South Korea vs United Arab Emirates
South Korea vs United Arab Emirates: Armed forces, share of workers
Armed forces, share of workers in 2020: 2.01% of the labour force in South Korea and 1.02% of the labour force in United Arab Emirates, by IISS estimates. In 2020 the value was higher in South Korea, by 0.99 percentage points, or 1.97 times that in United Arab Emirates.
% of the labour force · IISS
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher since 2001, when it overtook United Arab Emirates.
- In 2020, South Korea ranked 26 and United Arab Emirates ranked 65 of 168 countries, counting from the highest.
- The world as a whole: 0.79% of the labour force in 2020.
Every year
% of the labour force · IISS
| Year | South Korea | United Arab Emirates | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2.01 | 1.02 | 0.79 |
| 2019 | 2.15 | 1.01 | 0.79 |
| 2018 | 2.15 | 1.02 | 0.8 |
| 2017 | 2.26 | 1.04 | 0.8 |
| 2016 | 2.28 | 1.08 | 0.81 |
| 2015 | 2.31 | 1.14 | 0.82 |
| 2014 | 2.33 | 1.21 | 0.82 |
| 2013 | 2.5 | 1.27 | 0.83 |
| 2012 | 2.54 | 1.08 | 0.87 |
| 2011 | 2.59 | 1.12 | 0.88 |
| 2010 | 2.64 | 1.17 | 0.89 |
| 2009 | 2.67 | 1.19 | 0.89 |
| 2008 | 2.81 | 1.26 | 0.89 |
| 2007 | 2.83 | 1.41 | 0.89 |
| 2006 | 2.86 | 1.59 | 0.95 |
| 2005 | 2.89 | 1.73 | 0.96 |
| 2004 | 2.92 | 1.81 | 0.94 |
| 2003 | 2.95 | 1.95 | 0.98 |
| 2002 | 2.96 | 1.73 | 1 |
| 2001 | 3 | 2.96 | 1.01 |
| 2000 | 3.05 | 3.2 | 1.07 |
| 1999 | 3.06 | 3.45 | 1.09 |
| 1998 | 3.09 | 3.74 | 1.13 |
| 1997 | 3.04 | 4.07 | 1.15 |
| 1996 | 3.07 | 4.43 | 1.18 |
| 1995 | 3.01 | 5.17 | 1.2 |
| 1994 | 3.6 | 4.64 | 0.94 |
| 1993 | 3.71 | 4.52 | 0.98 |
| 1992 | 3.77 | 4.83 | 1.03 |
| 1991 | 3.85 | 6.19 | 1.03 |
| 1990 | 3.44 | 6.64 | 1.11 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Active-duty military personnel as a share of everyone working or looking for work, by the IISS Military Balance.
- Source: IISS, The Military Balance, via the World Bank.
- Ranks count the 168 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
South Korea vs United Arab Emirates
Health
- Life expectancySouth Korea: 84.3 years in 2023United Arab Emirates: 82.9 years in 2023
- Child mortalitySouth Korea: 0.3 per 100 live births in 2024United Arab Emirates: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySouth Korea: 2.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023United Arab Emirates: 4.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionSouth Korea: 3.17% in 2017United Arab Emirates: 2.88% in 2017
- Suicide rateSouth Korea: 20.8 per 100,000 people in 2017United Arab Emirates: 5.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSouth Korea: 51.8 million people in 2023United Arab Emirates: 10.6 million people in 2023
- Population growthSouth Korea: -0.04% a year in 2023United Arab Emirates: 3.7% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateSouth Korea: 0.72 births per woman in 2023United Arab Emirates: 1.2 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSouth Korea: 81.2% in 2025United Arab Emirates: 86% in 2025
- Median ageSouth Korea: 44.5 years in 2023United Arab Emirates: 31.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overSouth Korea: 18.3% in 2023United Arab Emirates: 1.7% in 2023
- Net migration rateSouth Korea: 1.7 per 1,000 people in 2023United Arab Emirates: 28.2 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personSouth Korea: $37,470 in 2025United Arab Emirates: $41,610 in 2024
- GDP growthSouth Korea: 1.1% a year in 2025United Arab Emirates: 6.2% a year in 2025
- InflationSouth Korea: 2.1% a year in 2025United Arab Emirates: 1.3% a year in 2025
- Government debtSouth Korea: 49.6% of GDP in 2024United Arab Emirates: 33.9% of GDP in 2025
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSouth Korea: 2.6% of GDP in 2025United Arab Emirates: 5.64% of GDP in 2014
- Military spending in US dollarsSouth Korea: $48.9B in 2025United Arab Emirates: $27.8B in 2014
- Military spending per personSouth Korea: $924 in 2025United Arab Emirates: $2,840 in 2014
- Military share of state spendingSouth Korea: 10.8% of government spending in 2025United Arab Emirates: 17% of government spending in 2014
- Armed forces personnelSouth Korea: 569,000 people in 2020United Arab Emirates: 63,000 people in 2020
- National powerSouth Korea: 2% of world capability in 2022United Arab Emirates: 0.47% of world capability in 2022
- Arms importsSouth Korea: 222 million TIV in 2025United Arab Emirates: 868 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsSouth Korea: 2.02 billion TIV in 2025United Arab Emirates: 33 million TIV in 2025
Climate
Technology and environment
- CO₂ per personSouth Korea: 11.36 tonnes in 2024United Arab Emirates: 18.26 tonnes in 2024
- Internet usersSouth Korea: 97.9% in 2024United Arab Emirates: 100% in 2024
- Access to electricitySouth Korea: 100% in 2024United Arab Emirates: 100% in 2024
- Forest areaSouth Korea: 64.4% in 2024United Arab Emirates: 4.6% in 2024