Military spending, gaps filled in South Korea
South Korea: Military spending, gaps filled was 48.85 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending, gaps filled in South Korea, 1953–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 48.85 billion constant 2024 US$ for military spending, gaps filled in 2025. That is the highest value across all 73 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 33.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, gaps filled in South Korea peaked at 48.85 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 185.39 million constant 2024 US$, in 1953.
That places South Korea 11th out of 162 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, gaps filled in South Korea, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 185.39 million constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1954 | 465.05 million constant 2024 US$ | +150.9% |
| 1955 | 515.49 million constant 2024 US$ | +10.8% |
| 1956 | 738.86 million constant 2024 US$ | +43.3% |
| 1957 | 635.12 million constant 2024 US$ | -14.0% |
| 1958 | 749.75 million constant 2024 US$ | +18.0% |
| 1959 | 795.48 million constant 2024 US$ | +6.1% |
| 1960 | 771.44 million constant 2024 US$ | -3.0% |
| 1961 | 804.33 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1962 | 933.19 million constant 2024 US$ | +16.0% |
| 1963 | 771.43 million constant 2024 US$ | -17.3% |
| 1964 | 729.55 million constant 2024 US$ | -5.4% |
| 1965 | 766.49 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.1% |
| 1966 | 1.38 billion constant 2024 US$ | +80.6% |
| 1967 | 1.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | +11.2% |
| 1968 | 1.81 billion constant 2024 US$ | +17.8% |
| 1969 | 2.09 billion constant 2024 US$ | +15.3% |
| 1970 | 2.16 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1971 | 2.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | +17.5% |
| 1972 | 2.97 billion constant 2024 US$ | +17.0% |
| 1973 | 2.99 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 3.82 billion constant 2024 US$ | +27.9% |
| 1975 | 4.41 billion constant 2024 US$ | +15.4% |
| 1976 | 6.34 billion constant 2024 US$ | +43.7% |
| 1977 | 7.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | +18.9% |
| 1978 | 9.39 billion constant 2024 US$ | +24.6% |
| 1979 | 8.82 billion constant 2024 US$ | -6.1% |
| 1980 | 9.66 billion constant 2024 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1981 | 10.01 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 10.44 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 10.86 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 11.14 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 12.04 billion constant 2024 US$ | +8.1% |
| 1986 | 12.95 billion constant 2024 US$ | +7.5% |
| 1987 | 13.30 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 14.13 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.2% |
| 1989 | 15.02 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.3% |
| 1990 | 15.57 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 16.00 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 16.98 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.1% |
| 1993 | 17.77 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.6% |
| 1994 | 18.28 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 19.98 billion constant 2024 US$ | +9.3% |
| 1996 | 20.26 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 20.76 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 20.04 billion constant 2024 US$ | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 19.50 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 20.70 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.2% |
| 2001 | 21.29 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 21.88 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 22.62 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 23.62 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 25.54 billion constant 2024 US$ | +8.2% |
| 2006 | 26.46 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 27.66 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 29.47 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 31.32 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 31.58 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 32.02 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 32.83 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 33.83 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 35.16 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 36.52 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 37.44 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 38.13 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 40.06 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 43.29 billion constant 2024 US$ | +8.1% |
| 2020 | 45.56 billion constant 2024 US$ | +5.3% |
| 2021 | 47.55 billion constant 2024 US$ | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 46.55 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 46.84 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 47.60 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 48.85 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 48.85 billion constant 2024 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.82 billion constant 2024 US$, 7.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 48.85 billion constant 2024 US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.65 billion constant 2024 US$, 10.5× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, gaps filled in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | +150.9% | 185.39 million constant 2024 US$ | 465.05 million constant 2024 US$ |
| 1966 | +80.6% | 766.49 million constant 2024 US$ | 1.38 billion constant 2024 US$ |
| 1976 | +43.7% | 4.41 billion constant 2024 US$ | 6.34 billion constant 2024 US$ |
| 1956 | +43.3% | 515.49 million constant 2024 US$ | 738.86 million constant 2024 US$ |
| 1974 | +27.9% | 2.99 billion constant 2024 US$ | 3.82 billion constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 583.59 million constant 2024 US$ | 185.39 million constant 2024 US$ | 795.48 million constant 2024 US$ | 7 |
| 1960s | 1.16 billion constant 2024 US$ | 729.55 million constant 2024 US$ | 2.09 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.10 billion constant 2024 US$ | 2.16 billion constant 2024 US$ | 9.39 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.95 billion constant 2024 US$ | 9.66 billion constant 2024 US$ | 15.02 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.51 billion constant 2024 US$ | 15.57 billion constant 2024 US$ | 20.76 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.06 billion constant 2024 US$ | 20.70 billion constant 2024 US$ | 31.32 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.08 billion constant 2024 US$ | 31.58 billion constant 2024 US$ | 43.29 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.16 billion constant 2024 US$ | 45.56 billion constant 2024 US$ | 48.85 billion constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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, gaps filled in South Korea?
- Military spending, gaps filled in South Korea was 48.85 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, gaps filled recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 48.85 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest military spending, gaps filled recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 185.39 million constant 2024 US$ in 1953.
- How does South Korea rank for military spending, gaps filled?
- South Korea ranks 11th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, gaps filled rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.8%. 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, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending with 108 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Military spending Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – 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
Military spending with 108 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.