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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — North Korea

Armed forces personnel in North Korea in 2020 — 1,469,000 people. Ranked 3 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has risen by 75.3%.

2020 1.47M people +0% vs 2019
World rank 3of 170
Period maximum 1.47M people2016
Period minimum 838,000 people1985

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — North Korea, 1985–2020800,0001M1.2M1.4M1.6M19851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 838,000 people1989: 1,040,000 people1990: 1,200,000 people1991: 1,200,000 people1992: 1,200,000 people1993: 1,100,000 people1994: 1,100,000 people1995: 1,243,000 people1996: 1,169,000 people1997: 1,244,000 people1998: 1,244,000 people1999: 1,244,000 people2000: 1,244,000 people2001: 1,271,000 people2002: 1,271,000 people2003: 1,271,000 people2004: 1,295,000 people2005: 1,295,000 people2006: 1,295,000 people2007: 1,295,000 people2008: 1,295,000 people2009: 1,379,000 people2010: 1,379,000 people2011: 1,379,000 people2012: 1,379,000 people2013: 1,379,000 people2014: 1,379,000 people2015: 1,379,000 people2016: 1,469,000 people2017: 1,469,000 people2018: 1,469,000 people2019: 1,469,000 people2020: 1,469,000 people
Change over the period: +631,000 (+75.3%) Average annual rate: 1.62 %

Comparison, 2020

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: North Korea

North Korea 1.47M people
World 27.41M people
East Asia & Pacific 7.91M people
Eastern Asia computed 4.85M people
Low-income countries computed 2.94M people
Armed forces personnel — North Korea, by year North Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 1.47M +0 +0%
2019 1.47M +0 +0%
2018 1.47M +0 +0%
2017 1.47M +0 +0%
2016 1.47M +90,000 +6.53%
2015 1.38M +0 +0%
2014 1.38M +0 +0%
2013 1.38M +0 +0%
2012 1.38M +0 +0%
2011 1.38M +0 +0%
2010 1.38M +0 +0%
2009 1.38M +84,000 +6.49%
2008 1.3M +0 +0%
2007 1.3M +0 +0%
2006 1.3M +0 +0%
2005 1.3M +0 +0%
2004 1.3M +24,000 +1.89%
2003 1.27M +0 +0%
2002 1.27M +0 +0%
2001 1.27M +27,000 +2.17%
2000 1.24M +0 +0%
1999 1.24M +0 +0%
1998 1.24M +0 +0%
1997 1.24M +75,000 +6.42%
1996 1.17M −74,000 −5.95%
1995 1.24M +143,000 +13%
1994 1.1M +0 +0%
1993 1.1M −100,000 −8.33%
1992 1.2M +0 +0%
1991 1.2M +0 +0%
1990 1.2M +160,000 +15.38%
1989 1.04M — —
1985 838,000 — —

Eastern Asia, 2020

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

CN China 2.54M KP North Korea 1.47M KR South Korea 569,000 JP Japan 261,000 MN Mongolia 18,000
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The total number of active military personnel: all branches of the armed forces, as well as paramilitary forces if their training, structure and equipment allow them to be used in support of the regular forces. Reservists are not counted. Estimates of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

Source: Military Expenditure Database (SIPRI), license SIPRI terms of use.

Other indicators for North Korea

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

North Korea by year Demography Population

Resident population of every country as of mid-year — series from 1960 onward.

North Korea by year Defense Arms exports

Transfers of major conventional weapons abroad, in SIPRI trend-indicator values (TIV).

North Korea by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

North Korea by year
All indicators for North Korea