Military spending, annual growth rate in South Korea
South Korea: Military spending, annual growth rate was 1.35 % change on previous year in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.35 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 142.9%
World rank
144th
of 172 countries
All-time high
164.37 % change on previous year
in 1950
All-time low
-20.5 % change on previous year
in 1998
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Military spending, annual growth rate in South Korea, 1950–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending, annual growth rate in South Korea stood at 1.35 % change on previous year.
The figure is up 142.9% on the previous year and down 56.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, annual growth rate in South Korea peaked at 164.37 % change on previous year in 1950 and was at its lowest, -20.5 % change on previous year, in 1998.
That places South Korea 144th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, annual growth rate in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 164.37 % change on previous year | — |
| 1951 | 0.6154 % change on previous year | -99.6% |
| 1952 | 59.65 % change on previous year | +9592.1% |
| 1953 | 33.61 % change on previous year | -43.6% |
| 1954 | 21.7 % change on previous year | -35.4% |
| 1955 | 5.43 % change on previous year | -75.0% |
| 1956 | 17.07 % change on previous year | +214.6% |
| 1957 | -8.2 % change on previous year | -148.0% |
| 1958 | 2.47 % change on previous year | -130.2% |
| 1959 | 5.37 % change on previous year | +116.8% |
| 1960 | -4.55 % change on previous year | -184.7% |
| 1961 | -1.46 % change on previous year | -67.8% |
| 1962 | 9.98 % change on previous year | -781.6% |
| 1963 | -12.12 % change on previous year | -221.5% |
| 1964 | -0.8646 % change on previous year | -92.9% |
| 1965 | -16.36 % change on previous year | +1792.2% |
| 1966 | 46.64 % change on previous year | -385.1% |
| 1967 | 13.44 % change on previous year | -71.2% |
| 1968 | 24.84 % change on previous year | +84.9% |
| 1969 | 19.95 % change on previous year | -19.7% |
| 1970 | 0.9281 % change on previous year | -95.3% |
| 1971 | 21.75 % change on previous year | +2243.3% |
| 1972 | 3.75 % change on previous year | -82.7% |
| 1973 | 3.87 % change on previous year | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 21.53 % change on previous year | +456.7% |
| 1975 | 20.79 % change on previous year | -3.5% |
| 1976 | 35.73 % change on previous year | +71.9% |
| 1977 | 23.57 % change on previous year | -34.0% |
| 1978 | 20.29 % change on previous year | -13.9% |
| 1979 | 17.06 % change on previous year | -15.9% |
| 1980 | 0.1579 % change on previous year | -99.1% |
| 1981 | 16.27 % change on previous year | +10203.2% |
| 1982 | 4.71 % change on previous year | -71.1% |
| 1983 | -5.3 % change on previous year | -212.6% |
| 1984 | 4.33 % change on previous year | -181.6% |
| 1985 | 6.99 % change on previous year | +61.5% |
| 1986 | 10.78 % change on previous year | +54.3% |
| 1987 | 6.62 % change on previous year | -38.6% |
| 1988 | 13.45 % change on previous year | +103.2% |
| 1989 | 9.81 % change on previous year | -27.1% |
| 1990 | 6.26 % change on previous year | -36.2% |
| 1991 | 0.3544 % change on previous year | -94.3% |
| 1992 | 10.08 % change on previous year | +2743.4% |
| 1993 | 3.56 % change on previous year | -64.7% |
| 1994 | 5.36 % change on previous year | +50.4% |
| 1995 | 11 % change on previous year | +105.4% |
| 1996 | 2.33 % change on previous year | -78.8% |
| 1997 | 3.98 % change on previous year | +70.7% |
| 1998 | -20.5 % change on previous year | -614.6% |
| 1999 | -0.4555 % change on previous year | -97.8% |
| 2000 | -4.12 % change on previous year | +805.3% |
| 2001 | -0.5972 % change on previous year | -85.5% |
| 2002 | 7.19 % change on previous year | -1304.5% |
| 2003 | 8.52 % change on previous year | +18.5% |
| 2004 | 10.02 % change on previous year | +17.6% |
| 2005 | 10.87 % change on previous year | +8.5% |
| 2006 | 10.93 % change on previous year | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 6.2 % change on previous year | -43.2% |
| 2008 | -4.57 % change on previous year | -173.7% |
| 2009 | -7.06 % change on previous year | +54.4% |
| 2010 | 10.76 % change on previous year | -252.4% |
| 2011 | 3.34 % change on previous year | -69.0% |
| 2012 | 7.46 % change on previous year | +123.8% |
| 2013 | 3.06 % change on previous year | -59.0% |
| 2014 | 10.81 % change on previous year | +253.5% |
| 2015 | -3.8 % change on previous year | -135.1% |
| 2016 | 5.48 % change on previous year | -244.5% |
| 2017 | 13.81 % change on previous year | +151.8% |
| 2018 | 6.13 % change on previous year | -55.6% |
| 2019 | 7.19 % change on previous year | +17.2% |
| 2020 | 2.95 % change on previous year | -59.0% |
| 2021 | 6.33 % change on previous year | +114.7% |
| 2022 | -3.14 % change on previous year | -149.6% |
| 2023 | 1.35 % change on previous year | -142.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.35 % change on previous year is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.57 % change on previous year, 24% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.35 % change on previous year is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.33 % change on previous year, 40% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +10203.2% | 0.1579 % change on previous year | 16.27 % change on previous year |
| 1952 | +9592.1% | 0.6154 % change on previous year | 59.65 % change on previous year |
| 1992 | +2743.4% | 0.3544 % change on previous year | 10.08 % change on previous year |
| 1971 | +2243.3% | 0.9281 % change on previous year | 21.75 % change on previous year |
| 1965 | -1792.2% | -0.8646 % change on previous year | -16.36 % change on previous year |
| 2002 | +1304.5% | -0.5972 % change on previous year | 7.19 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 30.21 % change on previous year | -8.2 % change on previous year | 164.37 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.95 % change on previous year | -16.36 % change on previous year | 46.64 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.93 % change on previous year | 0.9281 % change on previous year | 35.73 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.78 % change on previous year | -5.3 % change on previous year | 16.27 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.2 % change on previous year | -20.5 % change on previous year | 11 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.74 % change on previous year | -7.06 % change on previous year | 10.93 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.42 % change on previous year | -3.8 % change on previous year | 13.81 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.87 % change on previous year | -3.14 % change on previous year | 6.33 % change on previous year | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 141 Greece 1.48 % change on previous year compare
- 142 Bhutan 1.41 % change on previous year compare
- 143 Iceland 1.4 % change on previous year compare
- 145 Colombia 1.34 % change on previous year compare
- 146 Eswatini 0.9074 % change on previous year compare
- 147 Libya 0.8533 % change on previous year compare
More reference data data for South Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending, annual growth rate in South Korea?
- Military spending, annual growth rate in South Korea was 1.35 % change on previous year in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, annual growth rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 164.37 % change on previous year in 1950.
- What is the lowest military spending, annual growth rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -20.5 % change on previous year in 1998.
- How does South Korea rank for military spending, annual growth rate?
- South Korea ranks 144th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 56.0%. 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 spending, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 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.