Malaysia vs North Korea
Malaysia vs North Korea: Military spending per person
Military spending per person: $138 in Malaysia in 2025 and $62 in North Korea in 2018, by SIPRI estimates. In 2018 the value was higher in Malaysia, by $44, or 1.7 times that in North Korea.
US dollars per person · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- Malaysia has been higher in every year both have figures for since 2015.
Every year
US dollars per person · SIPRI
| Year | Malaysia | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $138 | – |
| 2024 | $124 | – |
| 2023 | $112 | – |
| 2022 | $107 | – |
| 2021 | $108 | – |
| 2020 | $100 | – |
| 2019 | $98 | – |
| 2018 | $106 | $62 |
| 2017 | $109 | $37 |
| 2016 | $132 | $36 |
| 2015 | $146 | $34 |
| 2014 | $162 | – |
| 2013 | $164 | – |
| 2012 | $153 | – |
| 2011 | $162 | – |
| 2010 | $136 | – |
| 2009 | $142 | – |
| 2008 | $162 | – |
| 2007 | $149 | – |
| 2006 | $125 | – |
| 2005 | $122 | – |
| 2004 | $113 | – |
| 2003 | $118 | – |
| 2002 | $94 | – |
| 2001 | $83 | – |
| 2000 | $68 | – |
| 1999 | $75 | – |
| 1998 | $54 | – |
| 1997 | $99 | – |
| 1996 | $118 | – |
| 1995 | $122 | – |
| 1994 | $108 | – |
| 1993 | $101 | – |
| 1992 | $95 | – |
| 1991 | $87 | – |
| 1990 | $64 | – |
| 1989 | $60 | – |
| 1988 | $52 | – |
- Highly uncertain
Each country on its own
Good to know
- What the country spends on its armed forces and defence for each person living there, in US dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation.
- Source: Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure Database, https://doi.org/10.55163/CQGC9685.
- Marked points are SIPRI’s own: a dot where it gives the figure as its estimate, a ring where it calls the figure highly uncertain.
- Ranks count the 151 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Malaysia vs North Korea
Health
- Life expectancyMalaysia: 76.7 years in 2023North Korea: 73.6 years in 2023
- Child mortalityMalaysia: 0.8 per 100 live births in 2024North Korea: 1.7 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityMalaysia: 6.4 per 1,000 live births in 2023North Korea: 14.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterMalaysia: 93.9% in 2022North Korea: 66.5% in 2022
- DepressionMalaysia: 3.52% in 2017North Korea: 3.09% in 2017
- Suicide rateMalaysia: 7.8 per 100,000 people in 2017North Korea: 11.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationMalaysia: 35.1 million people in 2023North Korea: 26.4 million people in 2023
- Population growthMalaysia: 1.24% a year in 2023North Korea: 0.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateMalaysia: 1.55 births per woman in 2023North Korea: 1.78 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationMalaysia: 77.4% in 2025North Korea: 64.2% in 2025
- Median ageMalaysia: 30.1 years in 2023North Korea: 36.1 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overMalaysia: 7.5% in 2023North Korea: 12% in 2023
- Net migration rateMalaysia: 5.2 per 1,000 people in 2023North Korea: -0.1 per 1,000 people in 2023
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Armed forces personnelMalaysia: 136,000 people in 2020North Korea: 1.47 million people in 2020
- National powerMalaysia: 0.46% of world capability in 2022North Korea: 1.41% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersMalaysia: 0.81% of the labour force in 2020North Korea: 8.62% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsMalaysia: 7 million TIV in 2024North Korea: 1 million TIV in 2010
- Arms exportsMalaysia: 20 million TIV in 2024North Korea: 44 million TIV in 2025