Armed forces as a share of the population in North Korea in 2022 — 4.862%. Ranked 2 in the world out of 189. Since 1948, the indicator has risen by 2.727 pp.
1948–2022 · % of population
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: North Korea
| Year | % | Change, pp |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4.862 | −0.018 pp |
| 2021 | 4.879 | −0.018 pp |
| 2020 | 4.897 | −0.018 pp |
| 2019 | 4.916 | −0.02 pp |
| 2018 | 4.936 | +0.327 pp |
| 2017 | 4.609 | −0.082 pp |
| 2016 | 4.691 | −0.023 pp |
| 2015 | 4.714 | −0.024 pp |
| 2014 | 4.738 | −0.025 pp |
| 2013 | 4.763 | −0.043 pp |
| 2012 | 4.806 | −0.026 pp |
| 2011 | 4.831 | +0.317 pp |
| 2010 | 4.514 | −0.024 pp |
| 2009 | 4.538 | −0.024 pp |
| 2008 | 4.562 | −0.025 pp |
| 2007 | 4.587 | −0.027 pp |
| 2006 | 4.614 | −0.03 pp |
| 2005 | 4.645 | +0.017 pp |
| 2004 | 4.628 | +0.014 pp |
| 2003 | 4.614 | −0.04 pp |
| 2002 | 4.654 | −0.02 pp |
| 2001 | 4.674 | +0.285 pp |
| 2000 | 4.389 | +0.17 pp |
| 1999 | 4.219 | −0.064 pp |
| 1998 | 4.283 | −0.534 pp |
| 1997 | 4.817 | −0.08 pp |
| 1996 | 4.896 | −0.082 pp |
| 1995 | 4.978 | −0.083 pp |
| 1994 | 5.061 | −0.085 pp |
| 1993 | 5.146 | −0.561 pp |
| 1992 | 5.707 | −0.093 pp |
| 1991 | 5.801 | −0.092 pp |
| 1990 | 5.893 | +0.707 pp |
| 1989 | 5.186 | +0.925 pp |
| 1988 | 4.261 | −0.041 pp |
| 1987 | 4.302 | −0.061 pp |
| 1986 | 4.363 | +0.224 pp |
| 1985 | 4.139 | −0.058 pp |
| 1984 | 4.197 | −0.059 pp |
| 1983 | 4.256 | −0.049 pp |
| 1982 | 4.304 | +0.018 pp |
| 1981 | 4.287 | +0.324 pp |
| 1980 | 3.962 | −0.01 pp |
| 1979 | 3.973 | +0.292 pp |
| 1978 | 3.681 | +0.606 pp |
| 1977 | 3.076 | +0.067 pp |
| 1976 | 3.008 | +0.125 pp |
| 1975 | 2.883 | −0.064 pp |
| 1974 | 2.948 | −0.074 pp |
| 1973 | 3.021 | −0.017 pp |
| 1972 | 3.038 | −0.022 pp |
| 1971 | 3.06 | −0.011 pp |
| 1970 | 3.071 | +0.102 pp |
| 1969 | 2.969 | −0.103 pp |
| 1968 | 3.072 | +0.101 pp |
| 1967 | 2.972 | −0.103 pp |
| 1966 | 3.075 | −0.059 pp |
| 1965 | 3.134 | +0.044 pp |
| 1964 | 3.09 | +0.007 pp |
| 1963 | 3.083 | −0.328 pp |
| 1962 | 3.411 | −0.184 pp |
| 1961 | 3.594 | −0.206 pp |
| 1960 | 3.8 | +0.061 pp |
| 1959 | 3.739 | +0.058 pp |
| 1958 | 3.681 | +0.069 pp |
| 1957 | 3.612 | +0.17 pp |
| 1956 | 3.442 | +0.052 pp |
| 1955 | 3.391 | +0.176 pp |
| 1954 | 3.214 | +0.225 pp |
| 1953 | 2.989 | +0.597 pp |
| 1952 | 2.392 | +1.291 pp |
| 1951 | 1.101 | −0.164 pp |
| 1950 | 1.265 | +0.641 pp |
| 1949 | 0.624 | −1.511 pp |
| 1948 | 2.135 | — |
The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages
Military personnel on active duty as a percent of the entire population of the country. The indicator answers the question of how large the armed forces are relative to the size of the country — an army that is large in absolute numbers in a large country can come out smaller by this measure than the small army of a small state.
Important: A close indicator — the share of the labor force — answers a different question: what part of those able to work is occupied in the army instead of the economy. In countries with young populations the two diverge noticeably.
Source: Military Expenditure Database (SIPRI), license SIPRI terms of use.
A long historical series on the personnel of armies — since 1816, that is, over two centuries.
Defense Armed forces as a share of the labor forceWhat part of a country’s labor force serves in the army instead of working in the economy.
Defense Armed forces personnelThe number of active-duty military personnel and paramilitary forces.
Defense Military expenditure in dollarsThe absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.
