South Korea—Military Spending (% of GDP)
Category: MilitarySource: World Bank World Development Indicators ↗Global Rank: #38 of 156Series years: 2000–2025
Latest Value
2.6%
2025
YoY Change
+2.5%
2024 → 2025
Global Rank
#38
of 156 countries
Maximum
2.6%
2020
Minimum
2.2%
2004
CAGR
+0.5%
26 years
Last
2.6%
Previous
2.5%
Highest
2.6%
Lowest
2.2%
Unit
% of GDP
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
South Korea's military spending (% of GDP) was 2.6% in 2025, ranking #38 out of 156 countries. This represents a +2.5% change from 2024. Over the past 26 years, the highest recorded value was 2.6% (2020) and the lowest was 2.2% (2004). Data sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators.
Korea, Rep. — Military Spending (% of GDP): 2.6014689513 % of GDP for reference year 2025. Source: World Bank (World Development Indicators). Reference year does not establish final observed status; publisher vintage is not verified here.
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.6% | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 2.5% | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 2.6% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 2.6% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 2.6% | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 2.5% | +6.7% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 2.4% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 2.4% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 2.4% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 2.4% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | -5.5% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 2.4% | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 2.3% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 2.3% | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 2.2% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 2.2% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 2.2% | -4.9% |
| 2001 | 2.3% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 2.3% |
Top Countries — Military Spending (% of GDP)
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ukraine | 39.6% | 2025 |
| 2 | Algeria | 8.8% | 2025 |
| 3 | Israel | 7.8% | 2025 |
| 4 | Russia | 7.5% | 2025 |
| 5 | Myanmar | 6.6% | 2024 |
| 6 | Qatar | 6.5% | 2022 |
| 7 | Saudi Arabia | 6.5% | 2025 |
| 8 | Azerbaijan | 6.5% | 2025 |
| 9 | Armenia | 6.1% | 2025 |
| 10 | Oman | 5.7% | 2025 |
About This Indicator
Definition
Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product
Methodology
Data compiled by SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), uri: https://www.sipri.org/databases.
Unit
% of GDP