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.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
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
Latvia 9,000.00
Ireland 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
Antigua and Barbuda 0.00
Iceland 0.00
Seychelles 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%