South Korea: Armed forces

The latest value from 2020 is 569000 people, a decline from 613000 people in 2019. In comparison, the world average is 162240 people, based on data from 167 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1985 to 2020 is 669000 people. The minimum value, 569000 people, was reached in 2020 while the maximum of 750000 people was recorded in 1991. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

Definition: 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.