South Korea is a high-income country with a population of 51.8M people. The capital and largest city is Seoul, with 9.67M residents. South Korea shares land borders with North Korea.
South Korea ranks 12/197 by GDP ($1.88T) and 31/197 by GDP per capita ($36,239). The top category for both exports and imports is machinery & equipment.
Main facts and rankings
South Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
51649918
|
31/197 |
| GDP |
$1.88T
2024 |
12/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$36,239
2024 |
31/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$61,051
2024 |
33/197 |
| Government debt |
$934B
2024 |
14/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
49.8%
2024 |
110/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$18,052
2024 |
33/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$27,215
2026 |
30/197 |
| Land area | 37,684 sq mi | 105/197 |
| Population density | 1,371 ppl/mi² | 18/197 |
| Fertility rate | 0.72 | 196/196 |
| Median age | 46.1 years | 10/196 |
| Life expectancy | 84.6 years | 4/197 |
South Korea trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,875,388,209,407 |
| 2023 | $1,844,800,934,392 |
| 2022 | $1,799,363,116,867 |
| 2021 | $1,942,313,560,966 |
| 2020 | $1,744,070,276,373 |
| 2019 | $1,751,045,752,055 |
| 2018 | $1,824,251,454,307 |
| 2017 | $1,710,196,756,713 |
| 2016 | $1,579,150,518,945 |
| 2015 | $1,539,212,301,136 |
| 2014 | $1,556,252,422,020 |
| 2013 | $1,434,669,686,502 |
| 2012 | $1,335,343,586,438 |
| 2011 | $1,307,103,477,219 |
| 2010 | $1,192,830,015,738 |
| 2009 | $983,065,242,417 |
| 2008 | $1,091,580,692,542 |
| 2007 | $1,220,911,904,593 |
| 2006 | $1,095,175,538,508 |
| 2005 | $971,740,329,984 |
| 2004 | $823,251,107,639 |
| 2003 | $728,516,494,684 |
| 2002 | $650,014,391,470 |
| 2001 | $567,564,806,235 |
| 2000 | $597,487,173,479 |
| 1999 | $515,697,079,289 |
| 1998 | $397,297,216,492 |
| 1997 | $589,202,526,424 |
| 1996 | $631,196,863,758 |
| 1995 | $586,286,469,401 |
| 1994 | $479,181,794,217 |
| 1993 | $405,705,302,846 |
| 1992 | $366,921,291,825 |
| 1991 | $340,851,946,804 |
| 1990 | $292,064,221,389 |
| 1989 | $254,236,243,100 |
| 1988 | $205,477,530,605 |
| 1987 | $152,240,393,646 |
| 1986 | $119,965,960,795 |
| 1985 | $103,764,281,281 |
| 1984 | $99,749,645,089 |
| 1983 | $89,621,208,322 |
| 1982 | $79,921,300,447 |
| 1981 | $74,287,368,087 |
| 1980 | $66,547,970,351 |
| 1979 | $68,083,884,298 |
| 1978 | $52,824,793,388 |
| 1977 | $39,064,462,810 |
| 1976 | $30,371,074,380 |
| 1975 | $22,126,033,058 |
| 1974 | $19,860,929,977 |
| 1973 | $14,067,523,813 |
| 1972 | $10,990,490,570 |
| 1971 | $10,005,257,131 |
| 1970 | $9,085,001,794 |
| 1969 | $7,743,940,189 |
| 1968 | $6,167,109,472 |
| 1967 | $4,895,076,718 |
| 1966 | $3,957,064,541 |
| 1965 | $3,141,131,708 |
| 1964 | $3,476,789,682 |
| 1963 | $4,007,692,308 |
| 1962 | $2,826,923,077 |
| 1961 | $2,427,244,761 |
| 1960 | $3,973,069,307 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea | CC BY 
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $36,239 |
| 2023 | $35,674 |
| 2022 | $34,822 |
| 2021 | $37,518 |
| 2020 | $33,646 |
| 2019 | $33,827 |
| 2018 | $35,364 |
| 2017 | $33,297 |
| 2016 | $30,832 |
| 2015 | $30,172 |
| 2014 | $30,667 |
| 2013 | $28,449 |
| 2012 | $26,601 |
| 2011 | $26,175 |
| 2010 | $24,071 |
| 2009 | $19,937 |
| 2008 | $22,252 |
| 2007 | $25,078 |
| 2006 | $22,610 |
| 2005 | $20,167 |
| 2004 | $17,122 |
| 2003 | $15,212 |
| 2002 | $13,643 |
| 2001 | $11,981 |
| 2000 | $12,710 |
| 1999 | $11,063 |
| 1998 | $8,583 |
| 1997 | $12,822 |
| 1996 | $13,865 |
| 1995 | $13,002 |
| 1994 | $10,734 |
| 1993 | $9,180 |
| 1992 | $8,387 |
| 1991 | $7,873 |
| 1990 | $6,813 |
| 1989 | $5,989 |
| 1988 | $4,889 |
| 1987 | $3,658 |
| 1986 | $2,911 |
| 1985 | $2,543 |
| 1984 | $2,469 |
| 1983 | $2,246 |
| 1982 | $2,032 |
| 1981 | $1,918 |
| 1980 | $1,746 |
| 1979 | $1,814 |
| 1978 | $1,429 |
| 1977 | $1,073 |
| 1976 | $847 |
| 1975 | $627 |
| 1974 | $572 |
| 1973 | $412 |
| 1972 | $328 |
| 1971 | $304 |
| 1970 | $281.8 |
| 1969 | $245.5 |
| 1968 | $200 |
| 1967 | $162.5 |
| 1966 | $134.4 |
| 1965 | $109.4 |
| 1964 | $124.2 |
| 1963 | $147 |
| 1962 | $106.6 |
| 1961 | $94.2 |
| 1960 | $158.8 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea | CC BY
South Korea's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 84.6 |
| 2025 | 84.5 |
| 2024 | 84.4 |
| 2023 | 84.3 |
| 2022 | 82.7 |
| 2021 | 83.9 |
| 2020 | 83.7 |
| 2019 | 83.7 |
| 2018 | 83.3 |
| 2017 | 83.3 |
| 2016 | 82.9 |
| 2015 | 82.5 |
| 2014 | 82.4 |
| 2013 | 81.8 |
| 2012 | 81.3 |
| 2011 | 81.2 |
| 2010 | 80.7 |
| 2009 | 80.6 |
| 2008 | 80 |
| 2007 | 79.4 |
| 2006 | 79 |
| 2005 | 78.4 |
| 2004 | 78 |
| 2003 | 77.5 |
| 2002 | 77.2 |
| 2001 | 76.9 |
| 2000 | 76.2 |
| 1999 | 75.6 |
| 1998 | 75 |
| 1997 | 74.5 |
| 1996 | 74 |
| 1995 | 73.4 |
| 1994 | 72.9 |
| 1993 | 72.7 |
| 1992 | 72.2 |
| 1991 | 71.4 |
| 1990 | 71 |
| 1989 | 70.7 |
| 1988 | 70.2 |
| 1987 | 69.3 |
| 1986 | 69 |
| 1985 | 68.4 |
| 1984 | 68.1 |
| 1983 | 66.7 |
| 1982 | 67.1 |
| 1981 | 67.1 |
| 1980 | 64.8 |
| 1979 | 66.1 |
| 1978 | 65 |
| 1977 | 64.6 |
| 1976 | 65 |
| 1975 | 64.7 |
| 1974 | 64.2 |
| 1973 | 63.8 |
| 1972 | 63.2 |
| 1971 | 62.7 |
| 1970 | 62.2 |
| 1969 | 61.4 |
| 1968 | 60.9 |
| 1967 | 60.9 |
| 1966 | 55.4 |
| 1965 | 55.8 |
| 1964 | 55.3 |
| 1963 | 55 |
| 1962 | 55 |
| 1961 | 54.4 |
| 1960 | 53.8 |
| 1959 | 52.9 |
| 1958 | 51.8 |
| 1957 | 51.6 |
| 1956 | 50.2 |
| 1955 | 48.4 |
| 1954 | 46.1 |
| 1953 | 40.5 |
| 1952 | 36.6 |
| 1951 | 26.6 |
| 1950 | 22.2 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea | CC BY
South Korea's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 51,751,065 |
| 2023 | 51,712,619 |
| 2022 | 51,672,569 |
| 2021 | 51,769,539 |
| 2020 | 51,836,239 |
| 2019 | 51,764,822 |
| 2018 | 51,585,058 |
| 2017 | 51,361,911 |
| 2016 | 51,217,803 |
| 2015 | 51,014,947 |
| 2014 | 50,746,659 |
| 2013 | 50,428,893 |
| 2012 | 50,199,853 |
| 2011 | 49,936,638 |
| 2010 | 49,554,112 |
| 2009 | 49,307,835 |
| 2008 | 49,054,708 |
| 2007 | 48,683,638 |
| 2006 | 48,438,292 |
| 2005 | 48,184,561 |
| 2004 | 48,082,519 |
| 2003 | 47,892,330 |
| 2002 | 47,644,736 |
| 2001 | 47,370,164 |
| 2000 | 47,008,111 |
| 1999 | 46,616,677 |
| 1998 | 46,286,503 |
| 1997 | 45,953,580 |
| 1996 | 45,524,681 |
| 1995 | 45,092,991 |
| 1994 | 44,641,540 |
| 1993 | 44,194,628 |
| 1992 | 43,747,962 |
| 1991 | 43,295,704 |
| 1990 | 42,869,283 |
| 1989 | 42,449,038 |
| 1988 | 42,031,247 |
| 1987 | 41,621,690 |
| 1986 | 41,213,674 |
| 1985 | 40,805,744 |
| 1984 | 40,405,956 |
| 1983 | 39,910,403 |
| 1982 | 39,326,352 |
| 1981 | 38,723,248 |
| 1980 | 38,123,775 |
| 1979 | 37,534,236 |
| 1978 | 36,969,185 |
| 1977 | 36,411,795 |
| 1976 | 35,848,523 |
| 1975 | 35,280,725 |
| 1974 | 34,692,266 |
| 1973 | 34,103,149 |
| 1972 | 33,505,406 |
| 1971 | 32,882,704 |
| 1970 | 32,240,827 |
| 1969 | 31,544,266 |
| 1968 | 30,838,302 |
| 1967 | 30,130,983 |
| 1966 | 29,435,571 |
| 1965 | 28,704,674 |
| 1964 | 27,984,155 |
| 1963 | 27,261,747 |
| 1962 | 26,513,030 |
| 1961 | 25,765,673 |
| 1960 | 25,012,374 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea | CC BY
South Korea's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 0.72 |
| 2022 | 0.78 |
| 2021 | 0.81 |
| 2020 | 0.84 |
| 2019 | 0.92 |
| 2018 | 0.98 |
| 2017 | 1.05 |
| 2016 | 1.17 |
| 2015 | 1.24 |
| 2014 | 1.21 |
| 2013 | 1.19 |
| 2012 | 1.3 |
| 2011 | 1.24 |
| 2010 | 1.23 |
| 2009 | 1.15 |
| 2008 | 1.19 |
| 2007 | 1.26 |
| 2006 | 1.13 |
| 2005 | 1.09 |
| 2004 | 1.16 |
| 2003 | 1.19 |
| 2002 | 1.18 |
| 2001 | 1.31 |
| 2000 | 1.48 |
| 1999 | 1.43 |
| 1998 | 1.46 |
| 1997 | 1.54 |
| 1996 | 1.57 |
| 1995 | 1.63 |
| 1994 | 1.66 |
| 1993 | 1.65 |
| 1992 | 1.76 |
| 1991 | 1.71 |
| 1990 | 1.57 |
| 1989 | 1.56 |
| 1988 | 1.55 |
| 1987 | 1.53 |
| 1986 | 1.58 |
| 1985 | 1.66 |
| 1984 | 1.74 |
| 1983 | 2.06 |
| 1982 | 2.39 |
| 1981 | 2.57 |
| 1980 | 2.82 |
| 1979 | 2.9 |
| 1978 | 2.64 |
| 1977 | 2.99 |
| 1976 | 3 |
| 1975 | 3.43 |
| 1974 | 3.77 |
| 1973 | 4.07 |
| 1972 | 4.12 |
| 1971 | 4.54 |
| 1970 | 4.53 |
| 1969 | 4.45 |
| 1968 | 4.51 |
| 1967 | 4.62 |
| 1966 | 4.78 |
| 1965 | 4.89 |
| 1964 | 5.07 |
| 1963 | 5.33 |
| 1962 | 5.56 |
| 1961 | 5.8 |
| 1960 | 5.99 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea | CC BY
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 46.1 |
| 2023 | 45.5 |
| 2022 | 44.9 |
| 2021 | 44.4 |
| 2020 | 43.8 |
| 2019 | 43.1 |
| 2018 | 42.5 |
| 2017 | 41.9 |
| 2016 | 41.4 |
| 2015 | 40.8 |
| 2014 | 40.2 |
| 2013 | 39.5 |
| 2012 | 38.8 |
| 2011 | 38.2 |
| 2010 | 37.6 |
| 2009 | 37 |
| 2008 | 36.4 |
| 2007 | 35.8 |
| 2006 | 35.2 |
| 2005 | 34.5 |
| 2004 | 33.9 |
| 2003 | 33.4 |
| 2002 | 32.8 |
| 2001 | 32.3 |
| 2000 | 31.7 |
| 1999 | 31.2 |
| 1998 | 30.7 |
| 1997 | 30.2 |
| 1996 | 29.8 |
| 1995 | 29.4 |
| 1994 | 28.9 |
| 1993 | 28.3 |
| 1992 | 27.8 |
| 1991 | 27.2 |
| 1990 | 26.7 |
| 1989 | 26.3 |
| 1988 | 25.8 |
| 1987 | 25.3 |
| 1986 | 24.8 |
| 1985 | 24.2 |
| 1984 | 23.7 |
| 1983 | 23.3 |
| 1982 | 22.8 |
| 1981 | 22.5 |
| 1980 | 22.1 |
| 1979 | 21.6 |
| 1978 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 20.7 |
| 1976 | 20.2 |
| 1975 | 19.9 |
| 1974 | 19.6 |
| 1973 | 19.3 |
| 1972 | 19.1 |
| 1971 | 19 |
| 1970 | 18.9 |
| 1969 | 18.8 |
| 1968 | 18.7 |
| 1967 | 18.6 |
| 1966 | 18.5 |
| 1965 | 18.6 |
| 1964 | 18.8 |
| 1963 | 19 |
| 1962 | 19.1 |
| 1961 | 19.2 |
| 1960 | 19.3 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea | CC BY
South Korea vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing South Korea with other countries.
South Korea: National Statistics
Finance
|
South Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$1.9T
2024 |
12/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
22.5%
2024 |
137/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
5.81%
2022 |
31/193 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
2.56%
2024 |
44/163 |
| Armed forces personnel |
569,000
2020 |
11/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
-0.78%
2024 |
45/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
2.78%
2024 |
158/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
57.5%
2024 |
92/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
33.9%
2024 |
40/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
73.7
2026 |
24/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
24.6%
2021 |
128/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
2.9%
2021 |
77/169 |
| Number of millionaires |
1,301,000
2025 |
10/35 |
| Percentage of millionaires |
2.96%
2025 |
17/35 |
| Number of billionaires |
30
2025 |
21/78 |
| Percentage of billionaires |
0.00007%
2025 |
39/78 |
| Listed domestic companies |
2,599
2024 |
6/103 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies |
$1.56T
2024 |
12/100 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$418B
2024 |
8/177 |
| Personal remittances received |
$7.45B
2024 |
28/191 |
| International tourist arrivals |
2,519,000
2020 |
54/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
1.94%
2020 |
142/184 |
| Banked people share |
96.9%
2024 |
26/158 |
Energy
|
South Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
5,337 kg
2023 |
16/177 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$10.8
2023 |
125/173 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
588 megatons
2024 |
9/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
11.4 tons
2024 |
16/187 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
79.1%
2023 |
59/176 |
| Renewable energy use share |
3.6%
2021 |
163/193 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
18.5%
2023 |
27/147 |
| Net energy imports use share |
84.6%
2023 |
17/144 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
11,426 kWh
2023 |
13/147 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
6.59%
2021 |
148/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
1.23%
2023 |
131/192 |
| Nuclear share |
29.6%
2023 |
12/192 |
| Electricity access |
100%
2023 |
91/195 |
Society
|
South Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.64%
2024 |
29/197 |
| Annual migration change |
+65,731
2025 |
20/196 |
| Urban population |
81.2%
2024 |
42/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
49.9:50.1
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.76 ft
2025 |
62/190 |
| Average female height |
5.35 ft
2025 |
54/190 |
| Quality of life index |
87.4
2026 |
23/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
63
2025 |
40/197 |
| Higher education index |
86
2026 |
27/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
0.48
2023 |
183/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
8.6
2019 |
135/197 |
| Visa free countries |
172
2025 |
19/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
98.8%
2018 |
63/196 |
| English speaking |
20%
2025 |
106/197 |
| People using the Internet |
97.9%
2024 |
13/195 |
Health
|
South Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$3,137
2024 |
29/192 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$1,058
2024 |
10/192 |
| Life expectancy |
84.6 years
2026 |
4/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
0%
2023 |
177/181 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
2.61
2022 |
74/193 |
| Age at first childbirth |
32.2 years
2025 |
3/137 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
4
2023 |
179/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
2.8
2023 |
177/192 |
| Obesity rate |
7.24%
2022 |
174/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
9.6%
2024 |
85/195 |
| Air quality index |
46
2026 |
109/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
20%
2022 |
80/164 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
7.79 liters
2020 |
51/186 |
Territory
|
South Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.07%
2026 |
105/197 |
| Land area per capita |
728 sq mi
2024 |
180/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
6,054 sq mi
2026 |
128/194 |
| Forest area |
24,158 sq mi
2026 |
67/196 |
| Roads length |
68,794 mi
2018 |
51/176 |
Compare South Korea with other countries
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- Wikidata (2020, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.