Military expenditure (% of GDP) — all countries

Military expenditure (% of GDP) — South Korea

Military expenditure (% of GDP) in South Korea in 2024 — 2.56%. Ranked 34 in the world out of 147. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 4.6 pp.

2024 2.56% −0.04 pp vs 2023
World rank 34of 147
Period maximum 7.16%1960
Period minimum 2.17%2004

Trend over time

1960–2024 · % of GDP

Military expenditure (% of GDP) — South Korea, 1960–20240246819601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 7.16%1962: 6.87%1964: 4.13%1966: 4.69%1968: 4.73%1970: 4.4%1972: 5.01%1974: 4.54%1976: 5.91%1978: 6.37%1980: 6.4%1982: 6.24%1984: 5.25%1986: 4.95%1988: 4.28%1990: 4%1992: 3.69%1994: 3.19%1996: 2.74%1998: 2.79%2000: 2.31%2002: 2.17%2004: 2.17%2006: 2.3%2008: 2.39%2010: 2.36%2012: 2.39%2014: 2.41%2016: 2.34%2018: 2.36%2020: 2.64%2022: 2.58%2024: 2.56%
Change over the period: −4.6 pp Annual average: -0.07 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

South Korea 2.56%
World 2.47%
Military expenditure (% of GDP) — South Korea, by year South Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 2.56 −0.04 pp
2023 2.6 +0.02 pp
2022 2.58 −0.04 pp
2021 2.62 −0.02 pp
2020 2.64 +0.12 pp
2019 2.52 +0.16 pp
2018 2.36 +0.06 pp
2017 2.3 −0.04 pp
2016 2.34 −0.04 pp
2015 2.38 −0.04 pp
2014 2.41 +0.02 pp
2013 2.39 −0 pp
2012 2.39 +0.02 pp
2011 2.37 +0.01 pp
2010 2.36 −0.14 pp
2009 2.5 +0.11 pp
2008 2.39 +0.12 pp
2007 2.27 −0.03 pp
2006 2.3 +0.02 pp
2005 2.28 +0.11 pp
2004 2.17 −0.01 pp
2003 2.18 +0.01 pp
2002 2.17 −0.11 pp
2001 2.28 −0.03 pp
2000 2.31 −0.18 pp
1999 2.49 −0.3 pp
1998 2.79 +0.13 pp
1997 2.66 −0.08 pp
1996 2.74 −0.15 pp
1995 2.89 −0.3 pp
1994 3.19 −0.23 pp
1993 3.42 −0.27 pp
1992 3.69 −0.02 pp
1991 3.71 −0.29 pp
1990 4 −0.29 pp
1989 4.29 +0.01 pp
1988 4.28 −0.19 pp
1987 4.47 −0.48 pp
1986 4.95 −0.28 pp
1985 5.23 −0.03 pp
1984 5.25 −0.47 pp
1983 5.73 −0.51 pp
1982 6.24 −0.17 pp
1981 6.42 +0.02 pp
1980 6.4 +0.87 pp
1979 5.53 −0.85 pp
1978 6.37 +0.34 pp
1977 6.03 +0.13 pp
1976 5.91 +1.03 pp
1975 4.88 +0.34 pp
1974 4.54 +0.51 pp
1973 4.03 −0.98 pp
1972 5.01 +0.28 pp
1971 4.73 +0.33 pp
1970 4.4 −0.29 pp
1969 4.69 −0.04 pp
1968 4.73 +0.05 pp
1967 4.69 −0 pp
1966 4.69 +0.28 pp
1965 4.41 +0.28 pp
1964 4.13 −0.69 pp
1963 4.82 −2.04 pp
1962 6.87 +0.14 pp
1961 6.73 −0.43 pp
1960 7.16

Eastern Asia, 2024

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

About the indicator

Military expenditure as a percent of GDP under the SIPRI definition: current and capital spending on the armed forces, including peacekeeping forces, defense ministries, paramilitary forces, military R&D, pensions of military personnel and military aid. The NATO benchmark for member states is at least 2% of GDP.

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