
More reference data data for North Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 3.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Agricultural Soils 1,939 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.838 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 325.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 11.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 1,939 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 24.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending, annual growth rate in North Korea?
- Military spending, annual growth rate in North Korea was 9.69 % change on previous year in 2018, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, annual growth rate recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 256.52 % change on previous year in 1958.
- What is the lowest military spending, annual growth rate recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -45 % change on previous year in 1959.
- How does North Korea rank for military spending, annual growth rate?
- North Korea ranks 45th out of 172 countries with data for 2018.
- Is military spending, annual growth rate rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 161.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 70 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Military spending. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Military spending Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
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
The year-on-year percentage change in Military spending. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.