Military spending, per square kilometre in North Korea
North Korea: Military spending, per square kilometre was 13,007 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
13,007 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre
Change on year
up 9.7%
World rank
72nd
of 171 countries
All-time high
82,193 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre
in 1992
All-time low
10,712 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre
in 2016
Years of data
58
1961–2018
Military spending, per square kilometre in North Korea, 1961–2018
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 13,007 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre for military spending, per square kilometre in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.7% on the previous year and down 55.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per square kilometre in North Korea peaked at 82,193 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre in 1992 and was at its lowest, 10,712 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre, in 2016.
That places North Korea 72nd 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 square kilometre in North Korea, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 14,505 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 16,803 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +15.8% |
| 1963 | 17,585 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 1964 | 18,659 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +6.1% |
| 1965 | 21,149 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +13.3% |
| 1966 | 21,967 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 1967 | 25,395 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +15.6% |
| 1968 | 30,312 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +19.4% |
| 1969 | 31,556 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1970 | 30,821 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -2.3% |
| 1971 | 31,680 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 28,829 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -9.0% |
| 1973 | 29,172 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 33,349 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +14.3% |
| 1975 | 33,972 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 38,243 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +12.6% |
| 1977 | 37,083 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -3.0% |
| 1978 | 32,957 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -11.1% |
| 1979 | 33,988 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 35,558 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +4.6% |
| 1981 | 44,018 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +23.8% |
| 1982 | 48,897 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +11.1% |
| 1983 | 57,366 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +17.3% |
| 1984 | 71,873 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +25.3% |
| 1985 | 77,906 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +8.4% |
| 1986 | 78,207 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 78,166 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 79,895 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 80,654 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 82,063 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 77,868 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -5.1% |
| 1992 | 82,193 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 80,042 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 73,288 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -8.4% |
| 1995 | 67,987 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -7.2% |
| 1996 | 59,234 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -12.9% |
| 1997 | 40,234 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -32.1% |
| 1998 | 33,642 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -16.4% |
| 1999 | 31,908 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -5.2% |
| 2000 | 33,932 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +6.3% |
| 2001 | 39,405 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +16.1% |
| 2002 | 53,550 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +35.9% |
| 2003 | 56,257 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 56,520 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 43,885 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -22.4% |
| 2006 | 39,711 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -9.5% |
| 2007 | 34,857 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -12.2% |
| 2008 | 29,402 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -15.7% |
| 2009 | 25,659 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -12.7% |
| 2010 | 21,706 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -15.4% |
| 2011 | 19,366 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -10.8% |
| 2012 | 17,321 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -10.6% |
| 2013 | 15,218 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -12.1% |
| 2014 | 12,576 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -17.4% |
| 2015 | 10,758 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -14.5% |
| 2016 | 10,712 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 11,858 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +10.7% |
| 2018 | 13,007 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | +9.7% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 13,007 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre is above the median for low income countries, which is 876.57 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre, 14.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 13,007 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 13,365 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre, 97% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 21,992 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 14,505 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 31,556 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 33,009 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 28,829 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 38,243 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 65,254 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 35,558 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 80,654 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 62,846 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 31,908 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 82,193 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 41,318 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 25,659 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 56,520 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,725 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 10,712 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 21,706 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre | 9 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 69 Morocco 13,848 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 70 New Zealand 13,722 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 71 Albania 13,008 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 73 Ecuador 12,566 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 74 Bahamas 11,810 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre compare
- 75 Costa Rica 11,776 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre 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 square kilometre in North Korea?
- Military spending, per square kilometre in North Korea was 13,007 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre in 2018, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per square kilometre recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 82,193 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre in 1992.
- What is the lowest military spending, per square kilometre recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,712 constant 2022 US$ per square kilometre in 2016.
- How does North Korea rank for military spending, per square kilometre?
- North Korea ranks 72nd out of 171 countries with data for 2018.
- Is military spending, per square kilometre rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.8%. 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 square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 58 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Military spending Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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 Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.