Myanmar (Burma) vs South Korea
Myanmar (Burma) vs South Korea: Armed forces personnel
Armed forces personnel in 2020: 463,000 people in Myanmar (Burma) and 569,000 people in South Korea, by IISS estimates. In 2020 the value was higher in South Korea, by 106,000 people, or 1.23 times that in Myanmar (Burma).
people · IISS
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1985.
- In 2020, Myanmar (Burma) ranked 14 and South Korea ranked 11 of 170 countries, counting from the highest.
- The world as a whole: 27.4 million people in 2020.
Every year
people · IISS
| Year | Myanmar (Burma) | South Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 463,000 | 569,000 | 27.4 million |
| 2019 | 513,000 | 613,000 | 27.7 million |
| 2018 | 513,000 | 608,000 | 27.7 million |
| 2017 | 513,000 | 634,000 | 27.4 million |
| 2016 | 513,300 | 634,000 | 27.5 million |
| 2015 | 513,300 | 634,500 | 27.4 million |
| 2014 | 513,300 | 632,500 | 27.3 million |
| 2013 | 513,300 | 659,500 | 27.2 million |
| 2012 | 513,300 | 659,500 | 28.2 million |
| 2011 | 513,300 | 659,500 | 28 million |
| 2010 | 513,300 | 659,500 | 28.1 million |
| 2009 | 513,300 | 659,500 | 27.9 million |
| 2008 | 513,000 | 692,000 | 27.5 million |
| 2007 | 513,000 | 692,000 | 27.3 million |
| 2006 | 513,000 | 692,000 | 27 million |
| 2005 | 483,000 | 693,000 | 28.5 million |
| 2004 | 482,300 | 696,000 | 27.1 million |
| 2003 | 595,000 | 690,500 | 28.2 million |
| 2002 | 544,300 | 690,500 | 28.3 million |
| 2001 | 444,300 | 687,500 | 28.2 million |
| 2000 | 429,100 | 687,500 | 29.4 million |
| 1999 | 429,100 | 676,500 | 29.6 million |
| 1998 | 434,900 | 676,500 | 29.9 million |
| 1997 | 429,100 | 676,500 | 29.9 million |
| 1996 | 406,300 | 668,000 | 30.2 million |
| 1995 | 371,300 | 641,000 | 30.2 million |
| 1994 | 322,000 | 750,000 | 23.2 million |
| 1993 | 322,000 | 750,000 | 23.7 million |
| 1992 | 286,000 | 750,000 | 24.5 million |
| 1991 | 286,000 | 750,000 | 22.7 million |
| 1990 | 230,000 | 650,000 | 23.9 million |
| 1989 | 200,000 | 647,000 | 24.3 million |
| 1985 | 186,000 | 598,000 | 22.2 million |
| 1984 | 181,000 | 602,000 | – |
| 1983 | 179,000 | 602,000 | – |
| 1982 | 210,000 | 601,000 | – |
| 1981 | 210,000 | 606,000 | – |
| 1980 | 179,000 | 600,000 | – |
| 1979 | 212,000 | 638,000 | – |
| 1978 | 212,000 | 600,000 | – |
| 1977 | 208,000 | 600,000 | – |
| 1976 | 210,000 | 610,000 | – |
| 1975 | 209,000 | 630,000 | – |
| 1974 | 202,000 | 634,000 | – |
| 1973 | 198,000 | 634,000 | – |
| 1972 | 191,000 | 635,000 | – |
| 1971 | 175,000 | 638,000 | – |
| 1970 | 174,000 | 645,000 | – |
| 1969 | 173,000 | 620,000 | – |
| 1968 | 136,000 | 620,000 | – |
| 1967 | 136,000 | 612,000 | – |
| 1966 | 135,000 | 572,000 | – |
| 1965 | 133,000 | 604,000 | – |
| 1964 | 123,000 | 600,000 | – |
| 1963 | 105,000 | 627,000 | – |
| 1962 | 100,000 | 570,000 | – |
| 1961 | 90,000 | 570,000 | – |
| 1960 | 79,000 | 650,000 | – |
| 1959 | 67,000 | 650,000 | – |
| 1958 | 56,000 | 650,000 | – |
| 1957 | 44,000 | 650,000 | – |
| 1956 | 33,000 | 650,000 | – |
| 1955 | 25,000 | 730,000 | – |
| 1954 | 19,000 | 630,000 | – |
| 1953 | 14,000 | 504,000 | – |
| 1952 | 10,000 | 335,000 | – |
| 1951 | 8,000 | 196,000 | – |
| 1950 | 6,000 | 109,000 | – |
| 1949 | 4,000 | 69,000 | – |
| 1948 | 3,000 | – | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Correlates of War
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Active-duty military personnel, with paramilitary forces where they are trained and equipped like soldiers, by the IISS Military Balance.
- Source: IISS, The Military Balance, via the World Bank.
- Before 1985: Correlates of War Project, National Material Capabilities v7.0; Singer, Bremer and Stuckey (1972), “Capability Distribution, Uncertainty, and Major Power War, 1820–1965”, in Bruce Russett (ed.), Peace, War, and Numbers, Sage, 19–48.
- Ranks count the 170 countries with a value in 2020, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Myanmar (Burma) vs South Korea
Health
- Life expectancyMyanmar (Burma): 66.9 years in 2023South Korea: 84.3 years in 2023
- Child mortalityMyanmar (Burma): 3.7 per 100 live births in 2024South Korea: 0.3 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityMyanmar (Burma): 31.8 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Korea: 2.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterMyanmar (Burma): 57.4% in 2022South Korea: 99.3% in 2022
- DepressionMyanmar (Burma): 2.3% in 2017South Korea: 3.17% in 2017
- Suicide rateMyanmar (Burma): 5 per 100,000 people in 2017South Korea: 20.8 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationMyanmar (Burma): 54.1 million people in 2023South Korea: 51.8 million people in 2023
- Population growthMyanmar (Burma): 0.69% a year in 2023South Korea: -0.04% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateMyanmar (Burma): 2.12 births per woman in 2023South Korea: 0.72 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationMyanmar (Burma): 30.6% in 2025South Korea: 81.2% in 2025
- Median ageMyanmar (Burma): 29.5 years in 2023South Korea: 44.5 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overMyanmar (Burma): 7.1% in 2023South Korea: 18.3% in 2023
- Net migration rateMyanmar (Burma): -0.6 per 1,000 people in 2023South Korea: 1.7 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personMyanmar (Burma): $1,128 in 2025South Korea: $37,470 in 2025
- GDP growthMyanmar (Burma): -12% a year in 2021South Korea: 1.1% a year in 2025
- InflationMyanmar (Burma): 27.6% a year in 2023South Korea: 2.1% a year in 2025
- Government debtMyanmar (Burma): 37.6% of GDP in 2019South Korea: 49.6% of GDP in 2024
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingMyanmar (Burma): 6.61% of GDP in 2024South Korea: 2.6% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsMyanmar (Burma): $4.65B in 2024South Korea: $48.9B in 2025
- Military spending per personMyanmar (Burma): $92 in 2024South Korea: $924 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingMyanmar (Burma): 32% of government spending in 2024South Korea: 10.8% of government spending in 2025
- National powerMyanmar (Burma): 0.53% of world capability in 2022South Korea: 2% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersMyanmar (Burma): 1.94% of the labour force in 2020South Korea: 2.01% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsMyanmar (Burma): 70 million TIV in 2025South Korea: 222 million TIV in 2025