South Korea Military Expenditure
2.6%▼ −0.0%
Dec 2024 · Annual
South Korea's military expenditure stood at 2.56% of GDP in 2024, down from 2.60% in 2023. The figure remains above the all-time low of 2.17% recorded in 2004, but far below the series high of 7.16% in 1960. Data spans from 1960 onward.
| Actual | Previous | Highest | Lowest | Dates | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.6% | 2.6% | 7.2%Dec 1960 | 2.2%Dec 2004 | 1960 – 2024 | Annual |
Related indicators
| Indicator | Last | Previous | Highest | Lowest | Last updated | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government Debt to GDP | 52.3% | 49.7% | 52.3% | 7.8% | Dec 2025 | Annual |
| Military Expenditure (USD) | $47.6B | $47.8B | $50.9B | $132.1M | Dec 2024 | Annual |
About this series
Military Expenditure in South Korea averaged 2.6% from 1960 until 2024, reaching an all-time high of 7.2% in Dec 1960 and a record low of 2.2% in Dec 2004. The series is reported yearly with history from 1960.
Military expenditure measures the share of a country's gross domestic product allocated to defense spending, including personnel, operations, and procurement. The indicator is reported annually as a percentage of GDP. The series for South Korea covers the period from 1960 to the present.
Source & methodology
We use primary economic sources for every country. See our methodology page for how we source and verify this data.
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