Philippines vs South Korea
Philippines vs South Korea: Military spending in US dollars
Military spending in US dollars in 2025: $6.3B in Philippines and $48.9B in South Korea, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in South Korea, by $42.6B, or 7.75 times that in Philippines.
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher since 1965, when it overtook Philippines.
- In 2025, Philippines ranked 41 and South Korea ranked 11 of 151 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
US dollars at 2024 prices · SIPRI
| Year | Philippines | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6.3B | $48.9B |
| 2024 | $5.49B | $47.6B |
| 2023 | $5.15B | $46.8B |
| 2022 | $5.54B | $46.6B |
| 2021 | $5.52B | $47.6B |
| 2020 | $4.89B | $45.6B |
| 2019 | $4.75B | $43.3B |
| 2018 | $4.76B | $40.1B |
| 2017 | $4.48B | $38.1B |
| 2016 | $3.77B | $37.4B |
| 2015 | $3.66B | $36.5B |
| 2014 | $3.35B | $35.2B |
| 2013 | $3.61B | $33.8B |
| 2012 | $3.16B | $32.8B |
| 2011 | $3.11B | $32B |
| 2010 | $3.07B | $31.6B |
| 2009 | $2.92B | $31.3B |
| 2008 | $3.03B | $29.5B |
| 2007 | $3.03B | $27.7B |
| 2006 | $2.77B | $26.5B |
| 2005 | $2.68B | $25.5B |
| 2004 | $2.63B | $23.6B |
| 2003 | $2.79B | $22.6B |
| 2002 | $2.5B | $21.9B |
| 2001 | $2.38B | $21.3B |
| 2000 | $2.52B | $20.7B |
| 1999 | $2.39B | $19.5B |
| 1998 | $2.42B | $20B |
| 1997 | $2.45B | $20.8B |
| 1996 | $2.74B | $20.3B |
| 1995 | $2.61B | $20B |
| 1994 | $2.35B | $18.3B |
| 1993 | $2.24B | $17.8B |
| 1992 | $2.07B | $17B |
| 1991 | $2.05B | $16B |
| 1990 | $2.26B | $15.6B |
| 1989 | $2.27B | $15B |
| 1988 | $2.41B | $14.1B |
| 1987 | $1.88B | $13.3B |
| 1986 | $1.76B | $13B |
| 1985 | $1.67B | $12B |
| 1984 | $1.55B | $11.1B |
| 1983 | $2.42B | $10.9B |
| 1982 | $2.47B | $10.4B |
| 1981 | $2.56B | $10B |
| 1980 | $2.47B | $9.66B |
| 1979 | $2.85B | $8.82B |
| 1978 | $2.38B | $9.39B |
| 1977 | $3.11B | $7.54B |
| 1976 | $3.25B | $6.34B |
| 1975 | – | $4.41B |
| 1974 | $2.53B | $3.82B |
| 1973 | $1.95B | $2.99B |
| 1972 | $1.46B | $2.97B |
| 1971 | $1.25B | $2.54B |
| 1970 | $1.34B | $2.16B |
| 1969 | $1.24B | $2.09B |
| 1968 | $1.03B | $1.81B |
| 1967 | $884M | $1.54B |
| 1966 | $795M | $1.38B |
| 1965 | $713M | $767M |
| 1964 | $736M | $730M |
| 1963 | $801M | $771M |
| 1962 | $710M | $933M |
| 1961 | $632M | $804M |
| 1960 | $616M | $771M |
| 1959 | $620M | $796M |
| 1958 | $600M | $750M |
| 1957 | – | $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
Philippines vs South Korea
Health
- Life expectancyPhilippines: 69.8 years in 2023South Korea: 84.3 years in 2023
- Child mortalityPhilippines: 2.7 per 100 live births in 2024South Korea: 0.3 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityPhilippines: 20.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Korea: 2.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterPhilippines: 47.9% in 2022South Korea: 99.3% in 2022
- DepressionPhilippines: 2.77% in 2017South Korea: 3.17% in 2017
- Suicide ratePhilippines: 6 per 100,000 people in 2017South Korea: 20.8 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationPhilippines: 115 million people in 2023South Korea: 51.8 million people in 2023
- Population growthPhilippines: 0.84% a year in 2023South Korea: -0.04% a year in 2023
- Fertility ratePhilippines: 1.92 births per woman in 2023South Korea: 0.72 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationPhilippines: 55.8% in 2025South Korea: 81.2% in 2025
- Median agePhilippines: 25.3 years in 2023South Korea: 44.5 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overPhilippines: 5.3% in 2023South Korea: 18.3% in 2023
- Net migration ratePhilippines: -1.4 per 1,000 people in 2023South Korea: 1.7 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingPhilippines: 1.3% of GDP in 2025South Korea: 2.6% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending per personPhilippines: $55 in 2025South Korea: $924 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingPhilippines: 5.4% of government spending in 2025South Korea: 10.8% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelPhilippines: 157,000 people in 2020South Korea: 569,000 people in 2020
- National powerPhilippines: 0.68% of world capability in 2022South Korea: 2% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersPhilippines: 0.37% of the labour force in 2020South Korea: 2.01% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsPhilippines: 846 million TIV in 2025South Korea: 222 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsPhilippines: 4 million TIV in 2007South Korea: 2.02 billion TIV in 2025