South Korea Military Size 1985-2024
Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if the training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.
- South Korea military size for 2020 was 569,000.00, a 7.18% decline from 2019.
- South Korea military size for 2019 was 613,000.00, a 0.82% increase from 2018.
- South Korea military size for 2018 was 608,000.00, a 4.1% decline from 2017.
- South Korea military size for 2017 was 634,000.00, a 0% increase from 2016.
| Similar Country Ranking |
| Country Name |
Number of People |
| United States |
1,395,000.00 |
| South Korea |
569,000.00 |
| Italy |
338,000.00 |
| France |
304,000.00 |
| Saudi Arabia |
282,000.00 |
| Japan |
261,000.00 |
| Spain |
199,000.00 |
| Poland |
189,000.00 |
| Germany |
183,000.00 |
| Israel |
178,000.00 |
| United Kingdom |
153,000.00 |
| Greece |
147,000.00 |
| Chile |
114,000.00 |
| Argentina |
103,000.00 |
| Canada |
72,000.00 |
| UAE |
63,000.00 |
| Australia |
60,000.00 |
| Singapore |
59,000.00 |
| Portugal |
52,000.00 |
| Oman |
47,000.00 |
| Hungary |
46,000.00 |
| Netherlands |
41,000.00 |
| Lithuania |
37,000.00 |
| Panama |
28,000.00 |
| Czech Republic |
27,000.00 |
| Kuwait |
25,000.00 |
| Norway |
25,000.00 |
| Belgium |
24,000.00 |
| Austria |
23,000.00 |
| Finland |
22,000.00 |
| Qatar |
22,000.00 |
| Uruguay |
22,000.00 |
| Croatia |
20,000.00 |
| Switzerland |
20,000.00 |
| Bahrain |
19,000.00 |
| Slovak Republic |
18,000.00 |
| Denmark |
15,000.00 |
| Sweden |
15,000.00 |
| Cyprus |
13,000.00 |
| New Zealand |
10,000.00 |
| Ireland |
9,000.00 |
| Latvia |
9,000.00 |
| Brunei |
8,000.00 |
| Slovenia |
7,000.00 |
| Estonia |
7,000.00 |
| Trinidad and Tobago |
5,000.00 |
| Bahamas |
2,000.00 |
| Malta |
2,000.00 |
| Luxembourg |
1,000.00 |
| Barbados |
1,000.00 |
| Seychelles |
0.00 |
| Antigua and Barbuda |
0.00 |
| Iceland |
0.00 |
| South Korea Military Size - Historical Data |
| Year |
Number of People |
Annual % Change |
| 2020 |
569,000.00 |
-7.18% |
| 2019 |
613,000.00 |
0.82% |
| 2018 |
608,000.00 |
-4.10% |
| 2017 |
634,000.00 |
0.00% |
| 2016 |
634,000.00 |
-0.08% |
| 2015 |
634,500.00 |
0.32% |
| 2014 |
632,500.00 |
-4.09% |
| 2013 |
659,500.00 |
0.00% |
| 2012 |
659,500.00 |
0.00% |
| 2011 |
659,500.00 |
0.00% |
| 2010 |
659,500.00 |
0.00% |
| 2009 |
659,500.00 |
-4.70% |
| 2008 |
692,000.00 |
0.00% |
| 2007 |
692,000.00 |
0.00% |
| 2006 |
692,000.00 |
-0.14% |
| 2005 |
693,000.00 |
-0.43% |
| 2004 |
696,000.00 |
0.80% |
| 2003 |
690,500.00 |
0.00% |
| 2002 |
690,500.00 |
0.44% |
| 2001 |
687,500.00 |
0.00% |
| 2000 |
687,500.00 |
1.63% |
| 1999 |
676,500.00 |
0.00% |
| 1998 |
676,500.00 |
0.00% |
| 1997 |
676,500.00 |
1.27% |
| 1996 |
668,000.00 |
4.21% |
| 1995 |
641,000.00 |
-14.53% |
| 1994 |
750,000.00 |
0.00% |
| 1993 |
750,000.00 |
0.00% |
| 1992 |
750,000.00 |
0.00% |
| 1991 |
750,000.00 |
15.38% |
| 1990 |
650,000.00 |
0.46% |
| 1989 |
647,000.00 |
8.19% |
| 1985 |
598,000.00 |
8.19% |
