South Korea Active Military Personnel 2022: 555,000 personnel
South Korea's active military personnel in 2022 is 555,000 personnel, unchanged from 2021. It ranks #9 of 188 countries.
Active military personnel numbers reveal a country's defense capacity and readiness. Compare forces globally.
Source (2022): Military personnel | Our World in Data
Active Military Personnel over time
| Year | Value | Change | % Change | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 555.00K personnel | 0 personnel | 0.00% | |
| 2021 | 555.00K personnel | 44.00K personnel | -7.35% | |
| 2020 | 599.00K personnel | 26.00K personnel | -4.16% | |
| 2019 | 625.00K personnel | 0 personnel | 0.00% | |
| 2018 | 625.00K personnel | 5.00K personnel | -0.79% | |
| 2017 | 630.00K personnel | +2.00K personnel | +0.32% | |
| 2016 | 628.00K personnel | 27.00K personnel | -4.12% | |
| 2015 | 655.00K personnel | 0 personnel | 0.00% | |
| 2014 | 655.00K personnel | 0 personnel | 0.00% | |
| 2013 | 655.00K personnel | 0 personnel | 0.00% | |
| 2012 | 655.00K personnel | 0 personnel | 0.00% | |
| 2011 | 655.00K personnel | 32.00K personnel | -4.66% | |
| 2010 | 687.00K personnel | 0 personnel | 0.00% | |
| 2009 | 687.00K personnel | 0 personnel | 0.00% | |
| 2008 | 687.00K personnel | 0 personnel | 0.00% | |
| 2007 | 687.00K personnel | 1.00K personnel | -0.15% | |
| 2006 | 688.00K personnel | 0 personnel | 0.00% | |
| 2005 | 688.00K personnel | +1.00K personnel | +0.15% | |
| 2004 | 687.00K personnel | +1.00K personnel | +0.15% | |
| 2003 | 686.00K personnel | 0 personnel | 0.00% | |
| 2002 | 686.00K personnel | +3.00K personnel | +0.44% | |
| 2001 | 683.00K personnel | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions About South Korea Active Military Personnel
What is South Korea's active military personnel in 2022?▾
South Korea's active military personnel is 555,000 personnel in 2022, according to Military personnel | Our World in Data.
Is South Korea's active military personnel increasing or decreasing?▾
South Korea's active military personnel was essentially unchanged from 2021 (555,000 personnel) to 2022 (555,000 personnel). Over the past decade (2012–2022) it fell by 15.3%.
How does South Korea rank for active military personnel?▾
In 2022, South Korea has the 9th highest active military personnel out of 188 countries with data.
What was South Korea's active military personnel in 2001?▾
In 2001, South Korea's active military personnel was 683,000 personnel. By 2022 it fell by 18.7%.
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