North Korea vs Russia

North Korea vs Russia: Military spending per person

Military spending per person: $62 in North Korea in 2018 and $1,318 in Russia in 2025, by SIPRI estimates. In 2018 the value was higher in Russia, by $359, or 6.8 times that in North Korea.

Watch it change on the map

US dollars per person · SIPRI

North Korea vs Russia: Military spending per personMilitary spending per person: $62 in North Korea in 2018 and $1,318 in Russia in 2025, by SIPRI estimates. In 2018 the value was higher in Russia, by $359, or 6.8 times that in North Korea.
North KoreaRussiaSIPRI estimateHighly uncertain

What the numbers say

  • Russia has been higher in every year both have figures for since 2015.

Every year

US dollars per person · SIPRI

YearNorth KoreaRussia
2025–$1,318
2024–$1,029
2023–$750
2022–$718
2021–$451
2020–$422
2019–$445
2018$62$421
2017$37$458
2016$36$476
2015$34$458
2014–$585
2013–$612
2012–$565
2011–$488
2010–$408
2009–$358
2008–$391
2007–$303
2006–$239
2005–$189
2004–$144
2003–$116
2002–$96
2001–$80
2000–$63
1999–$44
1998–$54
1997–$119
1996–$107
1995–$86
1994–$92
1993–$52
  • Estimate
  • 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

North Korea vs Russia

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