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Nigeria vs South Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Nigeria has a population of 233M (ranked 6/197), compared with 51.8M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). Nigeria's land area is 351,650 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 30th vs. 105th).

By GDP, Nigeria ranks 54/197 ($252B) and South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T). By GDP per capita, Nigeria ranks 174/197 ($1,084), while South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239).

Main facts and rankings

Nigeria South Korea
Population
243824469
51649918
Population rank 6/197 31/197
GDP
$252B
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank 54/197 12/197
GDP per capita
$1,084
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank 174/197 31/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$9,087
2024
$61,051
2024
Government debt
$99.2B
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
39.3%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$426
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank 170/185 33/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,104
2026
$27,215
2026
Land area 351,650 sq mi 37,684 sq mi
Population density
690 ppl/mi²
2026
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
4.48
2023
0.72
2023
Median age
19 years
2024
46.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
55 years
2026
84.6 years
2026

Nigeria and South Korea: Comparison Charts

Nigeria and South Korea economies compared

GDP
Nigeria

South Korea
1x
Year GDP
Nigeria South Korea
2024 $252,261,880,141 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $487,387,801,881 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $646,950,257,578 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $609,147,716,973 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $598,586,817,819 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $668,219,992,691 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $421,739,251,509 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $375,745,731,053 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $404,649,125,252 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $493,026,682,801 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $574,183,763,412 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $520,117,180,314 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $463,971,018,239 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $414,466,676,831 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $366,990,417,129 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $295,008,835,381 $983,065,242,417
2008 $339,476,276,258 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $278,260,846,800 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $238,454,997,161 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $175,670,569,969 $971,740,329,984
2004 $135,764,731,646 $823,251,107,639
2003 $104,738,954,264 $728,516,494,684
2002 $95,054,059,303 $650,014,391,470
2001 $73,557,840,064 $567,564,806,235
2000 $69,171,451,627 $597,487,173,479
1999 $59,145,077,039 $515,697,079,289
1998 $218,416,200,673 $397,297,216,492
1997 $200,850,397,618 $589,202,526,424
1996 $185,730,236,700 $631,196,863,758
1995 $140,919,776,986 $586,286,469,401
1994 $80,399,613,064 $479,181,794,217
1993 $56,721,051,402 $405,705,302,846
1992 $52,058,181,854 $366,921,291,825
1991 $59,526,833,412 $340,851,946,804
1990 $54,035,795,388 $292,064,221,389
1989 $44,003,061,108 $254,236,243,100
1988 $49,648,470,440 $205,477,530,605
1987 $52,676,041,931 $152,240,393,646
1986 $54,805,852,581 $119,965,960,795
1985 $73,745,821,158 $103,764,281,281
1984 $73,484,359,521 $99,749,645,089
1983 $97,094,911,792 $89,621,208,322
1982 $142,769,363,314 $79,921,300,447
1981 $164,475,209,516 $74,287,368,087
1980 $64,201,788,123 $66,547,970,351
1979 $47,259,911,894 $68,083,884,298
1978 $36,527,862,209 $52,824,793,388
1977 $36,035,407,725 $39,064,462,810
1976 $36,308,883,249 $30,371,074,380
1975 $27,778,934,625 $22,126,033,058
1974 $24,846,641,318 $19,860,929,977
1973 $15,162,871,287 $14,067,523,813
1972 $12,274,416,018 $10,990,490,570
1971 $9,181,769,912 $10,005,257,131
1970 $12,546,094,982 $9,085,001,794
1969 $6,634,317,346 $7,743,940,189
1968 $5,200,997,920 $6,167,109,472
1967 $5,203,237,919 $4,895,076,718
1966 $6,366,917,453 $3,957,064,541
1965 $5,874,537,650 $3,141,131,708
1964 $5,552,931,319 $3,476,789,682
1963 $5,165,590,254 $4,007,692,308
1962 $4,909,399,176 $2,826,923,077
1961 $4,467,287,893 $2,427,244,761
1960 $4,196,174,502 $3,973,069,307

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

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

Nigeria and South Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Nigeria

South Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Nigeria South Korea
2024 $1,084 $36,239
2023 $2,139 $35,674
2022 $2,899 $34,822
2021 $2,787 $37,518
2020 $2,797 $33,646
2019 $3,190 $33,827
2018 $2,058 $35,364
2017 $1,876 $33,297
2016 $2,070 $30,832
2015 $2,586 $30,172
2014 $3,089 $30,667
2013 $2,873 $28,449
2012 $2,633 $26,601
2011 $2,418 $26,175
2010 $2,202 $24,071
2009 $1,820 $19,937
2008 $2,154 $22,252
2007 $1,816 $25,078
2006 $1,600 $22,610
2005 $1,211 $20,167
2004 $962 $17,122
2003 $763 $15,212
2002 $712 $13,643
2001 $566 $11,981
2000 $547 $12,710
1999 $481 $11,063
1998 $1,822 $8,583
1997 $1,720 $12,822
1996 $1,633 $13,865
1995 $1,272 $13,002
1994 $745 $10,734
1993 $540 $9,180
1992 $509 $8,387
1991 $597 $7,873
1990 $556 $6,813
1989 $465 $5,989
1988 $540 $4,889
1987 $588 $3,658
1986 $628 $2,911
1985 $869 $2,543
1984 $890 $2,469
1983 $1,207 $2,246
1982 $1,822 $2,032
1981 $2,162 $1,918
1980 $870 $1,746
1979 $661 $1,814
1978 $527 $1,429
1977 $536 $1,073
1976 $556 $847
1975 $438 $627
1974 $403 $572
1973 $252.4 $412
1972 $209.5 $328
1971 $160.5 $304
1970 $224.5 $281.8
1969 $121.4 $245.5
1968 $97.3 $200
1967 $99.5 $162.5
1966 $124.4 $134.4
1965 $117.3 $109.4
1964 $113.3 $124.2
1963 $107.7 $147
1962 $104.5 $106.6
1961 $97.1 $94.2
1960 $93.1 $158.8

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

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

Nigeria vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Nigeria

South Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Nigeria South Korea
2026 55 84.6
2025 54.8 84.5
2024 54.6 84.4
2023 54.5 84.3
2022 54.1 82.7
2021 53.5 83.9
2020 53.1 83.7
2019 53 83.7
2018 52.7 83.3
2017 52.4 83.3
2016 52.2 82.9
2015 51.9 82.5
2014 51.9 82.4
2013 51.8 81.8
2012 51.7 81.3
2011 51.5 81.2
2010 51.3 80.7
2009 51.1 80.6
2008 50.7 80
2007 50.4 79.4
2006 49.9 79
2005 49.5 78.4
2004 49.1 78
2003 48.6 77.5
2002 48 77.2
2001 47.5 76.9
2000 47.1 76.2
1999 46.6 75.6
1998 46.1 75
1997 46 74.5
1996 45.8 74
1995 45.9 73.4
1994 45.7 72.9
1993 45.8 72.7
1992 45.6 72.2
1991 45.5 71.4
1990 45.7 71
1989 45.8 70.7
1988 45.8 70.2
1987 45.9 69.3
1986 46 69
1985 46.2 68.4
1984 46.3 68.1
1983 46.4 66.7
1982 46.4 67.1
1981 46.3 67.1
1980 46 64.8
1979 45.7 66.1
1978 45.3 65
1977 44.8 64.6
1976 44.2 65
1975 43.1 64.7
1974 42.5 64.2
1973 41.8 63.8
1972 41.3 63.2
1971 40.6 62.7
1970 40 62.2
1969 38.9 61.4
1968 38.6 60.9
1967 37.5 60.9
1966 38.4 55.4
1965 38.2 55.8
1964 38 55.3
1963 37.8 55
1962 37.6 55
1961 37.4 54.4
1960 37.2 53.8
1959 37 52.9
1958 36.8 51.8
1957 36.6 51.6
1956 36.5 50.2
1955 36.3 48.4
1954 36.2 46.1
1953 36 40.5
1952 35.9 36.6
1951 35.7 26.6
1950 35.5 22.2

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

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

Nigeria and South Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Nigeria

South Korea
1x
Year Population
Nigeria South Korea
2024 232,679,478 51,751,065
2023 227,882,945 51,712,619
2022 223,150,896 51,672,569
2021 218,529,286 51,769,539
2020 213,996,181 51,836,239
2019 209,485,641 51,764,822
2018 204,938,755 51,585,058
2017 200,254,579 51,361,911
2016 195,443,700 51,217,803
2015 190,671,878 51,014,947
2014 185,896,915 50,746,659
2013 181,049,443 50,428,893
2012 176,200,625 50,199,853
2011 171,379,598 49,936,638
2010 166,642,886 49,554,112
2009 162,049,464 49,307,835
2008 157,595,014 49,054,708
2007 153,267,261 48,683,638
2006 149,077,334 48,438,292
2005 145,017,253 48,184,561
2004 141,057,045 48,082,519
2003 137,202,644 47,892,330
2002 133,471,989 47,644,736
2001 129,862,595 47,370,164
2000 126,382,494 47,008,111
1999 123,047,320 46,616,677
1998 119,846,254 46,286,503
1997 116,754,792 45,953,580
1996 113,754,779 45,524,681
1995 110,819,428 45,092,991
1994 107,935,714 44,641,540
1993 105,122,069 44,194,628
1992 102,372,770 43,747,962
1991 99,720,162 43,295,704
1990 97,120,925 42,869,283
1989 94,531,014 42,449,038
1988 92,020,090 42,031,247
1987 89,591,716 41,621,690
1986 87,235,953 41,213,674
1985 84,897,973 40,805,744
1984 82,526,443 40,405,956
1983 80,438,260 39,910,403
1982 78,378,701 39,326,352
1981 76,068,103 38,723,248
1980 73,764,641 38,123,775
1979 71,498,242 37,534,236
1978 69,326,532 36,969,185
1977 67,234,590 36,411,795
1976 65,258,009 35,848,523
1975 63,410,815 35,280,725
1974 61,679,144 34,692,266
1973 60,082,139 34,103,149
1972 58,601,748 33,505,406
1971 57,214,684 32,882,704
1970 55,893,838 32,240,827
1969 54,631,914 31,544,266
1968 53,432,783 30,838,302
1967 52,293,065 30,130,983
1966 51,188,234 29,435,571
1965 50,086,764 28,704,674
1964 49,012,016 27,984,155
1963 47,973,575 27,261,747
1962 46,965,292 26,513,030
1961 45,989,310 25,765,673
1960 45,053,782 25,012,374

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

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

Fertility rates in Nigeria and South Korea

Fertility rate
Nigeria

South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Nigeria South Korea
2023 4.48 0.72
2022 4.55 0.78
2021 4.64 0.81
2020 4.7 0.84
2019 4.86 0.92
2018 5.02 0.98
2017 5.18 1.05
2016 5.34 1.17
2015 5.5 1.24
2014 5.62 1.21
2013 5.69 1.19
2012 5.8 1.3
2011 5.89 1.24
2010 5.95 1.23
2009 5.99 1.15
2008 6.02 1.19
2007 6.03 1.26
2006 6.05 1.13
2005 6.06 1.09
2004 6.09 1.16
2003 6.1 1.19
2002 6.12 1.18
2001 6.13 1.31
2000 6.12 1.48
1999 6.08 1.43
1998 6.07 1.46
1997 6.14 1.54
1996 6.22 1.57
1995 6.27 1.63
1994 6.32 1.66
1993 6.35 1.65
1992 6.39 1.76
1991 6.43 1.71
1990 6.46 1.57
1989 6.49 1.56
1988 6.5 1.55
1987 6.5 1.53
1986 6.56 1.58
1985 6.62 1.66
1984 6.7 1.74
1983 6.78 2.06
1982 6.8 2.39
1981 6.82 2.57
1980 6.85 2.82
1979 6.89 2.9
1978 6.92 2.64
1977 6.86 2.99
1976 6.81 3
1975 6.77 3.43
1974 6.7 3.77
1973 6.63 4.07
1972 6.58 4.12
1971 6.53 4.54
1970 6.47 4.53
1969 6.44 4.45
1968 6.42 4.51
1967 6.4 4.62
1966 6.39 4.78
1965 6.37 4.89
1964 6.36 5.07
1963 6.35 5.33
1962 6.36 5.56
1961 6.35 5.8
1960 6.36 5.99

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

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

Nigeria and South Korea demographics compared

Median age
Nigeria

South Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Nigeria South Korea
2024 19 46.1
2023 18.8 45.5
2022 18.7 44.9
2021 18.5 44.4
2020 18.3 43.8
2019 18.2 43.1
2018 18 42.5
2017 17.9 41.9
2016 17.8 41.4
2015 17.8 40.8
2014 17.7 40.2
2013 17.7 39.5
2012 17.7 38.8
2011 17.7 38.2
2010 17.8 37.6
2009 17.8 37
2008 17.8 36.4
2007 17.9 35.8
2006 17.9 35.2
2005 17.9 34.5
2004 17.9 33.9
2003 17.9 33.4
2002 17.9 32.8
2001 17.9 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 17.6 29.4
1994 17.5 28.9
1993 17.4 28.3
1992 17.4 27.8
1991 17.3 27.2
1990 17.3 26.7
1989 17.3 26.3
1988 17.3 25.8
1987 17.3 25.3
1986 17.3 24.8
1985 17.3 24.2
1984 17.4 23.7
1983 17.5 23.3
1982 17.6 22.8
1981 17.7 22.5
1980 17.8 22.1
1979 17.9 21.6
1978 18 21.1
1977 18.2 20.7
1976 18.3 20.2
1975 18.4 19.9
1974 18.5 19.6
1973 18.6 19.3
1972 18.7 19.1
1971 18.8 19
1970 18.9 18.9
1969 19.1 18.8
1968 19.2 18.7
1967 19.2 18.6
1966 19.3 18.5
1965 19.3 18.6
1964 19.3 18.8
1963 19.3 19
1962 19.3 19.1
1961 19.3 19.2
1960 19.3 19.3

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Nigeria South Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$396B
2024
$1.9T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
12.3%
2024
22.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
0.32%
2023
5.81%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.56%
2024
2.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
223,000
2020
569,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-1.57%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.45%
2024
2.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
53.7%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
18.2%
2024
33.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.8
2026
73.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
26.3%
2022
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2022
2.9%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
1,301,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
2.96%
2025
Number of billionaires
4
2025
30
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.000004%
2025
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
169
2024
2,599
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$54.4B
2024
$1.56T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$38.6B
2024
$418B
2024
Personal remittances received
$21.3B
2024
$7.45B
2024
International tourist arrivals
5,265,000
2016
2,519,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
0.8%
2020
1.94%
2020
Banked people share
63.3%
2024
96.9%
2024

Energy

Nigeria South Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
333 kg
2022
5,337 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$24.9
2022
$10.8
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
131.9 megatons
2024
588 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.57 tons
2024
11.4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
55.7%
2022
79.1%
2023
Renewable energy use share
80.3%
2021
3.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
1.08%
2022
18.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-66.3%
2022
84.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
135.6 kWh
2022
11,426 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
23.8%
2021
6.59%
2021
Hydroelectric share
24.3%
2022
1.23%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
29.6%
2023
Electricity access
61.2%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Nigeria South Korea
% of world population
2.86%
2024
0.64%
2024
Annual migration change
-15,258
2025
+65,731
2025
Urban population
63%
2024
81.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.6:49.4
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.63 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.19 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Quality of life index
15.2
2026
87.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
26
2025
63
2025
Higher education index
57
2026
86
2026
Homicides per 100K people
21.7
2019
0.48
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
20.7
2019
8.6
2019
Visa free countries
52
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
70.4%
2024
98.8%
2018
English speaking
60.6%
2023
20%
2025
People using the Internet
39.2%
2023
97.9%
2024

Health

Nigeria South Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$66.8
2023
$3,137
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$48
2023
$1,058
2024
Life expectancy
55 years
2026
84.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
11.3%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.38
2023
2.61
2022
Age at first childbirth
20.4 years
2025
32.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
993
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
104.9
2023
2.8
2023
Obesity rate
12.8%
2022
7.24%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
3%
2024
9.6%
2024
Air quality index
8
2026
46
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
3.3%
2022
20%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.78 liters
2020
7.79 liters
2020

Territory

Nigeria South Korea
% of world land
0.61%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
1,511 sq mi
2024
728 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
267,948 sq mi
2026
6,054 sq mi
2026
Forest area
81,611 sq mi
2026
24,158 sq mi
2026
Roads length
121,167 mi
2017
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)

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