Military Strength: South Korea vs North Korea
| 🪖 Military personnel | 569,000 ◉ |
| – Reserve troops | 3,100,000 ◉ |
| 🛩️ Military aircraft | 1,592 ◉ |
| – incl. combat aircraft | 433 ◉ |
| – incl. bombers | 0 ◉ |
| – incl. helicopters | 807 ◉ |
| ⚓️ Military ships | 155 ◉ |
| – incl. aircraft carriers | 0 ◉ |
| – incl. submarines | 22 ◉ |
| 🚛 Main battle tanks | 2,236 ◉ |
| 💥 Nuclear warheads | 0 ◉ |
| – incl. deployed | 0 ◉ |
| 🪖 Military personnel | 1,469,000 ◉ |
| – Reserve troops | 600,000 ◉ |
| 🛩️ Military aircraft | 861 ◉ |
| – incl. combat aircraft | 575 ◉ |
| – incl. bombers | 80 ◉ |
| – incl. helicopters | 205 ◉ |
| ⚓️ Military ships | 385 ◉ |
| – incl. aircraft carriers | 0 ◉ |
| – incl. submarines | 73 ◉ |
| 🚛 Main battle tanks | 0 ◉ |
| 💥 Nuclear warheads | 50 ◉ |
| – incl. deployed | 0 ◉ |
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| Population | 51.7 million ◉ |
| GDP | $1.7 trillion |
| GDP per capita | $33,121 |
| Military Budget | $47.6 billion ◉ |
| Share of GDP in Milex | 2.6% |
| Share of Govt Expenditures | 11.3% |
| Military spends per capita | $920 ◉ |
| Population | 25.9 million ◉ |
| GDP | $None |
| GDP per capita | $ |
| Military Budget | $1.6 billion ◉ |
| Share of GDP in Milex | 0.0% |
| Share of Govt Expenditures | 0.0% |
| Military spends per capita | $62 ◉ |
Further Reading
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Military Forces Chart
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Military Budget Evolution
Military Personnel Evolution
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has more military personnel, South Korea or North Korea?
North Korea has approximately 1,469,000 active military personnel compared to South Korea's 569,000, giving North Korea a 3:1 numerical advantage.
Which country has more combat aircraft, South Korea or North Korea?
North Korea operates 575 combat aircraft compared to South Korea's 433. This includes fighters, strike aircraft, and multirole combat jets.
Who has the larger navy, South Korea or North Korea?
North Korea has a larger navy with 385 vessels compared to South Korea's 155 ships. South Korea operates 22 submarines while North Korea has 73.
Which country spends more on defense, South Korea or North Korea?
South Korea has a larger defense budget at $47.6 billion (30:1 more) compared to North Korea's $1.6 billion annually.
Do South Korea and North Korea have nuclear weapons?
North Korea possesses nuclear weapons with approximately 50 warheads, while South Korea does not have nuclear weapons.
How do the tank forces of South Korea and North Korea compare?
South Korea operates 2,236 main battle tanks compared to North Korea's 0. Tank numbers reflect both active inventory and reserves.