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Romania vs South Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Romania has a population of 19.1M (ranked 67/197), compared with 51.8M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). Romania's land area is 88,834 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 80th vs. 105th).

By GDP, Romania ranks 42/197 ($383B) and South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T). By GDP per capita, Romania ranks 58/197 ($20,080), while South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239).

Main facts and rankings

Romania South Korea
Population
18839108
51649918
Population rank 70/197 31/197
GDP
$383B
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank 42/197 12/197
GDP per capita
$20,080
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank 58/197 31/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$49,077
2024
$61,051
2024
Government debt
$220B
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
57.4%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,533
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank 48/185 33/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$13,912
2026
$27,215
2026
Land area 88,834 sq mi 37,684 sq mi
Population density
212.1 ppl/mi²
2026
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.71
2023
0.72
2023
Median age
43.8 years
2024
46.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
76.4 years
2026
84.6 years
2026

Romania and South Korea: Comparison Charts

Romania and South Korea economies compared

GDP
Romania

South Korea
1x
Year GDP
Romania South Korea
2024 $382,564,217,989 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $347,757,995,759 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $295,319,437,557 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $285,071,280,114 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $250,625,048,304 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $250,080,428,512 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $241,791,427,224 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $210,147,385,855 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $185,290,759,249 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $177,885,131,240 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $199,722,319,676 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $189,798,603,751 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $179,117,323,107 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $192,623,977,894 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $170,064,350,672 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $174,110,532,659 $983,065,242,417
2008 $214,315,932,061 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $174,588,782,939 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $122,023,735,993 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $98,454,380,120 $971,740,329,984
2004 $74,973,656,852 $823,251,107,639
2003 $57,806,384,143 $728,516,494,684
2002 $46,065,502,703 $650,014,391,470
2001 $40,395,116,581 $567,564,806,235
2000 $37,253,739,511 $597,487,173,479
1999 $35,953,156,754 $515,697,079,289
1998 $41,696,091,974 $397,297,216,492
1997 $35,575,214,078 $589,202,526,424
1996 $36,937,074,278 $631,196,863,758
1995 $37,430,162,103 $586,286,469,401
1994 $30,072,805,104 $479,181,794,217
1993 $26,361,160,450 $405,705,302,846
1992 $25,121,666,667 $366,921,291,825
1991 $28,850,634,900 $340,851,946,804
1990 $38,247,882,300 $292,064,221,389
1989 $41,450,777,202 $254,236,243,100
1988 $40,424,528,302 $205,477,530,605
1987 $38,067,567,568 $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/romania/south-korea | CC BY

Romania and South Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Romania

South Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Romania South Korea
2024 $20,080 $36,239
2023 $18,244 $35,674
2022 $15,504 $34,822
2021 $14,908 $37,518
2020 $13,009 $33,646
2019 $12,910 $33,827
2018 $12,416 $35,364
2017 $10,728 $33,297
2016 $9,405 $30,832
2015 $8,977 $30,172
2014 $10,032 $30,667
2013 $9,498 $28,449
2012 $8,930 $26,601
2011 $9,561 $26,175
2010 $8,400 $24,071
2009 $8,548 $19,937
2008 $10,435 $22,252
2007 $8,360 $25,078
2006 $5,758 $22,610
2005 $4,618 $20,167
2004 $3,495 $17,122
2003 $2,679 $15,212
2002 $2,120 $13,643
2001 $1,825 $11,981
2000 $1,660 $12,710
1999 $1,600 $11,063
1998 $1,853 $8,583
1997 $1,577 $12,822
1996 $1,633 $13,865
1995 $1,650 $13,002
1994 $1,323 $10,734
1993 $1,158 $9,180
1992 $1,102 $8,387
1991 $1,254 $7,873
1990 $1,648 $6,813
1989 $1,790 $5,989
1988 $1,753 $4,889
1987 $1,659 $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/romania/south-korea | CC BY

Romania vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Romania

South Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Romania South Korea
2026 76.4 84.6
2025 76.2 84.5
2024 76.1 84.4
2023 75.9 84.3
2022 75.3 82.7
2021 72.7 83.9
2020 74 83.7
2019 75.3 83.7
2018 75.1 83.3
2017 75 83.3
2016 75 82.9
2015 74.7 82.5
2014 74.8 82.4
2013 74.9 81.8
2012 74.3 81.3
2011 74.3 81.2
2010 73.6 80.7
2009 73.5 80.6
2008 73.2 80
2007 72.8 79.4
2006 72.2 79
2005 71.6 78.4
2004 71.1 78
2003 70.8 77.5
2002 70.8 77.2
2001 71.1 76.9
2000 71.2 76.2
1999 70.6 75.6
1998 69.9 75
1997 69.1 74.5
1996 68.8 74
1995 69.3 73.4
1994 69.3 72.9
1993 69.5 72.7
1992 69.5 72.2
1991 70 71.4
1990 69.8 71
1989 69.5 70.7
1988 69.4 70.2
1987 69.1 69.3
1986 69.7 69
1985 69.4 68.4
1984 69.9 68.1
1983 69.8 66.7
1982 69.8 67.1
1981 69.5 67.1
1980 69.2 64.8
1979 69.5 66.1
1978 69.8 65
1977 69.5 64.6
1976 69.9 65
1975 69.6 64.7
1974 69.5 64.2
1973 68.7 63.8
1972 69 63.2
1971 68.4 62.7
1970 67.9 62.2
1969 67.2 61.4
1968 67.9 60.9
1967 68.1 60.9
1966 68.2 55.4
1965 68.4 55.8
1964 68.4 55.3
1963 67.8 55
1962 67.2 55
1961 66.4 54.4
1960 65.6 53.8
1959 64.9 52.9
1958 64.4 51.8
1957 64 51.6
1956 63.6 50.2
1955 63.3 48.4
1954 63 46.1
1953 62.5 40.5
1952 61.8 36.6
1951 61.2 26.6
1950 60.5 22.2

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

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

Romania and South Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Romania

South Korea
1x
Year Population
Romania South Korea
2024 19,051,804 51,751,065
2023 19,061,062 51,712,619
2022 19,048,502 51,672,569
2021 19,122,059 51,769,539
2020 19,265,250 51,836,239
2019 19,371,648 51,764,822
2018 19,473,970 51,585,058
2017 19,588,715 51,361,911
2016 19,702,267 51,217,803
2015 19,815,616 51,014,947
2014 19,908,979 50,746,659
2013 19,983,693 50,428,893
2012 20,058,035 50,199,853
2011 20,147,528 49,936,638
2010 20,246,871 49,554,112
2009 20,367,487 49,307,835
2008 20,537,875 49,054,708
2007 20,882,982 48,683,638
2006 21,193,760 48,438,292
2005 21,319,685 48,184,561
2004 21,451,748 48,082,519
2003 21,574,326 47,892,330
2002 21,730,496 47,644,736
2001 22,131,970 47,370,164
2000 22,442,971 47,008,111
1999 22,472,040 46,616,677
1998 22,507,344 46,286,503
1997 22,553,978 45,953,580
1996 22,619,004 45,524,681
1995 22,684,270 45,092,991
1994 22,730,211 44,641,540
1993 22,763,280 44,194,628
1992 22,794,284 43,747,962
1991 23,001,155 43,295,704
1990 23,201,835 42,869,283
1989 23,161,458 42,449,038
1988 23,057,662 42,031,247
1987 22,949,430 41,621,690
1986 22,836,841 41,213,674
1985 22,732,999 40,805,744
1984 22,640,547 40,405,956
1983 22,560,478 39,910,403
1982 22,475,741 39,326,352
1981 22,353,070 38,723,248
1980 22,207,282 38,123,775
1979 22,090,488 37,534,236
1978 21,951,464 36,969,185
1977 21,756,096 36,411,795
1976 21,551,634 35,848,523
1975 21,293,583 35,280,725
1974 21,029,429 34,692,266
1973 20,835,681 34,103,149
1972 20,657,957 33,505,406
1971 20,461,567 32,882,704
1970 20,250,398 32,240,827
1969 20,009,141 31,544,266
1968 19,799,831 30,838,302
1967 19,534,242 30,130,983
1966 19,215,450 29,435,571
1965 19,031,576 28,704,674
1964 18,919,126 27,984,155
1963 18,797,850 27,261,747
1962 18,676,550 26,513,030
1961 18,555,250 25,765,673
1960 18,406,905 25,012,374

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

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

Fertility rates in Romania and South Korea

Fertility rate
Romania

South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Romania South Korea
2023 1.71 0.72
2022 1.71 0.78
2021 1.81 0.81
2020 1.8 0.84
2019 1.77 0.92
2018 1.76 0.98
2017 1.78 1.05
2016 1.69 1.17
2015 1.62 1.24
2014 1.56 1.21
2013 1.46 1.19
2012 1.52 1.3
2011 1.47 1.24
2010 1.59 1.23
2009 1.66 1.15
2008 1.6 1.19
2007 1.45 1.26
2006 1.42 1.13
2005 1.4 1.09
2004 1.33 1.16
2003 1.3 1.19
2002 1.27 1.18
2001 1.27 1.31
2000 1.31 1.48
1999 1.3 1.43
1998 1.32 1.46
1997 1.32 1.54
1996 1.3 1.57
1995 1.33 1.63
1994 1.4 1.66
1993 1.43 1.65
1992 1.51 1.76
1991 1.59 1.71
1990 1.83 1.57
1989 2.22 1.56
1988 2.3 1.55
1987 2.38 1.53
1986 2.39 1.58
1985 2.31 1.66
1984 2.26 1.74
1983 2.06 2.06
1982 2.17 2.39
1981 2.36 2.57
1980 2.43 2.82
1979 2.49 2.9
1978 2.52 2.64
1977 2.57 2.99
1976 2.54 3
1975 2.59 3.43
1974 2.71 3.77
1973 2.44 4.07
1972 2.55 4.12
1971 2.67 4.54
1970 2.89 4.53
1969 3.19 4.45
1968 3.63 4.51
1967 3.66 4.62
1966 1.9 4.78
1965 1.91 4.89
1964 1.96 5.07
1963 2.01 5.33
1962 2.04 5.56
1961 2.17 5.8
1960 2.34 5.99

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

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

Romania and South Korea demographics compared

Median age
Romania

South Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Romania South Korea
2024 43.8 46.1
2023 43.5 45.5
2022 43.3 44.9
2021 43.2 44.4
2020 42.9 43.8
2019 42.6 43.1
2018 42.3 42.5
2017 42 41.9
2016 41.7 41.4
2015 41.3 40.8
2014 40.9 40.2
2013 40.5 39.5
2012 40.2 38.8
2011 39.8 38.2
2010 39.3 37.6
2009 38.8 37
2008 38.2 36.4
2007 37.7 35.8
2006 37.3 35.2
2005 37 34.5
2004 36.6 33.9
2003 36 33.4
2002 35.3 32.8
2001 34.8 32.3
2000 34.8 31.7
1999 34.7 31.2
1998 34.6 30.7
1997 34.4 30.2
1996 34.2 29.8
1995 34 29.4
1994 33.8 28.9
1993 33.6 28.3
1992 33.3 27.8
1991 33.1 27.2
1990 33 26.7
1989 32.9 26.3
1988 32.8 25.8
1987 32.8 25.3
1986 32.7 24.8
1985 32.5 24.2
1984 32.3 23.7
1983 32.1 23.3
1982 32 22.8
1981 31.9 22.5
1980 31.8 22.1
1979 31.7 21.6
1978 31.7 21.1
1977 31.8 20.7
1976 31.8 20.2
1975 31.7 19.9
1974 31.6 19.6
1973 31.5 19.3
1972 31.5 19.1
1971 31.4 19
1970 31.4 18.9
1969 31.3 18.8
1968 31.3 18.7
1967 31.3 18.6
1966 31 18.5
1965 30.6 18.6
1964 30.2 18.8
1963 29.7 19
1962 29.3 19.1
1961 28.9 19.2
1960 28.5 19.3

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Romania South Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$335B
2024
$1.9T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
39.9%
2024
22.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.28%
2022
5.81%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.3%
2024
2.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
128,000
2020
569,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-8.68%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.43%
2024
2.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
62.6%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
25.3%
2024
33.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
65.4
2026
73.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
21.8%
2023
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.4%
2023
2.9%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
1,301,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
2.96%
2025
Number of billionaires
6
2025
30
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00004%
2025
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
83
2024
2,599
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$47.4B
2024
$1.56T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$73.4B
2024
$418B
2024
Personal remittances received
$9.53B
2024
$7.45B
2024
International tourist arrivals
5,023,000
2020
2,519,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.73%
2020
1.94%
2020
Banked people share
71.3%
2024
96.9%
2024

Energy

Romania South Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,601 kg
2023
5,337 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$28.7
2023
$10.8
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
70.9 megatons
2024
588 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
3.72 tons
2024
11.4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
70.4%
2022
79.1%
2023
Renewable energy use share
23.6%
2021
3.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
17.5%
2023
18.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share
28.1%
2023
84.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
2,585 kWh
2023
11,426 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
44.9%
2021
6.59%
2021
Hydroelectric share
32.2%
2023
1.23%
2023
Nuclear share
19.3%
2023
29.6%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Romania South Korea
% of world population
0.23%
2024
0.64%
2024
Annual migration change
-29,041
2025
+65,731
2025
Urban population
52.2%
2024
81.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.4:51.6
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.83 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.4 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Quality of life index
71.2
2026
87.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
45
2025
63
2025
Higher education index
69
2026
86
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.12
2024
0.48
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
10.3
2019
8.6
2019
Visa free countries
170
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
99.2%
2021
98.8%
2018
English speaking
31%
2023
20%
2025
People using the Internet
91.3%
2024
97.9%
2024

Health

Romania South Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,051
2023
$3,137
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$241.3
2023
$1,058
2024
Life expectancy
76.4 years
2026
84.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2022
2.61
2022
Age at first childbirth
27.1 years
2023
32.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
12
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
6.6
2023
2.8
2023
Obesity rate
35%
2022
7.24%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.5%
2024
9.6%
2024
Air quality index
50
2026
46
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
30%
2022
20%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
16.8 liters
2020
7.79 liters
2020

Territory

Romania South Korea
% of world land
0.15%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
4,663 sq mi
2024
728 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
49,093 sq mi
2026
6,054 sq mi
2026
Forest area
26,753 sq mi
2026
24,158 sq mi
2026
Roads length
53,964 mi
2024
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)

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