South Korea is a high-income country with a population of 51.7M people. The capital and largest city is Seoul, with 9.67M residents. South Korea shares land borders with North Korea.
South Korea ranks 13/197 by GDP ($1.87T) and 33/197 by GDP per capita ($36,227). The top category for both exports and imports is machinery & equipment.
Main facts and rankings
South Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
51624449
|
31/197 |
| GDP |
$1.87T
2025 |
13/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$36,227
2025 |
33/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$61,051
2024 |
33/197 |
| Government debt |
$978B
2025 |
14/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
52.3%
2025 |
98/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$18,930
2025 |
34/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$25,661
2026 |
29/197 |
| Land area | 37,684 sq mi | 105/197 |
| Population density | 1,370 ppl/mi² | 18/197 |
| Fertility rate | 0.75 | 196/196 |
| Median age | 46.7 years | 9/196 |
| Life expectancy | 84.6 years | 4/197 |
South Korea trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,872,374,961,553 |
| 2024 | $1,875,388,209,407 |
| 2023 | $1,844,800,934,392 |
| 2022 | $1,799,363,116,867 |
| 2021 | $1,942,313,560,966 |
| 2020 | $1,744,070,276,373 |
| 2019 | $1,751,045,752,055 |
| 2018 | $1,824,251,454,307 |
| 2017 | $1,710,196,756,713 |
| 2016 | $1,579,150,518,945 |
| 2015 | $1,539,212,301,136 |
| 2014 | $1,556,252,422,020 |
| 2013 | $1,434,669,686,502 |
| 2012 | $1,335,343,586,438 |
| 2011 | $1,307,103,477,219 |
| 2010 | $1,192,830,015,738 |
| 2009 | $983,065,242,417 |
| 2008 | $1,091,580,692,542 |
| 2007 | $1,220,911,904,593 |
| 2006 | $1,095,175,538,508 |
| 2005 | $971,740,329,984 |
| 2004 | $823,251,107,639 |
| 2003 | $728,516,494,684 |
| 2002 | $650,014,391,470 |
| 2001 | $567,564,806,235 |
| 2000 | $597,487,173,479 |
| 1999 | $515,697,079,289 |
| 1998 | $397,297,216,492 |
| 1997 | $589,202,526,424 |
| 1996 | $631,196,863,758 |
| 1995 | $586,286,469,401 |
| 1994 | $479,181,794,217 |
| 1993 | $405,705,302,846 |
| 1992 | $366,921,291,825 |
| 1991 | $340,851,946,804 |
| 1990 | $292,064,221,389 |
| 1989 | $254,236,243,100 |
| 1988 | $205,477,530,605 |
| 1987 | $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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea | CC BY 
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,227 |
| 2024 | $36,239 |
| 2023 | $35,674 |
| 2022 | $34,822 |
| 2021 | $37,518 |
| 2020 | $33,646 |
| 2019 | $33,827 |
| 2018 | $35,364 |
| 2017 | $33,297 |
| 2016 | $30,832 |
| 2015 | $30,172 |
| 2014 | $30,667 |
| 2013 | $28,449 |
| 2012 | $26,601 |
| 2011 | $26,175 |
| 2010 | $24,071 |
| 2009 | $19,937 |
| 2008 | $22,252 |
| 2007 | $25,078 |
| 2006 | $22,610 |
| 2005 | $20,167 |
| 2004 | $17,122 |
| 2003 | $15,212 |
| 2002 | $13,643 |
| 2001 | $11,981 |
| 2000 | $12,710 |
| 1999 | $11,063 |
| 1998 | $8,583 |
| 1997 | $12,822 |
| 1996 | $13,865 |
| 1995 | $13,002 |
| 1994 | $10,734 |
| 1993 | $9,180 |
| 1992 | $8,387 |
| 1991 | $7,873 |
| 1990 | $6,813 |
| 1989 | $5,989 |
| 1988 | $4,889 |
| 1987 | $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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea | CC BY
South Korea's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 84.6 |
| 2025 | 84.5 |
| 2024 | 84.4 |
| 2023 | 84.3 |
| 2022 | 82.7 |
| 2021 | 83.9 |
| 2020 | 83.7 |
| 2019 | 83.7 |
| 2018 | 83.3 |
| 2017 | 83.3 |
| 2016 | 82.9 |
| 2015 | 82.5 |
| 2014 | 82.4 |
| 2013 | 81.8 |
| 2012 | 81.3 |
| 2011 | 81.2 |
| 2010 | 80.7 |
| 2009 | 80.6 |
| 2008 | 80 |
| 2007 | 79.4 |
| 2006 | 79 |
| 2005 | 78.4 |
| 2004 | 78 |
| 2003 | 77.5 |
| 2002 | 77.2 |
| 2001 | 76.9 |
| 2000 | 76.2 |
| 1999 | 75.6 |
| 1998 | 75 |
| 1997 | 74.5 |
| 1996 | 74 |
| 1995 | 73.4 |
| 1994 | 72.9 |
| 1993 | 72.7 |
| 1992 | 72.2 |
| 1991 | 71.4 |
| 1990 | 71 |
| 1989 | 70.7 |
| 1988 | 70.2 |
| 1987 | 69.3 |
| 1986 | 69 |
| 1985 | 68.4 |
| 1984 | 68.1 |
| 1983 | 66.7 |
| 1982 | 67.1 |
| 1981 | 67.1 |
| 1980 | 64.8 |
| 1979 | 66.1 |
| 1978 | 65 |
| 1977 | 64.6 |
| 1976 | 65 |
| 1975 | 64.7 |
| 1974 | 64.2 |
| 1973 | 63.8 |
| 1972 | 63.2 |
| 1971 | 62.7 |
| 1970 | 62.2 |
| 1969 | 61.4 |
| 1968 | 60.9 |
| 1967 | 60.9 |
| 1966 | 55.4 |
| 1965 | 55.8 |
| 1964 | 55.3 |
| 1963 | 55 |
| 1962 | 55 |
| 1961 | 54.4 |
| 1960 | 53.8 |
| 1959 | 52.9 |
| 1958 | 51.8 |
| 1957 | 51.6 |
| 1956 | 50.2 |
| 1955 | 48.4 |
| 1954 | 46.1 |
| 1953 | 40.5 |
| 1952 | 36.6 |
| 1951 | 26.6 |
| 1950 | 22.2 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea | CC BY
South Korea's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 51,684,564 |
| 2024 | 51,751,065 |
| 2023 | 51,712,619 |
| 2022 | 51,672,569 |
| 2021 | 51,769,539 |
| 2020 | 51,836,239 |
| 2019 | 51,764,822 |
| 2018 | 51,585,058 |
| 2017 | 51,361,911 |
| 2016 | 51,217,803 |
| 2015 | 51,014,947 |
| 2014 | 50,746,659 |
| 2013 | 50,428,893 |
| 2012 | 50,199,853 |
| 2011 | 49,936,638 |
| 2010 | 49,554,112 |
| 2009 | 49,307,835 |
| 2008 | 49,054,708 |
| 2007 | 48,683,638 |
| 2006 | 48,438,292 |
| 2005 | 48,184,561 |
| 2004 | 48,082,519 |
| 2003 | 47,892,330 |
| 2002 | 47,644,736 |
| 2001 | 47,370,164 |
| 2000 | 47,008,111 |
| 1999 | 46,616,677 |
| 1998 | 46,286,503 |
| 1997 | 45,953,580 |
| 1996 | 45,524,681 |
| 1995 | 45,092,991 |
| 1994 | 44,641,540 |
| 1993 | 44,194,628 |
| 1992 | 43,747,962 |
| 1991 | 43,295,704 |
| 1990 | 42,869,283 |
| 1989 | 42,449,038 |
| 1988 | 42,031,247 |
| 1987 | 41,621,690 |
| 1986 | 41,213,674 |
| 1985 | 40,805,744 |
| 1984 | 40,405,956 |
| 1983 | 39,910,403 |
| 1982 | 39,326,352 |
| 1981 | 38,723,248 |
| 1980 | 38,123,775 |
| 1979 | 37,534,236 |
| 1978 | 36,969,185 |
| 1977 | 36,411,795 |
| 1976 | 35,848,523 |
| 1975 | 35,280,725 |
| 1974 | 34,692,266 |
| 1973 | 34,103,149 |
| 1972 | 33,505,406 |
| 1971 | 32,882,704 |
| 1970 | 32,240,827 |
| 1969 | 31,544,266 |
| 1968 | 30,838,302 |
| 1967 | 30,130,983 |
| 1966 | 29,435,571 |
| 1965 | 28,704,674 |
| 1964 | 27,984,155 |
| 1963 | 27,261,747 |
| 1962 | 26,513,030 |
| 1961 | 25,765,673 |
| 1960 | 25,012,374 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea | CC BY
South Korea's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 0.75 |
| 2023 | 0.72 |
| 2022 | 0.78 |
| 2021 | 0.81 |
| 2020 | 0.84 |
| 2019 | 0.92 |
| 2018 | 0.98 |
| 2017 | 1.05 |
| 2016 | 1.17 |
| 2015 | 1.24 |
| 2014 | 1.21 |
| 2013 | 1.19 |
| 2012 | 1.3 |
| 2011 | 1.24 |
| 2010 | 1.23 |
| 2009 | 1.15 |
| 2008 | 1.19 |
| 2007 | 1.26 |
| 2006 | 1.13 |
| 2005 | 1.09 |
| 2004 | 1.16 |
| 2003 | 1.19 |
| 2002 | 1.18 |
| 2001 | 1.31 |
| 2000 | 1.48 |
| 1999 | 1.43 |
| 1998 | 1.46 |
| 1997 | 1.54 |
| 1996 | 1.57 |
| 1995 | 1.63 |
| 1994 | 1.66 |
| 1993 | 1.65 |
| 1992 | 1.76 |
| 1991 | 1.71 |
| 1990 | 1.57 |
| 1989 | 1.56 |
| 1988 | 1.55 |
| 1987 | 1.53 |
| 1986 | 1.58 |
| 1985 | 1.66 |
| 1984 | 1.74 |
| 1983 | 2.06 |
| 1982 | 2.39 |
| 1981 | 2.57 |
| 1980 | 2.82 |
| 1979 | 2.9 |
| 1978 | 2.64 |
| 1977 | 2.99 |
| 1976 | 3 |
| 1975 | 3.43 |
| 1974 | 3.77 |
| 1973 | 4.07 |
| 1972 | 4.12 |
| 1971 | 4.54 |
| 1970 | 4.53 |
| 1969 | 4.45 |
| 1968 | 4.51 |
| 1967 | 4.62 |
| 1966 | 4.78 |
| 1965 | 4.89 |
| 1964 | 5.07 |
| 1963 | 5.33 |
| 1962 | 5.56 |
| 1961 | 5.8 |
| 1960 | 5.99 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea | CC BY
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 46.7 |
| 2024 | 46.1 |
| 2023 | 45.5 |
| 2022 | 44.9 |
| 2021 | 44.4 |
| 2020 | 43.8 |
| 2019 | 43.1 |
| 2018 | 42.5 |
| 2017 | 41.9 |
| 2016 | 41.4 |
| 2015 | 40.8 |
| 2014 | 40.2 |
| 2013 | 39.5 |
| 2012 | 38.8 |
| 2011 | 38.2 |
| 2010 | 37.6 |
| 2009 | 37 |
| 2008 | 36.4 |
| 2007 | 35.8 |
| 2006 | 35.2 |
| 2005 | 34.5 |
| 2004 | 33.9 |
| 2003 | 33.4 |
| 2002 | 32.8 |
| 2001 | 32.3 |
| 2000 | 31.7 |
| 1999 | 31.2 |
| 1998 | 30.7 |
| 1997 | 30.2 |
| 1996 | 29.8 |
| 1995 | 29.4 |
| 1994 | 28.9 |
| 1993 | 28.3 |
| 1992 | 27.8 |
| 1991 | 27.2 |
| 1990 | 26.7 |
| 1989 | 26.3 |
| 1988 | 25.8 |
| 1987 | 25.3 |
| 1986 | 24.8 |
| 1985 | 24.2 |
| 1984 | 23.7 |
| 1983 | 23.3 |
| 1982 | 22.8 |
| 1981 | 22.5 |
| 1980 | 22.1 |
| 1979 | 21.6 |
| 1978 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 20.7 |
| 1976 | 20.2 |
| 1975 | 19.9 |
| 1974 | 19.6 |
| 1973 | 19.3 |
| 1972 | 19.1 |
| 1971 | 19 |
| 1970 | 18.9 |
| 1969 | 18.8 |
| 1968 | 18.7 |
| 1967 | 18.6 |
| 1966 | 18.5 |
| 1965 | 18.6 |
| 1964 | 18.8 |
| 1963 | 19 |
| 1962 | 19.1 |
| 1961 | 19.2 |
| 1960 | 19.3 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea | CC BY
South Korea vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing South Korea with other countries.
South Korea: National Statistics
Finance
|
South Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$1.96T
2025 |
12/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
24%
2025 |
127/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
5.41%
2022 |
42/193 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
2.56%
2024 |
44/163 |
| Armed forces personnel |
569,000
2020 |
11/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
-1.43%
2025 |
56/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
2.79%
2025 |
159/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
57.2%
2025 |
95/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
34.3%
2025 |
37/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
73.7
2026 |
24/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
25%
2021 |
115/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
2.9%
2021 |
76/169 |
| Number of millionaires |
1,317,000
2026 |
9/40 |
| Percentage of millionaires |
2.99%
2026 |
17/40 |
| Number of billionaires |
49
2026 |
14/74 |
| Percentage of billionaires |
0.0001%
2026 |
31/74 |
| Listed domestic companies |
2,653
2025 |
6/103 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies |
$2.76T
2025 |
8/100 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$437B
2025 |
9/177 |
| Personal remittances received |
$7.28B
2024 |
28/191 |
| International tourist arrivals |
2,519,000
2020 |
54/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
1.92%
2020 |
142/184 |
| Banked people share |
96.9%
2024 |
26/158 |
Energy
|
South Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
5,439 kg
2024 |
14/177 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$11.2
2024 |
124/173 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
588 megatons
2024 |
9/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
11.4 tons
2024 |
16/187 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
79.1%
2023 |
59/176 |
| Renewable energy use share |
3.6%
2021 |
163/193 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
19%
2024 |
26/147 |
| Net energy imports use share |
84.6%
2023 |
17/144 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
11,350 kWh
2024 |
13/147 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
6.59%
2021 |
149/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
1.48%
2024 |
130/192 |
| Nuclear share |
31.1%
2024 |
10/192 |
| Electricity access |
100%
2023 |
91/195 |
Society
|
South Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.63%
2025 |
29/197 |
| Annual migration change |
+65,731
2025 |
20/196 |
| Urban population |
81.2%
2025 |
42/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
49.9:50.1
2025 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.76 ft
2026 |
47/190 |
| Average female height |
5.35 ft
2026 |
44/190 |
| Quality of life index |
87
2026 |
23/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
63
2025 |
40/197 |
| Higher education index |
86
2026 |
27/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
0.48
2023 |
183/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
8.6
2019 |
136/197 |
| Visa free countries |
173
2026 |
25/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
98.8%
2018 |
63/196 |
| English speaking |
20%
2026 |
108/197 |
| People using the Internet |
97.9%
2024 |
13/195 |
Health
|
South Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$3,137
2024 |
29/192 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$1,058
2024 |
10/192 |
| Life expectancy |
84.6 years
2026 |
4/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
0%
2023 |
177/181 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
2.61
2022 |
74/193 |
| Age at first childbirth |
32.2 years
2025 |
3/137 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
4
2023 |
179/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
2.8
2024 |
176/192 |
| Obesity rate |
7.24%
2022 |
174/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
9.6%
2024 |
85/195 |
| Air quality index |
46
2026 |
109/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
18.6%
2024 |
87/170 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
7.79 liters
2020 |
51/186 |
Territory
|
South Korea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.07%
2026 |
105/197 |
| Land area per capita |
729 sq mi
2025 |
180/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
6,054 sq mi
2026 |
128/194 |
| Forest area |
24,158 sq mi
2026 |
67/196 |
| Roads length |
68,794 mi
2018 |
51/176 |
Compare South Korea with other countries
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2020, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Passport Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- EduRank (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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.