Myanmar (Burma) vs South Korea
Myanmar (Burma) vs South Korea: Military spending in US dollars
Military spending in US dollars: $4.65B in Myanmar (Burma) in 2024 and $48.9B in South Korea in 2025, by SIPRI estimates. In 2024 the value was higher in South Korea, by $42.9B, or 10 times that in Myanmar (Burma).
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher since 1954, when it overtook Myanmar (Burma).
Every year
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
| Year | Myanmar (Burma) | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | – | $48.9B |
| 2024 | $4.65B | $47.6B |
| 2023 | $2.88B | $46.8B |
| 2022 | $3.31B | $46.6B |
| 2021 | $3.7B | $47.6B |
| 2020 | $3.33B | $45.6B |
| 2019 | $2.28B | $43.3B |
| 2018 | $2.36B | $40.1B |
| 2017 | $3.46B | $38.1B |
| 2016 | $3.65B | $37.4B |
| 2015 | $3.82B | $36.5B |
| 2014 | $3.29B | $35.2B |
| 2013 | $3.27B | $33.8B |
| 2012 | $2.97B | $32.8B |
| 2011 | – | $32B |
| 2010 | – | $31.6B |
| 2009 | – | $31.3B |
| 2008 | – | $29.5B |
| 2007 | – | $27.7B |
| 2006 | – | $26.5B |
| 2005 | $716M | $25.5B |
| 2004 | $708M | $23.6B |
| 2003 | $634M | $22.6B |
| 2002 | $426M | $21.9B |
| 2001 | $585M | $21.3B |
| 2000 | $653M | $20.7B |
| 1999 | $484M | $19.5B |
| 1998 | $489M | $20B |
| 1997 | $593M | $20.8B |
| 1996 | $713M | $20.3B |
| 1995 | $668M | $20B |
| 1994 | $628M | $18.3B |
| 1993 | $591M | $17.8B |
| 1992 | $514M | $17B |
| 1991 | $443M | $16B |
| 1990 | $511M | $15.6B |
| 1989 | $430M | $15B |
| 1988 | $242M | $14.1B |
| 1987 | $233M | $13.3B |
| 1986 | $365M | $13B |
| 1985 | $391M | $12B |
| 1984 | $393M | $11.1B |
| 1983 | $402M | $10.9B |
| 1982 | $418M | $10.4B |
| 1981 | $433M | $10B |
| 1980 | $387M | $9.66B |
| 1979 | $371M | $8.82B |
| 1978 | $389M | $9.39B |
| 1977 | $350M | $7.54B |
| 1976 | $301M | $6.34B |
| 1975 | $314M | $4.41B |
| 1974 | $363M | $3.82B |
| 1973 | $439M | $2.99B |
| 1972 | $468M | $2.97B |
| 1971 | $479M | $2.54B |
| 1970 | $470M | $2.16B |
| 1969 | $420M | $2.09B |
| 1968 | $367M | $1.81B |
| 1967 | $367M | $1.54B |
| 1966 | $382M | $1.38B |
| 1965 | $488M | $767M |
| 1964 | $524M | $730M |
| 1963 | $535M | $771M |
| 1962 | $471M | $933M |
| 1961 | $437M | $804M |
| 1960 | $456M | $771M |
| 1959 | $472M | $796M |
| 1958 | $436M | $750M |
| 1957 | $396M | $635M |
| 1956 | $386M | $739M |
| 1955 | $385M | $516M |
| 1954 | $438M | $465M |
| 1953 | $350M | $185M |
| 1952 | $245M | – |
| 1951 | $159M | – |
- Estimate
- Highly uncertain
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
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 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
- Armed forces personnelMyanmar (Burma): 463,000 people in 2020South Korea: 569,000 people in 2020
- 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