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Netherlands vs South Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Netherlands has a population of 18M (ranked 72/197), compared with 51.8M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). The Netherlands' land area is 13,000 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 134th vs. 105th).

By GDP, The Netherlands ranks 19/197 ($1.21T) and South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T). By GDP per capita, The Netherlands ranks 13/197 ($67,520), while South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239).

Main facts and rankings

Netherlands South Korea
Population
18252623
51649918
Population rank 72/197 31/197
GDP
$1.21T
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank 19/197 12/197
GDP per capita
$67,520
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank 13/197 31/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$86,174
2024
$61,051
2024
Government debt
$532B
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
43.8%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$29,571
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank 24/185 33/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$47,815
2026
$27,215
2026
Land area 13,000 sq mi 37,684 sq mi
Population density
1,402 ppl/mi²
2026
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.43
2023
0.72
2023
Median age
42.4 years
2024
46.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
84.6 years
2026

Netherlands and South Korea: Comparison Charts

Netherlands and South Korea economies compared

GDP
Netherlands

South Korea
1x
Year GDP
Netherlands South Korea
2024 $1,214,927,698,573 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $1,135,475,867,551 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $1,046,540,797,549 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $1,054,472,123,450 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $932,560,861,701 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $928,903,005,576 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $929,733,599,797 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $848,233,537,846 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $797,163,949,290 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $775,743,675,303 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $901,556,501,756 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $883,951,539,007 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $845,689,017,066 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $913,140,741,333 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $852,464,982,433 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $878,954,223,140 $983,065,242,417
2008 $957,901,566,041 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $853,499,460,873 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $737,593,995,289 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $688,133,699,636 $971,740,329,984
2004 $661,224,886,143 $823,251,107,639
2003 $582,435,617,082 $728,516,494,684
2002 $475,529,972,123 $650,014,391,470
2001 $432,536,219,669 $567,564,806,235
2000 $417,649,282,154 $597,487,173,479
1999 $447,778,514,140 $515,697,079,289
1998 $438,612,530,549 $397,297,216,492
1997 $417,506,211,882 $589,202,526,424
1996 $451,372,549,020 $631,196,863,758
1995 $452,967,334,614 $586,286,469,401
1994 $379,688,232,232 $479,181,794,217
1993 $354,070,495,966 $405,705,302,846
1992 $363,497,050,125 $366,921,291,825
1991 $327,982,316,124 $340,851,946,804
1990 $318,799,003,994 $292,064,221,389
1989 $258,716,904,292 $254,236,243,100
1988 $262,295,966,105 $205,477,530,605
1987 $245,406,949,521 $152,240,393,646
1986 $201,157,708,221 $119,965,960,795
1985 $144,057,523,222 $103,764,281,281
1984 $144,124,462,912 $99,749,645,089
1983 $153,671,294,109 $89,621,208,322
1982 $158,712,765,536 $79,921,300,447
1981 $164,375,775,854 $74,287,368,087
1980 $195,439,301,707 $66,547,970,351
1979 $179,933,827,310 $68,083,884,298
1978 $156,089,077,205 $52,824,793,388
1977 $127,203,923,857 $39,064,462,810
1976 $109,329,386,564 $30,371,074,380
1975 $100,397,061,694 $22,126,033,058
1974 $87,371,810,804 $19,860,929,977
1973 $71,946,639,603 $14,067,523,813
1972 $54,787,070,173 $10,990,490,570
1971 $44,644,730,576 $10,005,257,131
1970 $38,220,884,519 $9,085,001,794
1969 $34,086,038,090 $7,743,940,189
1968 $30,097,635,751 $6,167,109,472
1967 $27,143,828,099 $4,895,076,718
1966 $24,741,480,717 $3,957,064,541
1965 $22,721,869,808 $3,141,131,708
1964 $20,232,048,553 $3,476,789,682
1963 $17,193,744,109 $4,007,692,308
1962 $15,847,582,341 $2,826,923,077
1961 $14,599,836,396 $2,427,244,761
1960 $13,282,979,015 $3,973,069,307

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/netherlands/south-korea | CC BY

Netherlands and South Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Netherlands

South Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Netherlands South Korea
2024 $67,520 $36,239
2023 $63,516 $35,674
2022 $59,123 $34,822
2021 $60,142 $37,518
2020 $53,468 $33,646
2019 $53,555 $33,827
2018 $53,955 $35,364
2017 $49,514 $33,297
2016 $46,809 $30,832
2015 $45,794 $30,172
2014 $53,457 $30,667
2013 $52,602 $28,449
2012 $50,474 $26,601
2011 $54,702 $26,175
2010 $51,306 $24,071
2009 $53,172 $19,937
2008 $58,247 $22,252
2007 $52,101 $25,078
2006 $45,124 $22,610
2005 $42,165 $20,167
2004 $40,611 $17,122
2003 $35,897 $15,212
2002 $29,447 $13,643
2001 $26,956 $11,981
2000 $26,225 $12,710
1999 $28,319 $11,063
1998 $27,924 $8,583
1997 $26,745 $12,822
1996 $29,064 $13,865
1995 $29,301 $13,002
1994 $24,683 $10,734
1993 $23,156 $9,180
1992 $23,939 $8,387
1991 $21,764 $7,873
1990 $21,322 $6,813
1989 $17,423 $5,989
1988 $17,771 $4,889
1987 $16,734 $3,658
1986 $13,804 $2,911
1985 $9,941 $2,543
1984 $9,992 $2,469
1983 $10,696 $2,246
1982 $11,089 $2,032
1981 $11,537 $1,918
1980 $13,812 $1,746
1979 $12,817 $1,814
1978 $11,196 $1,429
1977 $9,180 $1,073
1976 $7,937 $847
1975 $7,346 $627
1974 $6,450 $572
1973 $5,353 $412
1972 $4,110 $328
1971 $3,384 $304
1970 $2,931 $281.8
1969 $2,647 $245.5
1968 $2,364 $200
1967 $2,155 $162.5
1966 $1,986 $134.4
1965 $1,848 $109.4
1964 $1,668 $124.2
1963 $1,437 $147
1962 $1,342 $106.6
1961 $1,254 $94.2
1960 $1,156 $158.8

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/netherlands/south-korea | CC BY

Netherlands vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Netherlands

South Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Netherlands South Korea
2026 82.6 84.6
2025 82.4 84.5
2024 82.3 84.4
2023 82.2 84.3
2022 81.9 82.7
2021 81.4 83.9
2020 81.4 83.7
2019 82.1 83.7
2018 81.8 83.3
2017 81.7 83.3
2016 81.6 82.9
2015 81.5 82.5
2014 81.7 82.4
2013 81.3 81.8
2012 81.1 81.3
2011 81.1 81.2
2010 80.8 80.7
2009 80.7 80.6
2008 80.4 80
2007 80.3 79.4
2006 79.8 79
2005 79.5 78.4
2004 79.2 78
2003 78.7 77.5
2002 78.4 77.2
2001 78.3 76.9
2000 78.1 76.2
1999 78 75.6
1998 78 75
1997 77.9 74.5
1996 77.6 74
1995 77.6 73.4
1994 77.5 72.9
1993 77 72.7
1992 77.4 72.2
1991 77.2 71.4
1990 77 71
1989 76.8 70.7
1988 77 70.2
1987 76.8 69.3
1986 76.4 69
1985 76.4 68.4
1984 76.3 68.1
1983 76.3 66.7
1982 76.1 67.1
1981 76 67.1
1980 75.8 64.8
1979 75.6 66.1
1978 75.2 65
1977 75.3 64.6
1976 74.7 65
1975 74.6 64.7
1974 74.6 64.2
1973 74.2 63.8
1972 73.8 63.2
1971 73.9 62.7
1970 73.6 62.2
1969 73.6 61.4
1968 73.6 60.9
1967 73.8 60.9
1966 73.6 55.4
1965 73.6 55.8
1964 73.7 55.3
1963 73.4 55
1962 73.2 55
1961 73.6 54.4
1960 73.4 53.8
1959 73.2 52.9
1958 73.1 51.8
1957 73 51.6
1956 72.5 50.2
1955 72.5 48.4
1954 72.4 46.1
1953 71.7 40.5
1952 72.1 36.6
1951 71.5 26.6
1950 71.4 22.2

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/netherlands/south-korea | CC BY

Netherlands and South Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Netherlands

South Korea
1x
Year Population
Netherlands South Korea
2024 17,993,485 51,751,065
2023 17,877,117 51,712,619
2022 17,700,982 51,672,569
2021 17,533,044 51,769,539
2020 17,441,500 51,836,239
2019 17,344,874 51,764,822
2018 17,231,624 51,585,058
2017 17,131,296 51,361,911
2016 17,030,314 51,217,803
2015 16,939,923 51,014,947
2014 16,865,008 50,746,659
2013 16,804,432 50,428,893
2012 16,754,962 50,199,853
2011 16,693,074 49,936,638
2010 16,615,394 49,554,112
2009 16,530,388 49,307,835
2008 16,445,593 49,054,708
2007 16,381,696 48,683,638
2006 16,346,101 48,438,292
2005 16,319,868 48,184,561
2004 16,281,779 48,082,519
2003 16,225,302 47,892,330
2002 16,148,929 47,644,736
2001 16,046,180 47,370,164
2000 15,925,513 47,008,111
1999 15,812,088 46,616,677
1998 15,707,209 46,286,503
1997 15,610,650 45,953,580
1996 15,530,498 45,524,681
1995 15,459,006 45,092,991
1994 15,382,838 44,641,540
1993 15,290,368 44,194,628
1992 15,184,166 43,747,962
1991 15,069,798 43,295,704
1990 14,951,510 42,869,283
1989 14,848,907 42,449,038
1988 14,760,094 42,031,247
1987 14,665,037 41,621,690
1986 14,572,278 41,213,674
1985 14,491,632 40,805,744
1984 14,424,211 40,405,956
1983 14,367,070 39,910,403
1982 14,312,690 39,326,352
1981 14,247,208 38,723,248
1980 14,149,800 38,123,775
1979 14,038,270 37,534,236
1978 13,941,700 36,969,185
1977 13,856,185 36,411,795
1976 13,774,037 35,848,523
1975 13,666,335 35,280,725
1974 13,545,056 34,692,266
1973 13,439,322 34,103,149
1972 13,328,593 33,505,406
1971 13,194,497 32,882,704
1970 13,038,526 32,240,827
1969 12,877,984 31,544,266
1968 12,729,721 30,838,302
1967 12,598,201 30,130,983
1966 12,456,251 29,435,571
1965 12,294,732 28,704,674
1964 12,127,120 27,984,155
1963 11,965,966 27,261,747
1962 11,805,689 26,513,030
1961 11,638,712 25,765,673
1960 11,486,631 25,012,374

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/netherlands/south-korea | CC BY

Fertility rates in Netherlands and South Korea

Fertility rate
Netherlands

South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Netherlands South Korea
2023 1.43 0.72
2022 1.49 0.78
2021 1.62 0.81
2020 1.54 0.84
2019 1.57 0.92
2018 1.59 0.98
2017 1.62 1.05
2016 1.66 1.17
2015 1.66 1.24
2014 1.71 1.21
2013 1.68 1.19
2012 1.72 1.3
2011 1.76 1.24
2010 1.79 1.23
2009 1.79 1.15
2008 1.77 1.19
2007 1.72 1.26
2006 1.72 1.13
2005 1.71 1.09
2004 1.72 1.16
2003 1.75 1.19
2002 1.73 1.18
2001 1.71 1.31
2000 1.72 1.48
1999 1.65 1.43
1998 1.63 1.46
1997 1.56 1.54
1996 1.53 1.57
1995 1.53 1.63
1994 1.57 1.66
1993 1.57 1.65
1992 1.59 1.76
1991 1.61 1.71
1990 1.62 1.57
1989 1.55 1.56
1988 1.55 1.55
1987 1.56 1.53
1986 1.55 1.58
1985 1.51 1.66
1984 1.49 1.74
1983 1.47 2.06
1982 1.5 2.39
1981 1.56 2.57
1980 1.6 2.82
1979 1.56 2.9
1978 1.58 2.64
1977 1.58 2.99
1976 1.63 3
1975 1.66 3.43
1974 1.77 3.77
1973 1.9 4.07
1972 2.15 4.12
1971 2.36 4.54
1970 2.57 4.53
1969 2.75 4.45
1968 2.72 4.51
1967 2.81 4.62
1966 2.9 4.78
1965 3.04 4.89
1964 3.17 5.07
1963 3.19 5.33
1962 3.18 5.56
1961 3.22 5.8
1960 3.12 5.99

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/netherlands/south-korea | CC BY

Netherlands and South Korea demographics compared

Median age
Netherlands

South Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Netherlands South Korea
2024 42.4 46.1
2023 42.4 45.5
2022 42.5 44.9
2021 42.6 44.4
2020 42.5 43.8
2019 42.5 43.1
2018 42.4 42.5
2017 42.3 41.9
2016 42.2 41.4
2015 42 40.8
2014 41.8 40.2
2013 41.6 39.5
2012 41.3 38.8
2011 41 38.2
2010 40.7 37.6
2009 40.3 37
2008 40 36.4
2007 39.7 35.8
2006 39.3 35.2
2005 38.9 34.5
2004 38.5 33.9
2003 38.1 33.4
2002 37.8 32.8
2001 37.5 32.3
2000 37.3 31.7
1999 37 31.2
1998 36.7 30.7
1997 36.4 30.2
1996 36.1 29.8
1995 35.7 29.4
1994 35.4 28.9
1993 35.1 28.3
1992 34.8 27.8
1991 34.6 27.2
1990 34.3 26.7
1989 34.1 26.3
1988 33.8 25.8
1987 33.5 25.3
1986 33.2 24.8
1985 32.9 24.2
1984 32.6 23.7
1983 32.3 23.3
1982 31.9 22.8
1981 31.6 22.5
1980 31.3 22.1
1979 31 21.6
1978 30.7 21.1
1977 30.3 20.7
1976 29.8 20.2
1975 29.4 19.9
1974 29.3 19.6
1973 29 19.3
1972 28.9 19.1
1971 28.7 19
1970 28.6 18.9
1969 28.6 18.8
1968 28.6 18.7
1967 28.5 18.6
1966 28.6 18.5
1965 28.6 18.6
1964 28.6 18.8
1963 28.7 19
1962 28.7 19.1
1961 28.8 19.2
1960 28.8 19.3

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/netherlands/south-korea | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Netherlands South Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$1.12T
2024
$1.9T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
44.4%
2024
22.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.18%
2022
5.81%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.92%
2024
2.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
41,000
2020
569,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.94%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.64%
2024
2.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
70.5%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
17.5%
2024
33.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
78.5
2026
73.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
21.4%
2021
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2021
2.9%
2021
Number of millionaires
1,267,000
2025
1,301,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
8.87%
2025
2.96%
2025
Number of billionaires
13
2025
30
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00009%
2025
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
103
2018
2,599
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.1T
2017
$1.56T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$79.1B
2024
$418B
2024
Personal remittances received
$4.72B
2024
$7.45B
2024
International tourist arrivals
7,265,000
2020
2,519,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.44%
2020
1.94%
2020
Banked people share
99.2%
2024
96.9%
2024

Energy

Netherlands South Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
3,418 kg
2023
5,337 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$23.9
2023
$10.8
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
118.8 megatons
2024
588 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.6 tons
2024
11.4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
83.5%
2023
79.1%
2023
Renewable energy use share
12.2%
2021
3.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
9.01%
2023
18.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share
87%
2023
84.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
6,189 kWh
2023
11,426 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
33.1%
2021
6.59%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0.06%
2023
1.23%
2023
Nuclear share
3.28%
2023
29.6%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Netherlands South Korea
% of world population
0.22%
2024
0.64%
2024
Annual migration change
+104,681
2025
+65,731
2025
Urban population
95.6%
2024
81.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.7:50.3
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
6.03 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.59 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Quality of life index
94.4
2026
87.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
78
2025
63
2025
Higher education index
96
2026
86
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.69
2023
0.48
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
4
2019
8.6
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
98.8%
2018
English speaking
90.9%
2023
20%
2025
People using the Internet
97%
2023
97.9%
2024

Health

Netherlands South Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$6,845
2024
$3,137
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$807
2024
$1,058
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
84.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.88
2022
2.61
2022
Age at first childbirth
30.4 years
2023
32.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
4
2023
2.8
2023
Obesity rate
15%
2022
7.24%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5%
2024
9.6%
2024
Air quality index
76
2026
46
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
21.3%
2022
20%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
8.71 liters
2020
7.79 liters
2020

Territory

Netherlands South Korea
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
722 sq mi
2024
728 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,961 sq mi
2026
6,054 sq mi
2026
Forest area
1,437 sq mi
2026
24,158 sq mi
2026
Roads length
88,123 mi
2022
68,794 mi
2018

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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