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Papua New Guinea vs South Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Papua New Guinea has a population of 10.6M (ranked 92/197), compared with 51.8M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). Papua New Guinea's land area is 174,850 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 54th vs. 105th).

By GDP, Papua New Guinea ranks 110/197 ($31.8B) and South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T). By GDP per capita, Papua New Guinea ranks 140/197 ($3,007), while South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239).

Main facts and rankings

Papua New Guinea South Korea
Population
11002753
51649918
Population rank 89/197 31/197
GDP
$31.8B
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank 110/197 12/197
GDP per capita
$3,007
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank 140/197 31/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$4,875
2024
$61,051
2024
Government debt
$16.6B
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
52.1%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,566
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank 129/185 33/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,362
2026
$27,215
2026
Land area 174,850 sq mi 37,684 sq mi
Population density
62.6 ppl/mi²
2026
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.1
2023
0.72
2023
Median age
23.6 years
2024
46.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.5 years
2026
84.6 years
2026

Papua New Guinea and South Korea: Comparison Charts

Papua New Guinea and South Korea economies compared

GDP
Papua New Guinea

South Korea
1x
Year GDP
Papua New Guinea South Korea
2024 $31,800,428,266 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $30,816,367,067 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $31,653,185,953 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $26,109,413,521 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $23,848,447,850 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $24,750,626,030 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $24,109,780,708 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $22,742,699,138 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $20,758,876,953 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $21,723,437,010 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $23,210,823,987 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $21,261,338,065 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $21,295,168,666 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $17,985,138,066 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $14,250,786,675 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $11,619,456,449 $983,065,242,417
2008 $11,670,892,801 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $9,545,028,944 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $8,354,911,041 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $4,865,892,972 $971,740,329,984
2004 $3,927,157,867 $823,251,107,639
2003 $3,536,411,824 $728,516,494,684
2002 $2,999,511,040 $650,014,391,470
2001 $3,081,024,212 $567,564,806,235
2000 $3,521,339,699 $597,487,173,479
1999 $3,477,038,204 $515,697,079,289
1998 $3,789,443,015 $397,297,216,492
1997 $4,936,615,299 $589,202,526,424
1996 $5,155,311,077 $631,196,863,758
1995 $4,636,057,476 $586,286,469,401
1994 $5,502,786,070 $479,181,794,217
1993 $4,974,550,286 $405,705,302,846
1992 $4,377,980,510 $366,921,291,825
1991 $3,787,394,958 $340,851,946,804
1990 $3,219,729,083 $292,064,221,389
1989 $3,546,472,566 $254,236,243,100
1988 $3,656,177,881 $205,477,530,605
1987 $3,143,851,794 $152,240,393,646
1986 $2,647,995,602 $119,965,960,795
1985 $2,423,339,172 $103,764,281,281
1984 $2,552,662,617 $99,749,645,089
1983 $2,562,351,551 $89,621,208,322
1982 $2,368,719,683 $79,921,300,447
1981 $2,498,190,847 $74,287,368,087
1980 $2,545,808,456 $66,547,970,351
1979 $2,293,760,511 $68,083,884,298
1978 $1,947,878,831 $52,824,793,388
1977 $1,640,746,619 $39,064,462,810
1976 $1,511,843,235 $30,371,074,380
1975 $1,356,603,608 $22,126,033,058
1974 $1,467,417,672 $19,860,929,977
1973 $1,299,079,410 $14,067,523,813
1972 $858,761,926 $10,990,490,570
1971 $717,750,278 $10,005,257,131
1970 $645,568,215 $9,085,001,794
1969 $551,263,864 $7,743,940,189
1968 $485,184,190 $6,167,109,472
1967 $441,728,183 $4,895,076,718
1966 $390,992,063 $3,957,064,541
1965 $344,176,055 $3,141,131,708
1964 $305,312,049 $3,476,789,682
1963 $275,968,044 $4,007,692,308
1962 $261,184,042 $2,826,923,077
1961 $244,832,039 $2,427,244,761
1960 $230,496,037 $3,973,069,307

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

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/south-korea | CC BY

Papua New Guinea and South Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Papua New Guinea

South Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Papua New Guinea South Korea
2024 $3,007 $36,239
2023 $2,966 $35,674
2022 $3,102 $34,822
2021 $2,608 $37,518
2020 $2,430 $33,646
2019 $2,576 $33,827
2018 $2,566 $35,364
2017 $2,478 $33,297
2016 $2,316 $30,832
2015 $2,485 $30,172
2014 $2,723 $30,667
2013 $2,561 $28,449
2012 $2,635 $26,601
2011 $2,288 $26,175
2010 $1,867 $24,071
2009 $1,569 $19,937
2008 $1,625 $22,252
2007 $1,371 $25,078
2006 $1,238 $22,610
2005 $744 $20,167
2004 $621 $17,122
2003 $577 $15,212
2002 $506 $13,643
2001 $538 $11,981
2000 $636 $12,710
1999 $650 $11,063
1998 $733 $8,583
1997 $990 $12,822
1996 $1,071 $13,865
1995 $998 $13,002
1994 $1,228 $10,734
1993 $1,151 $9,180
1992 $1,051 $8,387
1991 $942 $7,873
1990 $826 $6,813
1989 $934 $5,989
1988 $985 $4,889
1987 $865 $3,658
1986 $745 $2,911
1985 $697 $2,543
1984 $750 $2,469
1983 $769 $2,246
1982 $726 $2,032
1981 $781 $1,918
1980 $813 $1,746
1979 $748 $1,814
1978 $648 $1,429
1977 $558 $1,073
1976 $525 $847
1975 $482 $627
1974 $533 $572
1973 $483 $412
1972 $327 $328
1971 $279.7 $304
1970 $257.6 $281.8
1969 $225.3 $245.5
1968 $202.9 $200
1967 $189 $162.5
1966 $171.1 $134.4
1965 $153.9 $109.4
1964 $139.5 $124.2
1963 $128.9 $147
1962 $124.7 $106.6
1961 $119.7 $94.2
1960 $115.5 $158.8

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

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/south-korea | CC BY

Papua New Guinea vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Papua New Guinea

South Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Papua New Guinea South Korea
2026 66.5 84.6
2025 66.4 84.5
2024 66.3 84.4
2023 66.1 84.3
2022 65.3 82.7
2021 64.4 83.9
2020 65.1 83.7
2019 65.3 83.7
2018 65.1 83.3
2017 64.9 83.3
2016 64.7 82.9
2015 64.5 82.5
2014 64.2 82.4
2013 63.9 81.8
2012 63.6 81.3
2011 63.4 81.2
2010 63.1 80.7
2009 62.8 80.6
2008 62.5 80
2007 62.2 79.4
2006 62 79
2005 61.9 78.4
2004 61.8 78
2003 61.7 77.5
2002 61.6 77.2
2001 61.6 76.9
2000 61.6 76.2
1999 61.5 75.6
1998 60.4 75
1997 61.3 74.5
1996 61.1 74
1995 60.9 73.4
1994 60.7 72.9
1993 60.5 72.7
1992 60.3 72.2
1991 59.9 71.4
1990 59.8 71
1989 59.6 70.7
1988 59.4 70.2
1987 59.2 69.3
1986 59 69
1985 58.8 68.4
1984 58.6 68.1
1983 58.3 66.7
1982 58.1 67.1
1981 57.8 67.1
1980 57.4 64.8
1979 57 66.1
1978 56.5 65
1977 56 64.6
1976 55.5 65
1975 55 64.7
1974 54.4 64.2
1973 53.9 63.8
1972 53.3 63.2
1971 52.6 62.7
1970 52.1 62.2
1969 51.5 61.4
1968 50.9 60.9
1967 50.2 60.9
1966 49.6 55.4
1965 48.9 55.8
1964 48.3 55.3
1963 47.7 55
1962 46.7 55
1961 46.4 54.4
1960 45.8 53.8
1959 45.1 52.9
1958 44.6 51.8
1957 43.9 51.6
1956 43.3 50.2
1955 42.6 48.4
1954 42 46.1
1953 41.3 40.5
1952 40.7 36.6
1951 35.5 26.6
1950 39.4 22.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/south-korea | CC BY

Papua New Guinea and South Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Papua New Guinea

South Korea
1x
Year Population
Papua New Guinea South Korea
2024 10,576,502 51,751,065
2023 10,389,635 51,712,619
2022 10,203,169 51,672,569
2021 10,012,896 51,769,539
2020 9,815,746 51,836,239
2019 9,609,010 51,764,822
2018 9,394,513 51,585,058
2017 9,178,714 51,361,911
2016 8,961,718 51,217,803
2015 8,743,246 51,014,947
2014 8,523,441 50,746,659
2013 8,302,698 50,428,893
2012 8,081,390 50,199,853
2011 7,859,346 49,936,638
2010 7,633,523 49,554,112
2009 7,406,438 49,307,835
2008 7,183,002 49,054,708
2007 6,963,345 48,683,638
2006 6,747,720 48,438,292
2005 6,535,905 48,184,561
2004 6,328,041 48,082,519
2003 6,123,997 47,892,330
2002 5,924,003 47,644,736
2001 5,728,435 47,370,164
2000 5,537,064 47,008,111
1999 5,349,333 46,616,677
1998 5,166,390 46,286,503
1997 4,987,883 45,953,580
1996 4,813,361 45,524,681
1995 4,644,278 45,092,991
1994 4,480,208 44,641,540
1993 4,320,872 44,194,628
1992 4,166,699 43,747,962
1991 4,021,837 43,295,704
1990 3,896,481 42,869,283
1989 3,796,078 42,449,038
1988 3,711,880 42,031,247
1987 3,632,543 41,621,690
1986 3,554,793 41,213,674
1985 3,478,936 40,805,744
1984 3,405,198 40,405,956
1983 3,333,633 39,910,403
1982 3,264,291 39,326,352
1981 3,197,019 38,723,248
1980 3,131,512 38,123,775
1979 3,067,341 37,534,236
1978 3,003,714 36,969,185
1977 2,940,327 36,411,795
1976 2,877,327 35,848,523
1975 2,814,820 35,280,725
1974 2,752,671 34,692,266
1973 2,690,629 34,103,149
1972 2,628,432 33,505,406
1971 2,566,421 32,882,704
1970 2,505,628 32,240,827
1969 2,446,927 31,544,266
1968 2,390,803 30,838,302
1967 2,337,532 30,130,983
1966 2,285,774 29,435,571
1965 2,235,820 28,704,674
1964 2,188,325 27,984,155
1963 2,141,376 27,261,747
1962 2,093,919 26,513,030
1961 2,046,127 25,765,673
1960 1,995,110 25,012,374

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

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/south-korea | CC BY

Fertility rates in Papua New Guinea and South Korea

Fertility rate
Papua New Guinea

South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Papua New Guinea South Korea
2023 3.1 0.72
2022 3.17 0.78
2021 3.22 0.81
2020 3.27 0.84
2019 3.32 0.92
2018 3.38 0.98
2017 3.43 1.05
2016 3.5 1.17
2015 3.56 1.24
2014 3.63 1.21
2013 3.68 1.19
2012 3.75 1.3
2011 3.82 1.24
2010 3.88 1.23
2009 3.94 1.15
2008 4.01 1.19
2007 4.08 1.26
2006 4.15 1.13
2005 4.22 1.09
2004 4.28 1.16
2003 4.36 1.19
2002 4.42 1.18
2001 4.47 1.31
2000 4.53 1.48
1999 4.59 1.43
1998 4.63 1.46
1997 4.68 1.54
1996 4.73 1.57
1995 4.78 1.63
1994 4.87 1.66
1993 4.96 1.65
1992 5.03 1.76
1991 5.11 1.71
1990 5.18 1.57
1989 5.24 1.56
1988 5.3 1.55
1987 5.36 1.53
1986 5.42 1.58
1985 5.47 1.66
1984 5.51 1.74
1983 5.56 2.06
1982 5.59 2.39
1981 5.65 2.57
1980 5.71 2.82
1979 5.79 2.9
1978 5.88 2.64
1977 5.96 2.99
1976 6.02 3
1975 6.07 3.43
1974 6.11 3.77
1973 6.16 4.07
1972 6.2 4.12
1971 6.23 4.54
1970 6.25 4.53
1969 6.26 4.45
1968 6.25 4.51
1967 6.24 4.62
1966 6.23 4.78
1965 6.2 4.89
1964 6.19 5.07
1963 6.15 5.33
1962 6.14 5.56
1961 6.07 5.8
1960 6.02 5.99

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

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/south-korea | CC BY

Papua New Guinea and South Korea demographics compared

Median age
Papua New Guinea

South Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Papua New Guinea South Korea
2024 23.6 46.1
2023 23.4 45.5
2022 23.2 44.9
2021 23 44.4
2020 22.8 43.8
2019 22.6 43.1
2018 22.4 42.5
2017 22.2 41.9
2016 22 41.4
2015 21.9 40.8
2014 21.7 40.2
2013 21.5 39.5
2012 21.3 38.8
2011 21.2 38.2
2010 21 37.6
2009 20.9 37
2008 20.7 36.4
2007 20.6 35.8
2006 20.4 35.2
2005 20.3 34.5
2004 20.2 33.9
2003 20 33.4
2002 19.9 32.8
2001 19.9 32.3
2000 19.8 31.7
1999 19.7 31.2
1998 19.6 30.7
1997 19.5 30.2
1996 19.4 29.8
1995 19.2 29.4
1994 19.1 28.9
1993 19 28.3
1992 18.9 27.8
1991 18.8 27.2
1990 18.7 26.7
1989 18.6 26.3
1988 18.6 25.8
1987 18.5 25.3
1986 18.5 24.8
1985 18.4 24.2
1984 18.3 23.7
1983 18.3 23.3
1982 18.2 22.8
1981 18.1 22.5
1980 18 22.1
1979 17.8 21.6
1978 17.7 21.1
1977 17.5 20.7
1976 17.4 20.2
1975 17.3 19.9
1974 17.2 19.6
1973 17.2 19.3
1972 17.1 19.1
1971 17.2 19
1970 17.3 18.9
1969 17.4 18.8
1968 17.5 18.7
1967 17.6 18.6
1966 17.8 18.5
1965 17.9 18.6
1964 18 18.8
1963 18.1 19
1962 18.3 19.1
1961 18.4 19.2
1960 18.5 19.3

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

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/south-korea | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Papua New Guinea and South Korea.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Papua New Guinea South Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$30.7B
2024
$1.9T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
20.4%
2024
22.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
0.78%
2023
5.81%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.31%
2024
2.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
4,000
2020
569,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.23%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.69%
2022
2.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
41.5%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
37.2%
2024
33.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.3
2026
73.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
31%
2009
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2009
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
6
2016
2,599
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.68B
2017
$1.56T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.9B
2023
$418B
2024
Personal remittances received
$3.87M
2024
$7.45B
2024
International tourist arrivals
39,000
2020
2,519,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
0.04%
2018
1.94%
2020
Banked people share n/a
96.9%
2024

Energy

Papua New Guinea South Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita n/a
5,337 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$10.8
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
5.47 megatons
2024
588 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.52 tons
2024
11.4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share n/a
79.1%
2023
Renewable energy use share
54.6%
2022
3.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
18.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
84.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
11,426 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
40%
2021
6.59%
2021
Hydroelectric share
35.3%
2021
1.23%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
29.6%
2023
Electricity access
20.5%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Papua New Guinea South Korea
% of world population
0.13%
2024
0.64%
2024
Annual migration change
-284
2025
+65,731
2025
Urban population
15.4%
2024
81.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
51.4:48.6
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.35 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.15 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Quality of life index
37.6
2026
87.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
26
2025
63
2025
Higher education index
30
2026
86
2026
Homicides per 100K people
9.4
2010
0.48
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
12.6
2019
8.6
2019
Visa free countries
86
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
87.1%
2022
98.8%
2018
English speaking
70.4%
2023
20%
2025
People using the Internet
24.1%
2023
97.9%
2024

Health

Papua New Guinea South Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$85.2
2023
$3,137
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$7.28
2023
$1,058
2024
Life expectancy
66.5 years
2026
84.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
18.2%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.06
2023
2.61
2022
Age at first childbirth
21.9 years
2025
32.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
189
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
40.3
2023
2.8
2023
Obesity rate
21.2%
2022
7.24%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
14.1%
2024
9.6%
2024
Air quality index
91
2026
46
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
39.6%
2022
20%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.13 liters
2020
7.79 liters
2020

Territory

Papua New Guinea South Korea
% of world land
0.3%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
16,532 sq mi
2024
728 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
5,425 sq mi
2026
6,054 sq mi
2026
Forest area
138,051 sq mi
2026
24,158 sq mi
2026
Roads length
5,809 mi
2011
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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