Military spending, per capita in South Korea
South Korea: Military spending, per capita was 1,103 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1,103 constant 2022 US$ per person
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
17th
of 171 countries
All-time high
1,122 constant 2022 US$ per person
in 2021
All-time low
27.31 constant 2022 US$ per person
in 1965
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Military spending, per capita in South Korea, 1960–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2022 US$ per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending, per capita in South Korea is 1,103 constant 2022 US$ per person, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 52.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in South Korea peaked at 1,122 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2021 and was at its lowest, 27.31 constant 2022 US$ per person, in 1965.
South Korea ranks 17th of 171 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, per capita in South Korea, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 39.69 constant 2022 US$ per person | — |
| 1961 | 37.96 constant 2022 US$ per person | -4.3% |
| 1962 | 40.57 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.9% |
| 1963 | 34.68 constant 2022 US$ per person | -14.5% |
| 1964 | 33.49 constant 2022 US$ per person | -3.4% |
| 1965 | 27.31 constant 2022 US$ per person | -18.5% |
| 1966 | 39.05 constant 2022 US$ per person | +43.0% |
| 1967 | 43.27 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.8% |
| 1968 | 52.78 constant 2022 US$ per person | +22.0% |
| 1969 | 61.89 constant 2022 US$ per person | +17.3% |
| 1970 | 61.12 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.3% |
| 1971 | 72.96 constant 2022 US$ per person | +19.4% |
| 1972 | 74.29 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 75.81 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 90.57 constant 2022 US$ per person | +19.5% |
| 1975 | 107.57 constant 2022 US$ per person | +18.8% |
| 1976 | 143.7 constant 2022 US$ per person | +33.6% |
| 1977 | 174.82 constant 2022 US$ per person | +21.7% |
| 1978 | 207.11 constant 2022 US$ per person | +18.5% |
| 1979 | 238.79 constant 2022 US$ per person | +15.3% |
| 1980 | 235.47 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 269.53 constant 2022 US$ per person | +14.5% |
| 1982 | 277.89 constant 2022 US$ per person | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 259.31 constant 2022 US$ per person | -6.7% |
| 1984 | 267.21 constant 2022 US$ per person | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 283.08 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.9% |
| 1986 | 310.49 constant 2022 US$ per person | +9.7% |
| 1987 | 327.8 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.6% |
| 1988 | 368.27 constant 2022 US$ per person | +12.3% |
| 1989 | 400.4 constant 2022 US$ per person | +8.7% |
| 1990 | 421.28 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.2% |
| 1991 | 418.61 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 456.02 constant 2022 US$ per person | +8.9% |
| 1993 | 467.49 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 487.61 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 535.84 constant 2022 US$ per person | +9.9% |
| 1996 | 543.15 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 559.52 constant 2022 US$ per person | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 441.62 constant 2022 US$ per person | -21.1% |
| 1999 | 436.49 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 415.01 constant 2022 US$ per person | -4.9% |
| 2001 | 409.38 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 436.29 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 471.02 constant 2022 US$ per person | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 516.18 constant 2022 US$ per person | +9.6% |
| 2005 | 571.07 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.6% |
| 2006 | 630.16 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.3% |
| 2007 | 665.88 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 630.62 constant 2022 US$ per person | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 583.09 constant 2022 US$ per person | -7.5% |
| 2010 | 642.62 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.2% |
| 2011 | 658.97 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 704.45 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.9% |
| 2013 | 722.7 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 795.83 constant 2022 US$ per person | +10.1% |
| 2015 | 761.6 constant 2022 US$ per person | -4.3% |
| 2016 | 800.17 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 908.1 constant 2022 US$ per person | +13.5% |
| 2018 | 959.61 constant 2022 US$ per person | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 1,025 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.8% |
| 2020 | 1,054 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 1,122 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.5% |
| 2022 | 1,089 constant 2022 US$ per person | -3.0% |
| 2023 | 1,103 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1,103 constant 2022 US$ per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 726.38 constant 2022 US$ per person, 1.5× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1,103 constant 2022 US$ per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 81.86 constant 2022 US$ per person, 13.5× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 41.07 constant 2022 US$ per person | 27.31 constant 2022 US$ per person | 61.89 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 124.67 constant 2022 US$ per person | 61.12 constant 2022 US$ per person | 238.79 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 299.94 constant 2022 US$ per person | 235.47 constant 2022 US$ per person | 400.4 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 476.76 constant 2022 US$ per person | 418.61 constant 2022 US$ per person | 559.52 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 532.87 constant 2022 US$ per person | 409.38 constant 2022 US$ per person | 665.88 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 797.91 constant 2022 US$ per person | 642.62 constant 2022 US$ per person | 1,025 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,092 constant 2022 US$ per person | 1,054 constant 2022 US$ per person | 1,122 constant 2022 US$ per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 14 United Kingdom 1,229 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 15 Finland 1,205 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 16 Bahrain 1,107 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 18 France 1,053 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 19 Netherlands 1,040 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 20 Luxembourg 963.06 constant 2022 US$ per person 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, per capita in South Korea?
- Military spending, per capita in South Korea was 1,103 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1,122 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2021.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.31 constant 2022 US$ per person in 1965.
- How does South Korea rank for military spending, per capita?
- South Korea ranks 17th out of 171 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.6%. 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, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 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.