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Iceland vs South Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iceland has a population of 387K (ranked 173/197), compared with 51.8M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). Iceland's land area is 38,931 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 104th vs. 105th).

By GDP, Iceland ranks 108/197 ($33.3B) and South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T). By GDP per capita, Iceland ranks 9/197 ($86,041), while South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239).

Main facts and rankings

Iceland South Korea
Population
397129
51649918
Population rank 173/197 31/197
GDP
$33.3B
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank 108/197 12/197
GDP per capita
$86,041
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank 9/197 31/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$84,257
2024
$61,051
2024
Government debt
$19.8B
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.4%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$51,148
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank 9/185 33/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$55,565
2026
$27,215
2026
Land area 38,931 sq mi 37,684 sq mi
Population density
10.2 ppl/mi²
2026
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.59
2023
0.72
2023
Median age
37.1 years
2024
46.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
83.3 years
2026
84.6 years
2026

Iceland and South Korea: Comparison Charts

Iceland and South Korea economies compared

GDP
Iceland

South Korea
1x
Year GDP
Iceland South Korea
2024 $33,255,181,469 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $31,677,891,897 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $29,166,102,877 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $26,234,872,402 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $22,034,665,041 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $24,985,687,022 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $26,677,652,544 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $25,060,086,488 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $21,083,713,310 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $17,700,486,957 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $18,052,183,515 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $16,244,319,959 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $14,943,757,823 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $15,394,005,872 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $13,922,711,577 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $13,212,543,838 $983,065,242,417
2008 $18,247,921,360 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $21,960,110,030 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $17,671,649,843 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $17,146,410,561 $971,740,329,984
2004 $13,963,943,244 $823,251,107,639
2003 $11,564,687,742 $728,516,494,684
2002 $9,416,199,700 $650,014,391,470
2001 $8,323,401,820 $567,564,806,235
2000 $9,140,168,922 $597,487,173,479
1999 $9,107,644,691 $515,697,079,289
1998 $8,637,732,542 $397,297,216,492
1997 $7,716,781,803 $589,202,526,424
1996 $7,686,566,105 $631,196,863,758
1995 $7,372,640,169 $586,286,469,401
1994 $6,612,804,056 $479,181,794,217
1993 $6,435,952,174 $405,705,302,846
1992 $7,328,497,599 $366,921,291,825
1991 $7,151,260,062 $340,851,946,804
1990 $6,694,851,159 $292,064,221,389
1989 $5,870,854,233 $254,236,243,100
1988 $6,320,093,411 $205,477,530,605
1987 $5,713,281,235 $152,240,393,646
1986 $4,129,080,094 $119,965,960,795
1985 $3,088,359,967 $103,764,281,281
1984 $2,964,568,006 $99,749,645,089
1983 $2,862,634,164 $89,621,208,322
1982 $3,318,714,326 $79,921,300,447
1981 $3,615,094,820 $74,287,368,087
1980 $3,499,616,683 $66,547,970,351
1979 $2,953,176,971 $68,083,884,298
1978 $2,599,627,089 $52,824,793,388
1977 $2,285,707,749 $39,064,462,810
1976 $1,727,845,419 $30,371,074,380
1975 $1,456,052,700 $22,126,033,058
1974 $1,568,154,077 $19,860,929,977
1973 $1,194,794,186 $14,067,523,813
1972 $869,002,946 $10,990,490,570
1971 $693,679,545 $10,005,257,131
1970 $545,115,909 $9,085,001,794
1969 $435,659,610 $7,743,940,189
1968 $498,365,200 $6,167,109,472
1967 $652,609,076 $4,895,076,718
1966 $660,663,763 $3,957,064,541
1965 $550,150,988 $3,141,131,708
1964 $456,206,299 $3,476,789,682
1963 $357,240,896 $4,007,692,308
1962 $299,309,938 $2,826,923,077
1961 $266,711,460 $2,427,244,761
1960 $260,984,499 $3,973,069,307

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

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

Iceland and South Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Iceland

South Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Iceland South Korea
2024 $86,041 $36,239
2023 $82,139 $35,674
2022 $76,350 $34,822
2021 $70,425 $37,518
2020 $60,128 $33,646
2019 $69,296 $33,827
2018 $75,634 $35,364
2017 $72,976 $33,297
2016 $62,854 $30,832
2015 $53,506 $30,172
2014 $55,140 $30,667
2013 $50,173 $28,449
2012 $46,595 $26,601
2011 $48,255 $26,175
2010 $43,776 $24,071
2009 $41,484 $19,937
2008 $57,489 $22,252
2007 $70,483 $25,078
2006 $58,172 $22,610
2005 $57,784 $20,167
2004 $47,810 $17,122
2003 $39,944 $15,212
2002 $32,749 $13,643
2001 $29,208 $11,981
2000 $32,504 $12,710
1999 $32,834 $11,063
1998 $31,519 $8,583
1997 $28,462 $12,822
1996 $28,584 $13,865
1995 $27,565 $13,002
1994 $24,858 $10,734
1993 $24,404 $9,180
1992 $28,072 $8,387
1991 $27,740 $7,873
1990 $26,272 $6,813
1989 $23,219 $5,989
1988 $25,307 $4,889
1987 $23,238 $3,658
1986 $16,980 $2,911
1985 $12,793 $2,543
1984 $12,378 $2,469
1983 $12,080 $2,246
1982 $14,191 $2,032
1981 $15,666 $1,918
1980 $15,340 $1,746
1979 $13,082 $1,814
1978 $11,630 $1,429
1977 $10,305 $1,073
1976 $7,848 $847
1975 $6,680 $627
1974 $7,287 $572
1973 $5,627 $412
1972 $4,155 $328
1971 $3,366 $304
1970 $2,666 $281.8
1969 $2,142 $245.5
1968 $2,473 $200
1967 $3,284 $162.5
1966 $3,378 $134.4
1965 $2,861 $109.4
1964 $2,414 $124.2
1963 $1,924 $147
1962 $1,641 $106.6
1961 $1,490 $94.2
1960 $1,486 $158.8

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

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

Iceland vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Iceland

South Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Iceland South Korea
2026 83.3 84.6
2025 83.2 84.5
2024 83 84.4
2023 82.7 84.3
2022 81.6 82.7
2021 82.8 83.9
2020 82.7 83.7
2019 82.8 83.7
2018 82.5 83.3
2017 82.2 83.3
2016 81.8 82.9
2015 82.2 82.5
2014 82.4 82.4
2013 81.7 81.8
2012 82.3 81.3
2011 82 81.2
2010 81.6 80.7
2009 81.4 80.6
2008 81.2 80
2007 81.1 79.4
2006 80.9 79
2005 81.2 78.4
2004 80.7 78
2003 80.8 77.5
2002 80.3 77.2
2001 80.4 76.9
2000 79.5 76.2
1999 79.2 75.6
1998 79.4 75
1997 78.7 74.5
1996 78.6 74
1995 77.5 73.4
1994 79 72.9
1993 78.8 72.7
1992 78.6 72.2
1991 77.8 71.4
1990 77.7 71
1989 77.9 70.7
1988 76.9 70.2
1987 77.1 69.3
1986 77.9 69
1985 77.4 68.4
1984 77.3 68.1
1983 76.4 66.7
1982 76.8 67.1
1981 76.2 67.1
1980 76.6 64.8
1979 76.5 66.1
1978 76.4 65
1977 76.1 64.6
1976 76.6 65
1975 75.3 64.7
1974 74.1 64.2
1973 74.3 63.8
1972 74.4 63.2
1971 73.5 62.7
1970 73.8 62.2
1969 73.7 61.4
1968 73.9 60.9
1967 73.7 60.9
1966 73.1 55.4
1965 73.8 55.8
1964 73.5 55.3
1963 72.9 55
1962 73.6 55
1961 73.4 54.4
1960 74 53.8
1959 72.6 52.9
1958 73.3 51.8
1957 73.4 51.6
1956 72.9 50.2
1955 73.3 48.4
1954 73.3 46.1
1953 72.3 40.5
1952 72.4 36.6
1951 71 26.6
1950 71 22.2

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

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

Iceland and South Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Iceland

South Korea
1x
Year Population
Iceland South Korea
2024 386,506 51,751,065
2023 385,663 51,712,619
2022 382,003 51,672,569
2021 372,520 51,769,539
2020 366,463 51,836,239
2019 360,563 51,764,822
2018 352,721 51,585,058
2017 343,400 51,361,911
2016 335,439 51,217,803
2015 330,815 51,014,947
2014 327,386 50,746,659
2013 323,764 50,428,893
2012 320,716 50,199,853
2011 319,014 49,936,638
2010 318,041 49,554,112
2009 318,499 49,307,835
2008 317,414 49,054,708
2007 311,566 48,683,638
2006 303,782 48,438,292
2005 296,734 48,184,561
2004 292,074 48,082,519
2003 289,521 47,892,330
2002 287,523 47,644,736
2001 284,968 47,370,164
2000 281,205 47,008,111
1999 277,381 46,616,677
1998 274,047 46,286,503
1997 271,128 45,953,580
1996 268,916 45,524,681
1995 267,468 45,092,991
1994 266,021 44,641,540
1993 263,725 44,194,628
1992 261,057 43,747,962
1991 257,797 43,295,704
1990 254,826 42,869,283
1989 252,852 42,449,038
1988 249,740 42,031,247
1987 245,859 41,621,690
1986 243,180 41,213,674
1985 241,405 40,805,744
1984 239,511 40,405,956
1983 236,977 39,910,403
1982 233,860 39,326,352
1981 230,755 38,723,248
1980 228,138 38,123,775
1979 225,735 37,534,236
1978 223,537 36,969,185
1977 221,799 36,411,795
1976 220,154 35,848,523
1975 217,979 35,280,725
1974 215,209 34,692,266
1973 212,317 34,103,149
1972 209,137 33,505,406
1971 206,098 32,882,704
1970 204,438 32,240,827
1969 203,369 31,544,266
1968 201,488 30,838,302
1967 198,751 30,130,983
1966 195,570 29,435,571
1965 192,286 28,704,674
1964 188,983 27,984,155
1963 185,653 27,261,747
1962 182,378 26,513,030
1961 179,029 25,765,673
1960 175,574 25,012,374

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

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

Fertility rates in Iceland and South Korea

Fertility rate
Iceland

South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Iceland South Korea
2023 1.59 0.72
2022 1.59 0.78
2021 1.82 0.81
2020 1.72 0.84
2019 1.74 0.92
2018 1.71 0.98
2017 1.71 1.05
2016 1.74 1.17
2015 1.8 1.24
2014 1.93 1.21
2013 1.93 1.19
2012 2.04 1.3
2011 2.02 1.24
2010 2.2 1.23
2009 2.23 1.15
2008 2.15 1.19
2007 2.09 1.26
2006 2.08 1.13
2005 2.05 1.09
2004 2.04 1.16
2003 1.99 1.19
2002 1.93 1.18
2001 1.95 1.31
2000 2.08 1.48
1999 1.99 1.43
1998 2.05 1.46
1997 2.04 1.54
1996 2.12 1.57
1995 2.08 1.63
1994 2.14 1.66
1993 2.22 1.65
1992 2.21 1.76
1991 2.18 1.71
1990 2.3 1.57
1989 2.19 1.56
1988 2.26 1.55
1987 2.06 1.53
1986 1.92 1.58
1985 1.93 1.66
1984 2.08 1.74
1983 2.24 2.06
1982 2.27 2.39
1981 2.33 2.57
1980 2.48 2.82
1979 2.49 2.9
1978 2.35 2.64
1977 2.31 2.99
1976 2.52 3
1975 2.65 3.43
1974 2.66 3.77
1973 2.94 4.07
1972 3.09 4.12
1971 2.92 4.54
1970 2.81 4.53
1969 2.99 4.45
1968 3.06 4.51
1967 3.28 4.62
1966 3.59 4.78
1965 3.73 4.89
1964 3.88 5.07
1963 3.99 5.33
1962 3.98 5.56
1961 3.88 5.8
1960 4.29 5.99

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

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

Iceland and South Korea demographics compared

Median age
Iceland

South Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Iceland South Korea
2024 37.1 46.1
2023 36.9 45.5
2022 36.7 44.9
2021 36.7 44.4
2020 36.6 43.8
2019 36.5 43.1
2018 36.4 42.5
2017 36.3 41.9
2016 36.2 41.4
2015 36 40.8
2014 35.7 40.2
2013 35.5 39.5
2012 35.4 38.8
2011 35.1 38.2
2010 34.9 37.6
2009 34.6 37
2008 34.5 36.4
2007 34.6 35.8
2006 34.5 35.2
2005 34.2 34.5
2004 34 33.9
2003 33.7 33.4
2002 33.4 32.8
2001 33 32.3
2000 32.8 31.7
1999 32.6 31.2
1998 32.4 30.7
1997 32.1 30.2
1996 31.8 29.8
1995 31.5 29.4
1994 31.1 28.9
1993 30.8 28.3
1992 30.5 27.8
1991 30.2 27.2
1990 30 26.7
1989 29.6 26.3
1988 29.3 25.8
1987 29.1 25.3
1986 28.8 24.8
1985 28.4 24.2
1984 28 23.7
1983 27.7 23.3
1982 27.5 22.8
1981 27.2 22.5
1980 26.9 22.1
1979 26.7 21.6
1978 26.4 21.1
1977 26 20.7
1976 25.7 20.2
1975 25.4 19.9
1974 25.1 19.6
1973 24.9 19.3
1972 24.8 19.1
1971 24.7 19
1970 24.5 18.9
1969 24.3 18.8
1968 24.2 18.7
1967 24.1 18.6
1966 24.1 18.5
1965 24.2 18.6
1964 24.4 18.8
1963 24.7 19
1962 24.9 19.1
1961 25.2 19.2
1960 25.4 19.3

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Iceland South Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$31.8B
2024
$1.9T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
46.5%
2024
22.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
7.29%
2022
5.81%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
0
2020
569,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.51%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.56%
2024
2.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
64.9%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
20.1%
2024
33.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
75
2026
73.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.4%
2019
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2019
2.9%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
1,301,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
2.96%
2025
Number of billionaires
1
2025
30
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0003%
2025
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
34
2004
2,599
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.56T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$6.4B
2024
$418B
2024
Personal remittances received
$246M
2024
$7.45B
2024
International tourist arrivals
488,000
2020
2,519,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
11.9%
2008
1.94%
2020
Banked people share
99.9%
2024
96.9%
2024

Energy

Iceland South Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
15,686 kg
2023
5,337 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$5.2
2023
$10.8
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
3.29 megatons
2024
588 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
8.52 tons
2024
11.4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
10.3%
2023
79.1%
2023
Renewable energy use share
82.4%
2021
3.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
88.8%
2023
18.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share
20.5%
2009
84.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
50,951 kWh
2023
11,426 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
100%
2016
6.59%
2021
Hydroelectric share
70.3%
2023
1.23%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
29.6%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Iceland South Korea
% of world population
0.005%
2024
0.64%
2024
Annual migration change
+2,709
2025
+65,731
2025
Urban population
94.2%
2024
81.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
51.2:48.8
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.97 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.54 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Quality of life index
93.6
2026
87.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
77
2025
63
2025
Higher education index
79
2026
86
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.07
2022
0.48
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
2
2019
8.6
2019
Visa free countries
168
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
98.8%
2018
English speaking
98%
2023
20%
2025
People using the Internet
99.8%
2023
97.9%
2024

Health

Iceland South Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$7,642
2024
$3,137
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,137
2024
$1,058
2024
Life expectancy
83.3 years
2026
84.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.37
2023
2.61
2022
Age at first childbirth
28.8 years
2023
32.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
3
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.6
2023
2.8
2023
Obesity rate
21.8%
2022
7.24%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.9%
2024
9.6%
2024
Air quality index
98
2026
46
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
9.4%
2022
20%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.94 liters
2020
7.79 liters
2020

Territory

Iceland South Korea
% of world land
0.07%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
100,725 sq mi
2024
728 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,324 sq mi
2026
6,054 sq mi
2026
Forest area
205.8 sq mi
2026
24,158 sq mi
2026
Roads length
8,014 mi
2012
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)

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.