South Korea Military Spending
South Korea spends an estimated 2.6% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $48.8 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1953–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$51.3 billion
Ranked #11 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
2.6%
Ranked #48 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $48.8B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$48.8 billion
Reached in 2025
How the 2026 figures are produced. The share-of-GDP figure is a per-country estimate researched from announced and enacted national defence budgets. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2025 raised by a flat 5%, the same rate applied to every country in this group, so it can rise even where the share-of-GDP path falls. Actual SIPRI figures for South Korea run to 2025.
South Korea Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, South Korea is estimated to have spent $51.3 billion on military and defense, representing 2.6% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. South Korea is the #11 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $48.8 billion to $51.3 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 8.3% in 1956. The historical average military budget is 4.0% of GDP.
Data source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Values are in constant 2024 US dollars. Data for 2026 is an estimate based on government budget announcements.
Historical Military Spending
Military Spending (% of GDP)
Military Spending (USD Billions, 2024 prices)
Historical Data
| Year | Percent of GDP | USD (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027(estimate) | 2.70% | $53,733M |
| 2026(estimate) | 2.60% | $51,290M |
| 2025 | 2.60% | $48,848M |
| 2024 | 2.54% | $47,605M |
| 2023 | 2.60% | $46,841M |
| 2022 | 2.58% | $46,550M |
| 2021 | 2.62% | $47,548M |
| 2020 | 2.64% | $45,563M |
| 2019 | 2.52% | $43,286M |
| 2018 | 2.36% | $40,059M |
| 2017 | 2.30% | $38,125M |
| 2016 | 2.34% | $37,437M |
| 2015 | 2.38% | $36,521M |
| 2014 | 2.41% | $35,156M |
| 2013 | 2.39% | $33,825M |
| 2012 | 2.39% | $32,831M |
| 2011 | 2.37% | $32,015M |
| 2010 | 2.36% | $31,583M |
| 2009 | 2.50% | $31,322M |
| 2008 | 2.39% | $29,470M |
| 2007 | 2.27% | $27,660M |
| 2006 | 2.30% | $26,462M |
| 2005 | 2.28% | $25,541M |
| 2004 | 2.17% | $23,616M |
| 2003 | 2.18% | $22,622M |
| 2002 | 2.17% | $21,878M |
| 2001 | 2.28% | $21,291M |
| 2000 | 2.31% | $20,699M |
| 1999 | 2.49% | $19,500M |
| 1998 | 2.79% | $20,037M |
| 1997 | 2.66% | $20,762M |
| 1996 | 2.74% | $20,264M |
| 1995 | 2.89% | $19,983M |
| 1994 | 3.19% | $18,279M |
| 1993 | 3.42% | $17,765M |
| 1992 | 3.69% | $16,983M |
| 1991 | 3.71% | $15,999M |
| 1990 | 4.00% | $15,574M |
| 1989 | 4.29% | $15,024M |
| 1988 | 4.28% | $14,127M |
| 1987 | 4.47% | $13,298M |
| 1986 | 4.95% | $12,945M |
| 1985 | 5.23% | $12,040M |
| 1984 | 5.25% | $11,137M |
| 1983 | 5.73% | $10,862M |
| 1982 | 6.24% | $10,435M |
| 1981 | 6.42% | $10,010M |
| 1980 | 6.40% | $9,661M |
| 1979 | 5.53% | $8,819M |
| 1978 | 6.37% | $9,390M |
| 1977 | 6.03% | $7,539M |
| 1976 | 5.91% | $6,342M |
| 1975 | 4.88% | $4,412M |
| 1974 | 4.54% | $3,823M |
| 1973 | 4.03% | $2,989M |
| 1972 | 5.01% | $2,971M |
| 1971 | 4.73% | $2,540M |
| 1970 | 4.40% | $2,161M |
| 1969 | 4.69% | $2,090M |
| 1968 | 4.73% | $1,813M |
| 1967 | 4.69% | $1,539M |
| 1966 | 4.69% | $1,384M |
| 1965 | 4.41% | $766M |
| 1964 | 4.13% | $730M |
| 1963 | 4.82% | $771M |
| 1962 | 6.87% | $933M |
| 1961 | 6.73% | $804M |
| 1960 | 7.16% | $771M |
| 1959 | 7.64% | $795M |
| 1958 | 7.43% | $750M |
| 1957 | 6.80% | $635M |
| 1956 | 8.33% | $739M |
| 1955 | 6.24% | $515M |
| 1954 | 5.85% | $465M |
| 1953 | 2.36% | $185M |