Armed forces as a share of the population in South Korea in 2022 — 1.072%. Ranked 9 in the world out of 189. Since 1949, the indicator has risen by 0.73 pp.
1949–2022 · % of population
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Korea
| Year | % | Change, pp |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1.072 | +0.001 pp |
| 2021 | 1.07 | −0.085 pp |
| 2020 | 1.155 | −0.052 pp |
| 2019 | 1.207 | −0.003 pp |
| 2018 | 1.21 | −0.013 pp |
| 2017 | 1.224 | −0.013 pp |
| 2016 | 1.236 | −0.058 pp |
| 2015 | 1.295 | −0.005 pp |
| 2014 | 1.3 | −0.006 pp |
| 2013 | 1.306 | −0.031 pp |
| 2012 | 1.337 | −0.007 pp |
| 2011 | 1.344 | −0.074 pp |
| 2010 | 1.418 | −0.009 pp |
| 2009 | 1.426 | −0.009 pp |
| 2008 | 1.435 | −0.009 pp |
| 2007 | 1.444 | −0.011 pp |
| 2006 | 1.455 | −0.008 pp |
| 2005 | 1.463 | −0.005 pp |
| 2004 | 1.468 | −0.004 pp |
| 2003 | 1.472 | −0.006 pp |
| 2002 | 1.479 | +0.036 pp |
| 2001 | 1.442 | −0.016 pp |
| 2000 | 1.458 | +0.027 pp |
| 1999 | 1.431 | −0.022 pp |
| 1998 | 1.453 | −0.004 pp |
| 1997 | 1.457 | −0.014 pp |
| 1996 | 1.471 | −0.192 pp |
| 1995 | 1.663 | −0.017 pp |
| 1994 | 1.68 | −0.017 pp |
| 1993 | 1.697 | −0.017 pp |
| 1992 | 1.714 | −0.018 pp |
| 1991 | 1.732 | +0.216 pp |
| 1990 | 1.516 | −0.008 pp |
| 1989 | 1.524 | +0.035 pp |
| 1988 | 1.489 | +0.038 pp |
| 1987 | 1.451 | −0.014 pp |
| 1986 | 1.466 | −0.005 pp |
| 1985 | 1.47 | −0.02 pp |
| 1984 | 1.49 | −0.019 pp |
| 1983 | 1.508 | −0.02 pp |
| 1982 | 1.528 | −0.037 pp |
| 1981 | 1.565 | −0.009 pp |
| 1980 | 1.574 | −0.126 pp |
| 1979 | 1.7 | +0.077 pp |
| 1978 | 1.623 | −0.025 pp |
| 1977 | 1.648 | −0.054 pp |
| 1976 | 1.702 | −0.084 pp |
| 1975 | 1.786 | −0.042 pp |
| 1974 | 1.828 | −0.032 pp |
| 1973 | 1.859 | −0.036 pp |
| 1972 | 1.895 | −0.045 pp |
| 1971 | 1.94 | −0.06 pp |
| 1970 | 2.001 | +0.035 pp |
| 1969 | 1.966 | −0.045 pp |
| 1968 | 2.011 | −0.021 pp |
| 1967 | 2.031 | +0.088 pp |
| 1966 | 1.943 | −0.161 pp |
| 1965 | 2.104 | −0.04 pp |
| 1964 | 2.144 | −0.156 pp |
| 1963 | 2.3 | +0.15 pp |
| 1962 | 2.15 | −0.062 pp |
| 1961 | 2.212 | −0.387 pp |
| 1960 | 2.599 | −0.109 pp |
| 1959 | 2.708 | −0.078 pp |
| 1958 | 2.786 | −0.08 pp |
| 1957 | 2.866 | −0.083 pp |
| 1956 | 2.949 | −0.458 pp |
| 1955 | 3.407 | +0.394 pp |
| 1954 | 3.013 | +0.557 pp |
| 1953 | 2.456 | +0.805 pp |
| 1952 | 1.651 | +0.682 pp |
| 1951 | 0.969 | +0.434 pp |
| 1950 | 0.535 | +0.194 pp |
| 1949 | 0.342 | — |
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 (% of GDP)The share of GDP a country spends on defense.
Defense Military expenditure in dollarsThe absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.
Defense Military expenditure share of the budgetWhat part of government spending goes to defense.
