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Iraq vs South Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iraq has a population of 46M (ranked 34/197), compared with 51.8M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). Iraq's land area is 167,619 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 57th vs. 105th).

By GDP, Iraq ranks 50/197 ($280B) and South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T). By GDP per capita, Iraq ranks 113/197 ($6,074), while South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239).

Main facts and rankings

Iraq South Korea
Population
48289334
51649918
Population rank 33/197 31/197
GDP
$280B
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank 50/197 12/197
GDP per capita
$6,074
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank 113/197 31/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,464
2024
$61,051
2024
Government debt
$130B
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
46.5%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,822
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank 105/185 33/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,928
2026
$27,215
2026
Land area 167,619 sq mi 37,684 sq mi
Population density
286.5 ppl/mi²
2026
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.25
2023
0.72
2023
Median age
21.6 years
2024
46.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
72.6 years
2026
84.6 years
2026

Iraq and South Korea: Comparison Charts

Iraq and South Korea economies compared

GDP
Iraq

South Korea
1x
Year GDP
Iraq South Korea
2024 $279,641,257,615 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $268,881,051,644 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $287,372,232,138 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $209,691,945,713 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $180,898,797,517 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $233,636,097,800 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $227,367,469,034 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $187,217,660,051 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $166,743,557,748 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $166,774,104,959 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $228,415,656,175 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $234,637,675,129 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $218,002,476,129 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $185,749,664,444 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $138,516,722,650 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $111,657,580,326 $983,065,242,417
2008 $131,614,434,154 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $88,837,057,320 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $65,147,051,918 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $50,065,104,668 $971,740,329,984
2004 $36,633,669,269 $823,251,107,639
2003 $21,921,569,479 $728,516,494,684
2002 $32,928,454,672 $650,014,391,470
2001 $36,176,430,129 $567,564,806,235
2000 $48,364,250,944 $597,487,173,479
1999 $36,881,601,584 $515,697,079,289
1998 $20,617,405,044 $397,297,216,492
1997 $20,764,857,056 $589,202,526,424
1996 $10,433,698,621 $631,196,863,758
1995 $12,894,029,888 $586,286,469,401
1994 $3,991,349,283 $479,181,794,217
1993 $1,031,944,881 $405,705,302,846
1992 $553,671,958 $366,921,291,825
1991 $407,796,350 $340,851,946,804
1990 $180,408,064,516 $292,064,221,389
1989 $65,831,935,484 $254,236,243,100
1988 $62,684,516,129 $205,477,530,605
1987 $56,774,193,548 $152,240,393,646
1986 $47,264,516,129 $119,965,960,795
1985 $48,425,161,290 $103,764,281,281
1984 $46,938,387,097 $99,749,645,089
1983 $40,712,903,226 $89,621,208,322
1982 $42,382,333,333 $79,921,300,447
1981 $37,823,000,000 $74,287,368,087
1980 $52,569,000,000 $66,547,970,351
1979 $37,816,457,839 $68,083,884,298
1978 $23,762,275,652 $52,824,793,388
1977 $19,838,130,715 $39,064,462,810
1976 $17,754,825,601 $30,371,074,380
1975 $13,458,516,763 $22,126,033,058
1974 $11,516,762,614 $19,860,929,977
1973 $5,134,367,778 $14,067,523,813
1972 $4,113,848,002 $10,990,490,570
1971 $3,865,346,535 $10,005,257,131
1970 $3,281,318,687 $9,085,001,794
1969 $3,007,758,797 $7,743,940,189
1968 $2,896,598,841 $6,167,109,472
1967 $2,551,522,656 $4,895,076,718
1966 $2,530,306,096 $3,957,064,541
1965 $2,335,785,506 $3,141,131,708
1964 $2,136,408,198 $3,476,789,682
1963 $1,805,901,510 $4,007,692,308
1962 $1,784,174,541 $2,826,923,077
1961 $1,671,960,965 $2,427,244,761
1960 $1,537,252,193 $3,973,069,307

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

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

Iraq and South Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Iraq

South Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Iraq South Korea
2024 $6,074 $36,239
2023 $5,965 $35,674
2022 $6,521 $34,822
2021 $4,868 $37,518
2020 $4,295 $33,646
2019 $5,672 $33,827
2018 $5,647 $35,364
2017 $4,759 $33,297
2016 $4,334 $30,832
2015 $4,440 $30,172
2014 $6,249 $30,667
2013 $6,650 $28,449
2012 $6,478 $26,601
2011 $5,776 $26,175
2010 $4,462 $24,071
2009 $3,715 $19,937
2008 $4,543 $22,252
2007 $3,129 $25,078
2006 $2,277 $22,610
2005 $1,762 $20,167
2004 $1,328 $17,122
2003 $818 $15,212
2002 $1,266 $13,643
2001 $1,436 $11,981
2000 $1,980 $12,710
1999 $1,560 $11,063
1998 $901 $8,583
1997 $936 $12,822
1996 $485 $13,865
1995 $619 $13,002
1994 $198.2 $10,734
1993 $53.7 $9,180
1992 $30.3 $8,387
1991 $23 $7,873
1990 $10,261 $6,813
1989 $3,791 $5,989
1988 $3,707 $4,889
1987 $3,436 $3,658
1986 $2,940 $2,911
1985 $3,088 $2,543
1984 $3,066 $2,469
1983 $2,743 $2,246
1982 $2,942 $2,032
1981 $2,700 $1,918
1980 $3,868 $1,746
1979 $2,871 $1,814
1978 $1,863 $1,429
1977 $1,609 $1,073
1976 $1,489 $847
1975 $1,166 $627
1974 $1,031 $572
1973 $476 $412
1972 $394 $328
1971 $384 $304
1970 $337 $281.8
1969 $320 $245.5
1968 $319 $200
1967 $290.6 $162.5
1966 $298.2 $134.4
1965 $284.8 $109.4
1964 $269.4 $124.2
1963 $235.5 $147
1962 $240.7 $106.6
1961 $232.4 $94.2
1960 $218.9 $158.8

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

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

Iraq vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Iraq

South Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Iraq South Korea
2026 72.6 84.6
2025 72.5 84.5
2024 72.4 84.4
2023 72.3 84.3
2022 72 82.7
2021 70.7 83.9
2020 69.7 83.7
2019 71.2 83.7
2018 71.1 83.3
2017 69.8 83.3
2016 68.7 82.9
2015 70 82.5
2014 69.7 82.4
2013 69 81.8
2012 68.8 81.3
2011 68.4 81.2
2010 68.1 80.7
2009 67.8 80.6
2008 66.5 80
2007 64.4 79.4
2006 64 79
2005 64.9 78.4
2004 64.6 78
2003 64.8 77.5
2002 65.7 77.2
2001 65.3 76.9
2000 64.9 76.2
1999 64.5 75.6
1998 64.4 75
1997 64.2 74.5
1996 64.6 74
1995 64.8 73.4
1994 65 72.9
1993 65.3 72.7
1992 65.3 72.2
1991 61.3 71.4
1990 57.6 71
1989 57.5 70.7
1988 56.7 70.2
1987 60.3 69.3
1986 60 69
1985 59.8 68.4
1984 59.5 68.1
1983 59.3 66.7
1982 59 67.1
1981 58.7 67.1
1980 60.9 64.8
1979 64.4 66.1
1978 64.2 65
1977 63.9 64.6
1976 63.6 65
1975 61.4 64.7
1974 61 64.2
1973 62.3 63.8
1972 61.8 63.2
1971 61.3 62.7
1970 60.5 62.2
1969 59.6 61.4
1968 59 60.9
1967 58.4 60.9
1966 57.3 55.4
1965 56.4 55.8
1964 55.2 55.3
1963 54.4 55
1962 53.5 55
1961 52.3 54.4
1960 51.5 53.8
1959 49.7 52.9
1958 49 51.8
1957 47.7 51.6
1956 46.4 50.2
1955 45 48.4
1954 43.5 46.1
1953 42.1 40.5
1952 40.5 36.6
1951 39 26.6
1950 37.4 22.2

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

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

Iraq and South Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Iraq

South Korea
1x
Year Population
Iraq South Korea
2024 46,042,015 51,751,065
2023 45,074,049 51,712,619
2022 44,070,551 51,672,569
2021 43,071,211 51,769,539
2020 42,116,605 51,836,239
2019 41,192,171 51,764,822
2018 40,265,624 51,585,058
2017 39,337,353 51,361,911
2016 38,469,627 51,217,803
2015 37,560,535 51,014,947
2014 36,550,059 50,746,659
2013 35,281,989 50,428,893
2012 33,654,842 50,199,853
2011 32,161,424 49,936,638
2010 31,045,366 49,554,112
2009 30,058,206 49,307,835
2008 28,971,036 49,054,708
2007 28,391,607 48,683,638
2006 28,616,515 48,438,292
2005 28,407,448 48,184,561
2004 27,577,878 48,082,519
2003 26,802,659 47,892,330
2002 26,006,559 47,644,736
2001 25,197,840 47,370,164
2000 24,424,056 47,008,111
1999 23,636,527 46,616,677
1998 22,884,399 46,286,503
1997 22,176,593 45,953,580
1996 21,501,321 45,524,681
1995 20,825,860 45,092,991
1994 20,139,807 44,641,540
1993 19,201,195 44,194,628
1992 18,300,845 43,747,962
1991 17,767,253 43,295,704
1990 17,581,206 42,869,283
1989 17,364,542 42,449,038
1988 16,908,819 42,031,247
1987 16,521,049 41,621,690
1986 16,074,145 41,213,674
1985 15,683,430 40,805,744
1984 15,310,733 40,405,956
1983 14,840,555 39,910,403
1982 14,406,083 39,326,352
1981 14,006,381 38,723,248
1980 13,591,992 38,123,775
1979 13,170,365 37,534,236
1978 12,753,355 36,969,185
1977 12,331,046 36,411,795
1976 11,927,651 35,848,523
1975 11,543,639 35,280,725
1974 11,167,761 34,692,266
1973 10,795,869 34,103,149
1972 10,430,164 33,505,406
1971 10,077,809 32,882,704
1970 9,735,611 32,240,827
1969 9,403,356 31,544,266
1968 9,085,016 30,838,302
1967 8,778,869 30,130,983
1966 8,485,104 29,435,571
1965 8,202,140 28,704,674
1964 7,929,566 27,984,155
1963 7,667,928 27,261,747
1962 7,413,875 26,513,030
1961 7,194,553 25,765,673
1960 7,022,052 25,012,374

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

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

Fertility rates in Iraq and South Korea

Fertility rate
Iraq

South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Iraq South Korea
2023 3.25 0.72
2022 3.29 0.78
2021 3.36 0.81
2020 3.42 0.84
2019 3.48 0.92
2018 3.55 0.98
2017 3.64 1.05
2016 3.84 1.17
2015 4.08 1.24
2014 4.31 1.21
2013 4.44 1.19
2012 4.54 1.3
2011 4.59 1.24
2010 4.46 1.23
2009 4.38 1.15
2008 4.37 1.19
2007 4.4 1.26
2006 4.46 1.13
2005 4.45 1.09
2004 4.53 1.16
2003 4.58 1.19
2002 4.67 1.18
2001 4.8 1.31
2000 4.92 1.48
1999 5.04 1.43
1998 5.11 1.46
1997 5.19 1.54
1996 5.25 1.57
1995 5.36 1.63
1994 5.49 1.66
1993 5.61 1.65
1992 5.72 1.76
1991 5.83 1.71
1990 5.93 1.57
1989 5.99 1.56
1988 6.05 1.55
1987 6.11 1.53
1986 6.18 1.58
1985 6.25 1.66
1984 6.32 1.74
1983 6.39 2.06
1982 6.46 2.39
1981 6.53 2.57
1980 6.59 2.82
1979 6.66 2.9
1978 6.73 2.64
1977 6.8 2.99
1976 6.86 3
1975 6.91 3.43
1974 6.95 3.77
1973 6.99 4.07
1972 7.02 4.12
1971 7.06 4.54
1970 7.07 4.53
1969 7.08 4.45
1968 7.06 4.51
1967 7.03 4.62
1966 7.02 4.78
1965 7.02 4.89
1964 7.01 5.07
1963 7.01 5.33
1962 6.99 5.56
1961 5.8 5.8
1960 5.3 5.99

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

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

Iraq and South Korea demographics compared

Median age
Iraq

South Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Iraq South Korea
2024 21.6 46.1
2023 21.4 45.5
2022 21.1 44.9
2021 20.9 44.4
2020 20.6 43.8
2019 20.4 43.1
2018 20.1 42.5
2017 19.9 41.9
2016 19.7 41.4
2015 19.5 40.8
2014 19.4 40.2
2013 19.3 39.5
2012 19.2 38.8
2011 19.1 38.2
2010 19 37.6
2009 18.9 37
2008 18.8 36.4
2007 18.7 35.8
2006 18.6 35.2
2005 18.5 34.5
2004 18.3 33.9
2003 18.2 33.4
2002 18.1 32.8
2001 18 32.3
2000 17.9 31.7
1999 17.9 31.2
1998 17.8 30.7
1997 17.7 30.2
1996 17.6 29.8
1995 17.5 29.4
1994 17.4 28.9
1993 17.3 28.3
1992 17.3 27.8
1991 17.2 27.2
1990 17.1 26.7
1989 17 26.3
1988 16.9 25.8
1987 16.9 25.3
1986 16.8 24.8
1985 16.7 24.2
1984 16.6 23.7
1983 16.6 23.3
1982 16.5 22.8
1981 16.5 22.5
1980 16.5 22.1
1979 16.5 21.6
1978 16.6 21.1
1977 16.6 20.7
1976 16.7 20.2
1975 17 19.9
1974 17.2 19.6
1973 17.5 19.3
1972 17.7 19.1
1971 17.9 19
1970 18.1 18.9
1969 18.3 18.8
1968 18.5 18.7
1967 18.7 18.6
1966 19 18.5
1965 19.3 18.6
1964 19.5 18.8
1963 19.8 19
1962 20.1 19.1
1961 20.4 19.2
1960 20.4 19.3

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Iraq South Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$277B
2024
$1.9T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
42.9%
2024
22.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.55%
1989
5.81%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.36%
2024
2.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
459,000
2020
569,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-4.14%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
16.2%
2021
2.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
45.8%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
51.6%
2024
33.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
15.6
2002
73.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.2%
2023
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
2.9%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
1,301,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
2.96%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
30
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
2,599
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.56T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$101B
2024
$418B
2024
Personal remittances received
$696M
2024
$7.45B
2024
International tourist arrivals
892,000
2013
2,519,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.88%
2020
1.94%
2020
Banked people share
30.2%
2024
96.9%
2024

Energy

Iraq South Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,412 kg
2022
5,337 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.2
2022
$10.8
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
238.7 megatons
2024
588 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
5.18 tons
2024
11.4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
98.7%
2022
79.1%
2023
Renewable energy use share
1.1%
2021
3.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.37%
2022
18.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-274.9%
2022
84.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
1,373 kWh
2022
11,426 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
3.78%
2021
6.59%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.98%
2022
1.23%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
29.6%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Iraq South Korea
% of world population
0.57%
2024
0.64%
2024
Annual migration change
-1,064
2025
+65,731
2025
Urban population
69.9%
2024
81.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.2:49.8
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.7 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.21 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Quality of life index
39.7
2026
87.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
28
2025
63
2025
Higher education index
52
2026
86
2026
Homicides per 100K people
9.41
2013
0.48
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
27.3
2019
8.6
2019
Visa free countries
41
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
84.1%
2021
98.8%
2018
English speaking
35%
2023
20%
2025
People using the Internet
81.7%
2023
97.9%
2024

Health

Iraq South Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$333
2023
$3,137
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$179.9
2023
$1,058
2024
Life expectancy
72.6 years
2026
84.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
1.15%
2022
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.02
2022
2.61
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
32.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
66
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
22.6
2023
2.8
2023
Obesity rate
41.4%
2022
7.24%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
13.4%
2024
9.6%
2024
Air quality index
14
2026
46
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
19.2%
2022
20%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.24 liters
2020
7.79 liters
2020

Territory

Iraq South Korea
% of world land
0.29%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
3,641 sq mi
2024
728 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
36,592 sq mi
2026
6,054 sq mi
2026
Forest area
3,185 sq mi
2026
24,158 sq mi
2026
Roads length n/a
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. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2002–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  8. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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