Military spending, per capita in North Korea
North Korea: Military spending, per capita was 60.4 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
60.4 constant 2022 US$ per person
Change on year
up 9.2%
World rank
106th
of 171 countries
All-time high
478.11 constant 2022 US$ per person
in 1985
All-time low
50.19 constant 2022 US$ per person
in 2016
Years of data
59
1960–2018
Military spending, per capita in North Korea, 1960–2018
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2022 US$ per person.
Analysis
In 2018, military spending, per capita in North Korea stood at 60.4 constant 2022 US$ per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.2% on the previous year and down 57.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in North Korea peaked at 478.11 constant 2022 US$ per person in 1985 and was at its lowest, 50.19 constant 2022 US$ per person, in 2016.
That places North Korea 106th out of 171 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, per capita in North Korea, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 146.64 constant 2022 US$ per person | — |
| 1961 | 145.66 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.7% |
| 1962 | 164.99 constant 2022 US$ per person | +13.3% |
| 1963 | 168.49 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 174.3 constant 2022 US$ per person | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 192.63 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.5% |
| 1966 | 194.94 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.2% |
| 1967 | 219.07 constant 2022 US$ per person | +12.4% |
| 1968 | 254.07 constant 2022 US$ per person | +16.0% |
| 1969 | 257.29 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 244.59 constant 2022 US$ per person | -4.9% |
| 1971 | 244.95 constant 2022 US$ per person | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 217.29 constant 2022 US$ per person | -11.3% |
| 1973 | 214.84 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.1% |
| 1974 | 240.84 constant 2022 US$ per person | +12.1% |
| 1975 | 241.03 constant 2022 US$ per person | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 267.05 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.8% |
| 1977 | 255.25 constant 2022 US$ per person | -4.4% |
| 1978 | 223.75 constant 2022 US$ per person | -12.3% |
| 1979 | 227.57 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 234.77 constant 2022 US$ per person | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 286.48 constant 2022 US$ per person | +22.0% |
| 1982 | 313.57 constant 2022 US$ per person | +9.5% |
| 1983 | 362.52 constant 2022 US$ per person | +15.6% |
| 1984 | 447.59 constant 2022 US$ per person | +23.5% |
| 1985 | 478.11 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.8% |
| 1986 | 472.95 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 465.81 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 469.2 constant 2022 US$ per person | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 466.8 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 468.04 constant 2022 US$ per person | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 437.55 constant 2022 US$ per person | -6.5% |
| 1992 | 455.01 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 436.63 constant 2022 US$ per person | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 394.06 constant 2022 US$ per person | -9.7% |
| 1995 | 361.12 constant 2022 US$ per person | -8.4% |
| 1996 | 311.52 constant 2022 US$ per person | -13.7% |
| 1997 | 209.63 constant 2022 US$ per person | -32.7% |
| 1998 | 173.77 constant 2022 US$ per person | -17.1% |
| 1999 | 163.51 constant 2022 US$ per person | -5.9% |
| 2000 | 172.64 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 199.23 constant 2022 US$ per person | +15.4% |
| 2002 | 269.3 constant 2022 US$ per person | +35.2% |
| 2003 | 281.19 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 280.58 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 216.6 constant 2022 US$ per person | -22.8% |
| 2006 | 194.97 constant 2022 US$ per person | -10.0% |
| 2007 | 170.29 constant 2022 US$ per person | -12.7% |
| 2008 | 142.96 constant 2022 US$ per person | -16.1% |
| 2009 | 124.19 constant 2022 US$ per person | -13.1% |
| 2010 | 104.6 constant 2022 US$ per person | -15.8% |
| 2011 | 92.91 constant 2022 US$ per person | -11.2% |
| 2012 | 82.72 constant 2022 US$ per person | -11.0% |
| 2013 | 72.34 constant 2022 US$ per person | -12.5% |
| 2014 | 59.5 constant 2022 US$ per person | -17.8% |
| 2015 | 50.65 constant 2022 US$ per person | -14.9% |
| 2016 | 50.19 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 55.31 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.2% |
| 2018 | 60.4 constant 2022 US$ per person | +9.2% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 60.4 constant 2022 US$ per person is above the median for low income countries, which is 13.92 constant 2022 US$ per person, 4.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 60.4 constant 2022 US$ per person is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 81.86 constant 2022 US$ per person, 74% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 191.81 constant 2022 US$ per person | 145.66 constant 2022 US$ per person | 257.29 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 237.72 constant 2022 US$ per person | 214.84 constant 2022 US$ per person | 267.05 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 399.78 constant 2022 US$ per person | 234.77 constant 2022 US$ per person | 478.11 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 341.08 constant 2022 US$ per person | 163.51 constant 2022 US$ per person | 468.04 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 205.2 constant 2022 US$ per person | 124.19 constant 2022 US$ per person | 281.19 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.85 constant 2022 US$ per person | 50.19 constant 2022 US$ per person | 104.6 constant 2022 US$ per person | 9 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 103 India 66.27 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 104 Kyrgyzstan 61.96 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 105 Myanmar 61.02 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 107 Mauritania 58.5 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 108 Bolivia 58.28 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 109 Congo 57.97 constant 2022 US$ per person 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, per capita in North Korea?
- Military spending, per capita in North Korea was 60.4 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2018, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 478.11 constant 2022 US$ per person in 1985.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.19 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2016.
- How does North Korea rank for military spending, per capita?
- North Korea ranks 106th out of 171 countries with data for 2018.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.8%. 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, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 59 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military spending Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
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 divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.