Military spending in South Korea
South Korea: Military spending was 48.85 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
48.85 billion constant 2024 US$
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
11th
of 162 countries
All-time high
48.85 billion constant 2024 US$
in 2025
All-time low
185.39 million constant 2024 US$
in 1953
Years of data
73
1953–2025
Military spending in South Korea, 1953–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
In 2025, military spending in South Korea stood at 48.85 billion constant 2024 US$. That is the highest value across all 73 years on record.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 33.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in South Korea peaked at 48.85 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 185.39 million constant 2024 US$, in 1953.
South Korea ranks 11th of 162 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in South Korea, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | 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$, 10.5× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | +150.9% | 185.39 million constant 2024 US$ | 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 in South Korea?
- Military spending in South Korea was 48.85 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 48.85 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest military spending 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?
- South Korea ranks 11th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending 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 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 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.