Malaysia vs South Korea
Malaysia vs South Korea: Military spending in US dollars
Military spending in US dollars in 2025: $4.55B in Malaysia and $48.9B in South Korea, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in South Korea, by $44.3B, or 11 times that in Malaysia.
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1957.
- In 2025, Malaysia ranked 50 and South Korea ranked 11 of 151 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
| Year | Malaysia | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4.55B | $48.9B |
| 2024 | $4.38B | $47.6B |
| 2023 | $3.98B | $46.8B |
| 2022 | $3.69B | $46.6B |
| 2021 | $3.59B | $47.6B |
| 2020 | $3.43B | $45.6B |
| 2019 | $3.23B | $43.3B |
| 2018 | $3.34B | $40.1B |
| 2017 | $3.66B | $38.1B |
| 2016 | $4.36B | $37.4B |
| 2015 | $4.55B | $36.5B |
| 2014 | $4.23B | $35.2B |
| 2013 | $4.2B | $33.8B |
| 2012 | $3.85B | $32.8B |
| 2011 | $4.04B | $32B |
| 2010 | $3.6B | $31.6B |
| 2009 | $4.12B | $31.3B |
| 2008 | $4.37B | $29.5B |
| 2007 | $4.27B | $27.7B |
| 2006 | $3.82B | $26.5B |
| 2005 | $3.91B | $25.5B |
| 2004 | $3.65B | $23.6B |
| 2003 | $3.78B | $22.6B |
| 2002 | $2.97B | $21.9B |
| 2001 | $2.61B | $21.3B |
| 2000 | $2.1B | $20.7B |
| 1999 | $2.31B | $19.5B |
| 1998 | $1.71B | $20B |
| 1997 | $2.33B | $20.8B |
| 1996 | $2.48B | $20.3B |
| 1995 | $2.57B | $20B |
| 1994 | $2.42B | $18.3B |
| 1993 | $2.23B | $17.8B |
| 1992 | $2.1B | $17B |
| 1991 | $2.12B | $16B |
| 1990 | $1.55B | $15.6B |
| 1989 | $1.45B | $15B |
| 1988 | $1.21B | $14.1B |
| 1987 | $1.86B | $13.3B |
| 1986 | $1.28B | $13B |
| 1985 | $1.49B | $12B |
| 1984 | $1.67B | $11.1B |
| 1983 | $1.81B | $10.9B |
| 1982 | $2.03B | $10.4B |
| 1981 | $2.13B | $10B |
| 1980 | $1.58B | $9.66B |
| 1979 | $1.27B | $8.82B |
| 1978 | $1.09B | $9.39B |
| 1977 | $1.28B | $7.54B |
| 1976 | $952M | $6.34B |
| 1975 | $922M | $4.41B |
| 1974 | $873M | $3.82B |
| 1973 | $777M | $2.99B |
| 1972 | $839M | $2.97B |
| 1971 | $851M | $2.54B |
| 1970 | $759M | $2.16B |
| 1969 | $557M | $2.09B |
| 1968 | $572M | $1.81B |
| 1967 | $552M | $1.54B |
| 1966 | $599M | $1.38B |
| 1965 | $482M | $767M |
| 1964 | $344M | $730M |
| 1963 | $246M | $771M |
| 1962 | $183M | $933M |
| 1961 | $177M | $804M |
| 1960 | $214M | $771M |
| 1959 | $232M | $796M |
| 1958 | $266M | $750M |
| 1957 | $253M | $635M |
| 1956 | – | $739M |
| 1955 | – | $516M |
| 1954 | – | $465M |
| 1953 | – | $185M |
- Estimate
Each country on its own
Good to know
- What the country spends on its armed forces and defence, in constant 2024 US dollars so that years compare, by SIPRI’s count.
- 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 South Korea
Health
- Life expectancyMalaysia: 76.7 years in 2023South Korea: 84.3 years in 2023
- Child mortalityMalaysia: 0.8 per 100 live births in 2024South Korea: 0.3 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityMalaysia: 6.4 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Korea: 2.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterMalaysia: 93.9% in 2022South Korea: 99.3% in 2022
- DepressionMalaysia: 3.52% in 2017South Korea: 3.17% in 2017
- Suicide rateMalaysia: 7.8 per 100,000 people in 2017South Korea: 20.8 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationMalaysia: 35.1 million people in 2023South Korea: 51.8 million people in 2023
- Population growthMalaysia: 1.24% a year in 2023South Korea: -0.04% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateMalaysia: 1.55 births per woman in 2023South Korea: 0.72 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationMalaysia: 77.4% in 2025South Korea: 81.2% in 2025
- Median ageMalaysia: 30.1 years in 2023South Korea: 44.5 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overMalaysia: 7.5% in 2023South Korea: 18.3% in 2023
- Net migration rateMalaysia: 5.2 per 1,000 people in 2023South Korea: 1.7 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingMalaysia: 1.04% of GDP in 2025South Korea: 2.6% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending per personMalaysia: $138 in 2025South Korea: $924 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingMalaysia: 4.4% of government spending in 2025South Korea: 10.8% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelMalaysia: 136,000 people in 2020South Korea: 569,000 people in 2020
- National powerMalaysia: 0.46% of world capability in 2022South Korea: 2% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersMalaysia: 0.81% of the labour force in 2020South Korea: 2.01% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsMalaysia: 7 million TIV in 2024South Korea: 222 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsMalaysia: 20 million TIV in 2024South Korea: 2.02 billion TIV in 2025