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NATIONAL FORCES · COMPARISON
Japan vs South Korea
| Overview | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
Active personnel DefinitionFull-time active military personnel; exclude reserves and paramilitary unless explicitly identified. | 217,701people · 31 Mar 2026Single sourceActual uniformed Japan Self-Defense Forces strength on 31 March 2026, all three services plus Joint Staff and other joint/internal units. Actual personnel, not the 247,154 budget establishment; reserve personnel and Ministry civilian employees excluded. | 450,000Estimate · people · November 2025 IISS assessmentSingle sourceNational full-time active military personnel; the separately reported reserve, gendarmerie and paramilitary totals are excluded. |
Armed forces personnel DefinitionActive-duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces whose training, organisation, equipment and control allow them to support or replace regular forces. This is not an active-regular-only count. | 261,000people · 2020Single source2020 annual observation. Active-duty military personnel, including qualifying paramilitary forces; not an active-regular-only count. | 569,000people · 2020Single source2020 annual observation. Active-duty military personnel, including qualifying paramilitary forces; not an active-regular-only count. |
Combat aircraft DefinitionIn-service fixed-wing combat aircraft; exclude stored, retired and ordered aircraft. In service does not establish readiness. | 255Estimate · aircraft · 8 Oct 2024Single sourceNational in-service fixed-wing aircraft classified as Combat aircraft by FlightGlobal/Cirium, summing the Active column across all military services listed for the country. Excludes the separately classified trainers, special-mission aircraft, tankers and helicopters, as well as aircraft in storage, undergoing or awaiting upgrades, and orders. This is the directory's active-role inventory estimate, not a measure of combat readiness. | 410Estimate · aircraft · Dec 2022Single sourceApproximate South Korean Air Force fixed-wing combat-aircraft force-posture total as of December 2022. The source lists trainers, ISR/C2 aircraft, transport aircraft and rotary-wing aircraft separately. This is a rounded peacetime-force estimate, not a readiness measure or a current exact count. |
Defence spending DefinitionAnnual military expenditure in current US dollars. State fiscal year, coverage and conversion basis in notes. | US$60.9bnEstimate · USD · 2026 IISS defence budget forecast (November 2025 assessment)Single sourceSource-reported annual official defence budget/appropriation in current US dollars; it is a budget figure, not an assertion of final expenditure or readiness. Explicit 2026 economic-table year column; USD 60.9bn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. Source coverage/fiscal-year notes: [a] No supplemental agreed for defence in 2025 or 2026 at time of writing The explicit 2026 column is forward-looking relative to the November 2025 assessment and is retained as a forecast, not an observed final outturn. | US$48.2bnEstimate · USD · 2026 IISS defence budget forecast (November 2025 assessment)Single sourceSource-reported annual official defence budget/appropriation in current US dollars; it is a budget figure, not an assertion of final expenditure or readiness. Explicit 2026 economic-table year column; USD 48.2bn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. The explicit 2026 column is forward-looking relative to the November 2025 assessment and is retained as a forecast, not an observed final outturn. |
GDP DefinitionAnnual nominal GDP in current US dollars, not purchasing-power parity. | US$4.46tnEstimate · USD · 2026 IISS nominal GDP forecast (November 2025 assessment)Single sourceAnnual nominal GDP at current market prices, in source-reported current US dollars. Excludes purchasing-power-parity GDP and real GDP growth. Explicit 2026 economic-table year column; USD 4.46trn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. The explicit 2026 column is forward-looking relative to the November 2025 assessment and is retained as a forecast, not an observed final outturn. | US$1.94tnEstimate · USD · 2026 IISS nominal GDP forecast (November 2025 assessment)Single sourceAnnual nominal GDP at current market prices, in source-reported current US dollars. Excludes purchasing-power-parity GDP and real GDP growth. Explicit 2026 economic-table year column; USD 1.94trn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. The explicit 2026 column is forward-looking relative to the November 2025 assessment and is retained as a forecast, not an observed final outturn. |
Main battle tanks DefinitionIn-service main battle tanks; exclude storage and orders. | 300Estimate · vehicles · 31 Mar 2024Single sourceApproximately 300 tanks in the completed Ground Self-Defense Force tank structure at the end of Japanese FY2023. Excludes the separately listed Type16 mobile combat vehicles; rounded force-structure count, not a precise total of every stored or trial vehicle. | 2,210Estimate · vehicles · 2025 edition; census date not statedSingle sourceNational MBT holdings: Army 2,110 plus Marines 100. Army and Marine Corps equipment are separately enumerated; neither is omitted or counted twice. |
Population DefinitionTotal resident population; retain the source's reference year. | 123,366,734people · 2025Single source2025 annual observation. Midyear resident population estimate. | 51,684,564people · 2025Single source2025 annual observation. Midyear resident population estimate. |
Reserve personnel DefinitionReported reserve personnel, with mobilisation and training definitions stated in notes. | 36,072people · 31 Mar 2026Single sourceActual appointed SDF reserve membership on 31 March 2026: 32,267 regular reservists plus 3,805 ready reservists. Excludes 3,499 reserve candidates still undergoing initial training (予備自衛官補), the general military-eligible population and authorized unfilled reserve positions. | 3,100,000Estimate · people · November 2025 IISS assessmentSingle sourceNational military reserve pool; excludes the separately reported active and paramilitary personnel. Training/mobilisation definitions remain source-specific. |
Submarines DefinitionCommissioned submarines; exclude vessels on order and decommissioned vessels. | 22vessels · 31 Mar 2025Single sourceJapanese Maritime Self-Defense Force submarines commissioned into service at 31 March 2025. Excludes orders; not a readiness count. | 21Estimate · vessels · 10 Feb 2025Single sourceCommissioned military submarines in the national fleet; excludes orders, construction and uncommissioned trial boats. Fleet count, not immediately deployable strength. |
Transport aircraft DefinitionIn-service dedicated fixed-wing military transport aircraft; exclude trainers and orders. | 55Estimate · aircraft · 8 Oct 2024Single sourceNational in-service fixed-wing military transport aircraft classified as Transport by FlightGlobal/Cirium, summing the Active column across all military services listed for the country. Includes strategic, tactical and light liaison/utility transport aircraft; excludes the separately classified trainers, special-mission aircraft, tankers and helicopters, as well as aircraft in storage, undergoing or awaiting upgrades, and orders. This is the directory's active-role inventory estimate, not a measure of immediate availability. | 50Estimate · aircraft · Dec 2022Single sourceApproximate South Korean Air Force fixed-wing transport-aircraft force-posture total as of December 2022. Uses the Republic of Korea column; the source lists trainers and rotary-wing aircraft separately. This is a rounded peacetime-force estimate, not a readiness measure or a current exact count. |
Major surface combatants DefinitionCommissioned cruisers, destroyers and frigates. Exclude patrol craft and support vessels. | —Not yet documented | 30Estimate · vessels · 10 Feb 2025Single sourceCommissioned cruisers, destroyers and frigates in the national fleet; excludes aircraft carriers, corvettes, patrol, amphibious and support vessels. Fleet count, not immediately deployable strength. |
Nuclear warheads DefinitionWarheads in the military stockpile, deployed or in reserve; exclude retired warheads awaiting dismantlement. Independent estimates, labelled as such. | —Not yet documented | —Not yet documented |
EQUIPMENT & WEAPONS
Equipment listed in inventory and operator sources, grouped by force and category. Sourced quantities retain their date, variant coverage and inventory status. Equipment without a documented count is listed by type.
390 matching equipment types
| Equipment | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Combat aircraft | ||
| F-15 Eagle | 199Japan Air Self-Defense Force · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| F-16 Fighting Falcon | — | 1672024 |
| F-35 Lightning II | 47Japan Air Self-Defense Force · 2026Wikipedia 49Air Self-Defense Force · 2025 | 39Republic of Korea Air Force · 2025 |
| KAI KF-21 Boramae | — | 6Republic of Korea Air Force · 2026Wikipedia |
| KAI T-50 Golden Eagle | — | 6Republic of Korea Air Force · 2025 |
| McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle | — | 592026 |
| Mitsubishi F-15J | 200Air Self-Defense Force · 2025 | — |
| Mitsubishi F-2 | 85Japan Air Self-Defense Force · 2026Wikipedia 64Air Self-Defense Force · 2025 | — |
| Northrop F-5 | — | 103Republic of Korea Air Force · 2025 |
| Support aircraft | ||
| A330 MRTT | — | 4Republic of Korea Air Force · 2025 |
| Antonov An-2 | — | In service |
| Beechcraft King Air | 252024 | 12024 |
| Equipment | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Tanks | ||
| K1 tank | — | 40Marines · 2025 484Republic of Korea Army · 2026Wikipedia 484Republic of Korea Army · 2026Wikipedia |
| K2 Black Panther | — | 260Republic of Korea Army · 2025 |
| Komatsu LAV | 1,818Japan Ground Self-Defense Force · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| M1 Abrams | — | In service |
| M48 Patton | — | 400Republic of Korea Army · 2025 |
| T-62 | — | 17Republic of Korea Army · 2026Wikipedia 17Republic of Korea Army · 2026Wikipedia |
| T-72 | — | In service |
| Type 10 | 117Japan Ground Self-Defense Force · 2025 | — |
| Armoured vehicles | ||
| Assault Amphibious Vehicle | 58Japan Ground Self-Defense Force · 2026Wikipedia | 166Marines · 2025 |
| BMP-2 | 21Ground Self-Defense Force · 2025 | — |
| BMP-3 | — | 40Republic of Korea Army · 2025 |
| BTR-80 | — | 20Republic of Korea Army · 2025 |
| Equipment | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Air defence | ||
| Crotale (missile) | — | 120Republic of Korea Army · 2026Wikipedia 120Republic of Korea Army · 2026Wikipedia |
| DARDO | — | In service |
| Javelin (surface-to-air missile) | — | 100Republic of Korea Army · 2026Wikipedia |
| K30 Biho | — | 167Republic of Korea Army · 2025 176Republic of Korea Army · 2026Wikipedia |
| M-SAM | — | In service |
| M167 VADS | In service | 60Republic of Korea Army · 2025 200Republic of Korea Air Force · 2026Wikipedia |
| MIM-23 Hawk | 60Ground Self-Defense Force · 2025 | — |
| Mistral (missile) | — | 406Republic of Korea Army · 2026Wikipedia 406Republic of Korea Army · 2026Wikipedia |
| Patriot | — | In service |
| RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile | In service | In service |
| RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 | In service | In service |
| RIM-162 ESSM | In service | — |
| Equipment | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Small arms | ||
| Accuracy International AW50 | — | In service |
| Accuracy International AWM | — | In service |
| AK-47 | — | In service |
| AK-74 | — | In service |
| Barrett M82 | — | In service |
| Barrett MRAD | — | In service |
| Benelli M3 | In service | — |
| Beretta 92 | — | In service |
| Beretta ARX160 | In service | — |
| Beretta Px4 Storm | — | In service |
| Brügger & Thomet MP9 | — | In service |
| CAR 816 | — | In service |
| Equipment | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Remote weapon stations | ||
| Protector RWS | In service | — |
| Equipment | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Radar & sensors | ||
| AN/FPS-117 | — | In service |
| AN/PVS-14 | ≥22,942Japan Ground Self-Defense Force · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radar | — | 10Republic of Korea Army · 2026Wikipedia |
| AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar | — | In service |
| ARTHUR | — | 8Republic of Korea Army · 2026Wikipedia |
| IAI Harpy | — | In service |
| Communications & electronic warfare | ||
| AN/PRC-77 Portable Transceiver | — | In service |
| Mark 36 SRBOC | In service | In service |
| PRC-999K | — | In service |
| Equipment | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Military training and simulation | ||
| Multiple integrated laser engagement system | — | In service |
Coverage is incomplete. “Not documented” means no linked inventory evidence, not zero equipment. Methodology ↗
Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2025 IISS assessment | 190 units | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 58 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 99 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 480 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 1,818 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | ≥22,942 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 1 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 504 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 8 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 1 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 6 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 3 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 6 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
No shared land boundary is represented in the Natural Earth dataset. Approximate separation between the dataset’s country label points: 900 km.
Generalized geography from Natural Earth 1:110m, version 5.1.1. Label-point distance is calculated on a sphere and rounded to the nearest 100 km; it is not a capital-to-capital distance, route, border distance or operational range. Dataset boundaries do not imply recognition of territorial claims.
Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:110m, v5.1.1 · Public domain · Research catalogue highlighted
Scores out of 100 on the ForceTally Index. Each bar splits in proportion to the two scores. A point at the centre of the chart means no sourced figure for that part.
Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 cited source period | 30 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| 2025 cited source period | 1,240 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| 2025 cited source period | 1,040 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 484 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 1,900 units | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 50 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 406 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 120 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 176 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 450 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 2 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 207 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | ≥2,000 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 10 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 10 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 627 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 1,700 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 17 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |