Military spending per military personnel in South Korea
South Korea: Military spending per military personnel was 101,370 constant 2022 US$ in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
101,370 constant 2022 US$
Change on year
down 3.1%
World rank
43rd
of 170 countries
All-time high
104,652 constant 2022 US$
in 2021
All-time low
1,228 constant 2022 US$
in 1955
Years of data
74
1949–2022
Military spending per military personnel in South Korea, 1949–2022
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 101,370 constant 2022 US$ for military spending per military personnel in 2022.
The figure is down 3.1% on the previous year and up 87.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per military personnel in South Korea peaked at 104,652 constant 2022 US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,228 constant 2022 US$, in 1955.
South Korea ranks 43rd of 170 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending per military personnel in South Korea, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 1,784 constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1950 | 2,986 constant 2022 US$ | +67.4% |
| 1951 | 1,671 constant 2022 US$ | -44.0% |
| 1952 | 1,561 constant 2022 US$ | -6.6% |
| 1953 | 1,386 constant 2022 US$ | -11.2% |
| 1954 | 1,349 constant 2022 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1955 | 1,228 constant 2022 US$ | -9.0% |
| 1956 | 1,614 constant 2022 US$ | +31.5% |
| 1957 | 1,482 constant 2022 US$ | -8.2% |
| 1958 | 1,518 constant 2022 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 1,600 constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1960 | 1,527 constant 2022 US$ | -4.5% |
| 1961 | 1,716 constant 2022 US$ | +12.4% |
| 1962 | 1,887 constant 2022 US$ | +10.0% |
| 1963 | 1,508 constant 2022 US$ | -20.1% |
| 1964 | 1,562 constant 2022 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1965 | 1,298 constant 2022 US$ | -16.9% |
| 1966 | 2,009 constant 2022 US$ | +54.8% |
| 1967 | 2,130 constant 2022 US$ | +6.0% |
| 1968 | 2,625 constant 2022 US$ | +23.2% |
| 1969 | 3,149 constant 2022 US$ | +19.9% |
| 1970 | 3,055 constant 2022 US$ | -3.0% |
| 1971 | 3,760 constant 2022 US$ | +23.1% |
| 1972 | 3,920 constant 2022 US$ | +4.2% |
| 1973 | 4,078 constant 2022 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1974 | 4,956 constant 2022 US$ | +21.5% |
| 1975 | 6,024 constant 2022 US$ | +21.6% |
| 1976 | 8,445 constant 2022 US$ | +40.2% |
| 1977 | 10,609 constant 2022 US$ | +25.6% |
| 1978 | 12,761 constant 2022 US$ | +20.3% |
| 1979 | 14,048 constant 2022 US$ | +10.1% |
| 1980 | 14,962 constant 2022 US$ | +6.5% |
| 1981 | 17,223 constant 2022 US$ | +15.1% |
| 1982 | 18,184 constant 2022 US$ | +5.6% |
| 1983 | 17,191 constant 2022 US$ | -5.5% |
| 1984 | 17,935 constant 2022 US$ | +4.3% |
| 1985 | 19,252 constant 2022 US$ | +7.3% |
| 1986 | 21,186 constant 2022 US$ | +10.0% |
| 1987 | 22,588 constant 2022 US$ | +6.6% |
| 1988 | 24,726 constant 2022 US$ | +9.5% |
| 1989 | 26,270 constant 2022 US$ | +6.2% |
| 1990 | 27,784 constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1991 | 24,165 constant 2022 US$ | -13.0% |
| 1992 | 26,600 constant 2022 US$ | +10.1% |
| 1993 | 27,548 constant 2022 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 29,023 constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 32,217 constant 2022 US$ | +11.0% |
| 1996 | 36,906 constant 2022 US$ | +14.6% |
| 1997 | 38,376 constant 2022 US$ | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 30,509 constant 2022 US$ | -20.5% |
| 1999 | 30,598 constant 2022 US$ | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 28,563 constant 2022 US$ | -6.7% |
| 2001 | 28,393 constant 2022 US$ | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 30,302 constant 2022 US$ | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 32,884 constant 2022 US$ | +8.5% |
| 2004 | 36,127 constant 2022 US$ | +9.9% |
| 2005 | 39,995 constant 2022 US$ | +10.7% |
| 2006 | 44,366 constant 2022 US$ | +10.9% |
| 2007 | 47,187 constant 2022 US$ | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 45,029 constant 2022 US$ | -4.6% |
| 2009 | 41,850 constant 2022 US$ | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 46,353 constant 2022 US$ | +10.8% |
| 2011 | 50,239 constant 2022 US$ | +8.4% |
| 2012 | 53,990 constant 2022 US$ | +7.5% |
| 2013 | 55,641 constant 2022 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 61,657 constant 2022 US$ | +10.8% |
| 2015 | 59,317 constant 2022 US$ | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 65,260 constant 2022 US$ | +10.0% |
| 2017 | 74,034 constant 2022 US$ | +13.4% |
| 2018 | 79,202 constant 2022 US$ | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 84,896 constant 2022 US$ | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 91,193 constant 2022 US$ | +7.4% |
| 2021 | 104,652 constant 2022 US$ | +14.8% |
| 2022 | 101,370 constant 2022 US$ | -3.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 101,370 constant 2022 US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 182,526 constant 2022 US$, 56% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 101,370 constant 2022 US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28,962 constant 2022 US$, 3.5× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending per military personnel in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +67.4% | 1,784 constant 2022 US$ | 2,986 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1951 | -44.0% | 2,986 constant 2022 US$ | 1,671 constant 2022 US$ |
| 1966 | +54.8% | 1,298 constant 2022 US$ | 2,009 constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 1,784 constant 2022 US$ | 1,784 constant 2022 US$ | 1,784 constant 2022 US$ | 1 |
| 1950s | 1,640 constant 2022 US$ | 1,228 constant 2022 US$ | 2,986 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 1,941 constant 2022 US$ | 1,298 constant 2022 US$ | 3,149 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 7,166 constant 2022 US$ | 3,055 constant 2022 US$ | 14,048 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 19,952 constant 2022 US$ | 14,962 constant 2022 US$ | 26,270 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 30,373 constant 2022 US$ | 24,165 constant 2022 US$ | 38,376 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 37,470 constant 2022 US$ | 28,393 constant 2022 US$ | 47,187 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 63,059 constant 2022 US$ | 46,353 constant 2022 US$ | 84,896 constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 99,072 constant 2022 US$ | 91,193 constant 2022 US$ | 104,652 constant 2022 US$ | 3 |
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 per military personnel in South Korea?
- Military spending per military personnel in South Korea was 101,370 constant 2022 US$ in 2022, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per military personnel recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 104,652 constant 2022 US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest military spending per military personnel recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,228 constant 2022 US$ in 1955.
- How does South Korea rank for military spending per military personnel?
- South Korea ranks 43rd out of 170 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military spending per military personnel rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 87.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025); Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.