South Korea Military Spending/Defense Budget 1960-2024
Military expenditures data from SIPRI are derived from the NATO definition, which includes all current and capital expenditures on the armed forces, including peacekeeping forces; defense ministries and other government agencies engaged in defense projects; paramilitary forces, if these are judged to be trained and equipped for military operations; and military space activities. Such expenditures include military and civil personnel, including retirement pensions of military personnel and social services for personnel; operation and maintenance; procurement; military research and development; and military aid (in the military expenditures of the donor country).
- South Korea military spending/defense budget for 2022 was $46.37B, a 8.86% decline from 2021.
- South Korea military spending/defense budget for 2021 was $50.87B, a 10.31% increase from 2020.
- South Korea military spending/defense budget for 2020 was $46.12B, a 4.57% increase from 2019.
- South Korea military spending/defense budget for 2019 was $44.10B, a 2.4% increase from 2018.
| South Korea Military Spending/Defense Budget - Historical Data |
| Year |
Billions of US $ |
% of GDP |
| 2022 |
$46.37B |
2.72% |
| 2021 |
$50.87B |
2.81% |
| 2020 |
$46.12B |
2.80% |
| 2019 |
$44.10B |
2.67% |
| 2018 |
$43.07B |
2.50% |
| 2017 |
$39.17B |
2.42% |
| 2016 |
$36.89B |
2.46% |
| 2015 |
$36.57B |
2.50% |
| 2014 |
$37.55B |
2.53% |
| 2013 |
$34.31B |
2.50% |
| 2012 |
$31.95B |
2.50% |
| 2011 |
$30.99B |
2.47% |
| 2010 |
$28.18B |
2.46% |
| 2009 |
$24.58B |
2.60% |
| 2008 |
$26.07B |
2.49% |
| 2007 |
$27.73B |
2.47% |
| 2006 |
$25.18B |
2.49% |
| 2005 |
$22.16B |
2.47% |
| 2004 |
$17.83B |
2.33% |
| 2003 |
$15.85B |
2.33% |
| 2002 |
$14.10B |
2.32% |
| 2001 |
$12.94B |
2.43% |
| 2000 |
$13.80B |
2.46% |
| 1999 |
$12.10B |
2.49% |
| 1998 |
$10.46B |
2.79% |
| 1997 |
$14.85B |
2.66% |
| 1996 |
$16.41B |
2.74% |
| 1995 |
$16.09B |
2.89% |
| 1994 |
$13.52B |
3.19% |
| 1993 |
$12.38B |
3.42% |
| 1992 |
$11.61B |
3.69% |
| 1991 |
$10.96B |
3.71% |
| 1990 |
$10.11B |
4.00% |
| 1989 |
$9.47B |
4.29% |
| 1988 |
$7.73B |
4.28% |
| 1987 |
$6.04B |
4.47% |
| 1986 |
$5.33B |
4.95% |
| 1985 |
$4.88B |
5.23% |
| 1984 |
$4.76B |
5.25% |
| 1983 |
$4.71B |
5.73% |
| 1982 |
$4.65B |
6.24% |
| 1981 |
$4.46B |
6.42% |
| 1980 |
$3.98B |
6.40% |
| 1979 |
$3.54B |
5.53% |
| 1978 |
$3.19B |
6.37% |
| 1977 |
$2.24B |
6.03% |
| 1976 |
$1.71B |
5.91% |
| 1975 |
$1.03B |
4.88% |
| 1974 |
$0.85B |
4.54% |
| 1973 |
$0.54B |
4.03% |
| 1972 |
$0.53B |
5.01% |
| 1971 |
$0.46B |
4.74% |
| 1970 |
$0.39B |
4.40% |
| 1969 |
$0.35B |
4.69% |
| 1968 |
$0.28B |
4.73% |
| 1967 |
$0.22B |
4.69% |
| 1966 |
$0.18B |
4.69% |
| 1965 |
$0.13B |
4.41% |
| 1964 |
$0.14B |
4.13% |
| 1963 |
$0.19B |
4.82% |
| 1962 |
$0.19B |
6.87% |
| 1961 |
$0.16B |
6.73% |
| 1960 |
$0.28B |
7.16% |
