Skip to content

South Korea vs Sri Lanka statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Korea has a population of 51.8M (ranked 29/197), compared with 21.9M in Sri Lanka (ranked 61/197). South Korea's land area is 37,684 sq mi versus 23,884 sq mi for Sri Lanka (ranked 105th vs. 122nd).

By GDP, South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T) and Sri Lanka ranks 72/197 ($99B). By GDP per capita, South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239), while Sri Lanka ranks 124/197 ($4,516).

Main facts and rankings

South Korea Sri Lanka
Population
51649918
22185425
Population rank 31/197 63/197
GDP
$1.88T
2024
$99B
2024
GDP rank 12/197 72/197
GDP per capita
$36,239
2024
$4,516
2024
GDP per capita rank 31/197 124/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$61,051
2024
$15,633
2024
Government debt
$934B
2024
$99.8B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
49.8%
2024
100.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$18,052
2024
$4,554
2024
Government debt per person rank 33/185 85/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$27,215
2026
$2,874
2026
Land area 37,684 sq mi 23,884 sq mi
Population density
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
928 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
0.72
2023
1.97
2023
Median age
46.1 years
2024
34.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
78 years
2026

South Korea and Sri Lanka: Comparison Charts

South Korea and Sri Lanka economies compared

GDP
South Korea

Sri Lanka
1x
Year GDP
South Korea Sri Lanka
2024 $1,875,388,209,407 $98,963,185,510
2023 $1,844,800,934,392 $83,716,142,582
2022 $1,799,363,116,867 $74,143,020,263
2021 $1,942,313,560,966 $88,556,698,938
2020 $1,744,070,276,373 $84,335,574,582
2019 $1,751,045,752,055 $88,998,706,297
2018 $1,824,251,454,307 $94,450,015,983
2017 $1,710,196,756,713 $94,369,350,286
2016 $1,579,150,518,945 $88,000,211,172
2015 $1,539,212,301,136 $85,090,301,052
2014 $1,556,252,422,020 $82,531,125,191
2013 $1,434,669,686,502 $76,976,203,829
2012 $1,335,343,586,438 $70,447,217,164
2011 $1,307,103,477,219 $67,753,285,897
2010 $1,192,830,015,738 $58,636,049,434
2009 $983,065,242,417 $42,066,224,093
2008 $1,091,580,692,542 $40,713,826,215
2007 $1,220,911,904,593 $32,350,238,760
2006 $1,095,175,538,508 $28,267,410,543
2005 $971,740,329,984 $24,405,791,045
2004 $823,251,107,639 $20,662,525,941
2003 $728,516,494,684 $18,881,765,437
2002 $650,014,391,470 $16,536,535,647
2001 $567,564,806,235 $15,749,753,805
2000 $597,487,173,479 $16,595,882,819
1999 $515,697,079,289 $15,711,933,513
1998 $397,297,216,492 $15,760,736,956
1997 $589,202,526,424 $15,091,913,884
1996 $631,196,863,758 $13,897,738,375
1995 $586,286,469,401 $13,029,697,561
1994 $479,181,794,217 $11,717,604,209
1993 $405,705,302,846 $10,338,679,636
1992 $366,921,291,825 $9,703,011,636
1991 $340,851,946,804 $9,000,362,582
1990 $292,064,221,389 $8,032,551,173
1989 $254,236,243,100 $6,987,267,684
1988 $205,477,530,605 $6,978,371,581
1987 $152,240,393,646 $6,682,167,120
1986 $119,965,960,795 $6,405,210,564
1985 $103,764,281,281 $5,978,460,972
1984 $99,749,645,089 $6,043,474,843
1983 $89,621,208,322 $5,167,913,302
1982 $79,921,300,447 $4,768,765,017
1981 $74,287,368,087 $4,415,844,156
1980 $66,547,970,351 $4,024,621,900
1979 $68,083,884,298 $3,364,611,432
1978 $52,824,793,388 $2,733,183,857
1977 $39,064,462,810 $4,104,509,583
1976 $30,371,074,380 $3,591,319,857
1975 $22,126,033,058 $3,791,298,146
1974 $19,860,929,977 $3,574,586,466
1973 $14,067,523,813 $2,875,625,000
1972 $10,990,490,570 $2,553,936,348
1971 $10,005,257,131 $2,369,308,600
1970 $9,085,001,794 $2,296,470,588
1969 $7,743,940,189 $1,965,546,218
1968 $6,167,109,472 $1,801,344,538
1967 $4,895,076,718 $1,859,465,021
1966 $3,957,064,541 $1,751,470,588
1965 $3,141,131,708 $1,698,319,328
1964 $3,476,789,682 $1,309,747,899
1963 $4,007,692,308 $1,240,672,269
1962 $2,826,923,077 $1,434,156,379
1961 $2,427,244,761 $1,444,327,731
1960 $3,973,069,307 $1,409,873,950

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea/sri-lanka | CC BY

South Korea and Sri Lanka economies compared

GDP per capita
South Korea

Sri Lanka
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Korea Sri Lanka
2024 $36,239 $4,516
2023 $35,674 $3,799
2022 $34,822 $3,343
2021 $37,518 $3,997
2020 $33,646 $3,848
2019 $33,827 $4,082
2018 $35,364 $4,359
2017 $33,297 $4,399
2016 $30,832 $4,149
2015 $30,172 $4,058
2014 $30,667 $3,972
2013 $28,449 $3,739
2012 $26,601 $3,328
2011 $26,175 $3,225
2010 $24,071 $2,808
2009 $19,937 $2,027
2008 $22,252 $1,974
2007 $25,078 $1,579
2006 $22,610 $1,389
2005 $20,167 $1,207
2004 $17,122 $1,029
2003 $15,212 $946
2002 $13,643 $835
2001 $11,981 $804
2000 $12,710 $860
1999 $11,063 $829
1998 $8,583 $848
1997 $12,822 $827
1996 $13,865 $776
1995 $13,002 $742
1994 $10,734 $678
1993 $9,180 $607
1992 $8,387 $580
1991 $7,873 $546
1990 $6,813 $491
1989 $5,989 $430
1988 $4,889 $434
1987 $3,658 $420
1986 $2,911 $407
1985 $2,543 $385
1984 $2,469 $391
1983 $2,246 $336
1982 $2,032 $312
1981 $1,918 $292.5
1980 $1,746 $271.1
1979 $1,814 $230.8
1978 $1,429 $191
1977 $1,073 $292.1
1976 $847 $260.3
1975 $627 $279.8
1974 $572 $268.7
1973 $412 $220.2
1972 $328 $199.4
1971 $304 $188.8
1970 $281.8 $186.9
1969 $245.5 $163.6
1968 $200 $153.5
1967 $162.5 $162.3
1966 $134.4 $156.6
1965 $109.4 $155.6
1964 $124.2 $122.9
1963 $147 $119.4
1962 $106.6 $141.4
1961 $94.2 $145.9
1960 $158.8 $145.9

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea/sri-lanka | CC BY

South Korea vs. Sri Lanka life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Korea

Sri Lanka
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Korea Sri Lanka
2026 84.6 78
2025 84.5 77.9
2024 84.4 77.7
2023 84.3 77.5
2022 82.7 77.3
2021 83.9 76.3
2020 83.7 76.9
2019 83.7 76.7
2018 83.3 76.5
2017 83.3 76.2
2016 82.9 76.1
2015 82.5 76
2014 82.4 75.8
2013 81.8 75.5
2012 81.3 75.2
2011 81.2 74.7
2010 80.7 74.5
2009 80.6 70.3
2008 80 72.6
2007 79.4 73
2006 79 72.8
2005 78.4 73.1
2004 78 68
2003 77.5 72.4
2002 77.2 72.3
2001 76.9 71.8
2000 76.2 71.2
1999 75.6 70.4
1998 75 70.1
1997 74.5 69.9
1996 74 69.8
1995 73.4 69.7
1994 72.9 70.2
1993 72.7 70
1992 72.2 69.6
1991 71.4 69.1
1990 71 69.2
1989 70.7 67.3
1988 70.2 69
1987 69.3 69
1986 69 69
1985 68.4 68.9
1984 68.1 68.8
1983 66.7 68.7
1982 67.1 68.7
1981 67.1 68.4
1980 64.8 68
1979 66.1 67.5
1978 65 66.8
1977 64.6 66.4
1976 65 65.8
1975 64.7 65.4
1974 64.2 65
1973 63.8 64.8
1972 63.2 64.6
1971 62.7 64.2
1970 62.2 64.4
1969 61.4 64.1
1968 60.9 63.9
1967 60.9 63.6
1966 55.4 63.2
1965 55.8 62.8
1964 55.3 62.4
1963 55 62
1962 55 61.6
1961 54.4 61.2
1960 53.8 60.6
1959 52.9 60
1958 51.8 59.3
1957 51.6 58.5
1956 50.2 57.9
1955 48.4 57.2
1954 46.1 56.4
1953 40.5 55.6
1952 36.6 54.9
1951 26.6 54
1950 22.2 53.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea/sri-lanka | CC BY

South Korea and Sri Lanka population clocks and comparison

Population
South Korea

Sri Lanka
1x
Year Population
South Korea Sri Lanka
2024 51,751,065 21,916,000
2023 51,712,619 22,037,000
2022 51,672,569 22,181,000
2021 51,769,539 22,156,000
2020 51,836,239 21,919,000
2019 51,764,822 21,803,000
2018 51,585,058 21,670,000
2017 51,361,911 21,453,000
2016 51,217,803 21,209,000
2015 51,014,947 20,970,000
2014 50,746,659 20,778,000
2013 50,428,893 20,585,000
2012 50,199,853 21,169,458
2011 49,936,638 21,009,048
2010 49,554,112 20,879,089
2009 49,307,835 20,756,435
2008 49,054,708 20,629,378
2007 48,683,638 20,492,545
2006 48,438,292 20,352,411
2005 48,184,561 20,216,524
2004 48,082,519 20,087,605
2003 47,892,330 19,951,521
2002 47,644,736 19,805,752
2001 47,370,164 19,600,362
2000 47,008,111 19,293,054
1999 46,616,677 18,944,731
1998 46,286,503 18,596,003
1997 45,953,580 18,248,200
1996 45,524,681 17,905,018
1995 45,092,991 17,564,068
1994 44,641,540 17,275,773
1993 44,194,628 17,025,918
1992 43,747,962 16,739,284
1991 43,295,704 16,475,354
1990 42,869,283 16,352,458
1989 42,449,038 16,248,557
1988 42,031,247 16,078,621
1987 41,621,690 15,916,576
1986 41,213,674 15,731,256
1985 40,805,744 15,544,154
1984 40,405,956 15,441,860
1983 39,910,403 15,388,794
1982 39,326,352 15,286,567
1981 38,723,248 15,099,414
1980 38,123,775 14,847,974
1979 37,534,236 14,579,614
1978 36,969,185 14,310,128
1977 36,411,795 14,049,371
1976 35,848,523 13,796,770
1975 35,280,725 13,548,984
1974 34,692,266 13,305,693
1973 34,103,149 13,060,916
1972 33,505,406 12,809,205
1971 32,882,704 12,551,910
1970 32,240,827 12,287,110
1969 31,544,266 12,013,858
1968 30,838,302 11,736,088
1967 30,130,983 11,457,328
1966 29,435,571 11,183,928
1965 28,704,674 10,916,965
1964 27,984,155 10,653,397
1963 27,261,747 10,395,040
1962 26,513,030 10,143,754
1961 25,765,673 9,899,372
1960 25,012,374 9,661,389

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea/sri-lanka | CC BY

Fertility rates in South Korea and Sri Lanka

Fertility rate
South Korea

Sri Lanka
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Korea Sri Lanka
2023 0.72 1.97
2022 0.78 1.98
2021 0.81 2
2020 0.84 2.01
2019 0.92 2.02
2018 0.98 2.03
2017 1.05 2.04
2016 1.17 2.06
2015 1.24 2.09
2014 1.21 2.13
2013 1.19 2.18
2012 1.3 2.17
2011 1.24 2.14
2010 1.23 2.13
2009 1.15 2.18
2008 1.19 2.23
2007 1.26 2.3
2006 1.13 2.29
2005 1.09 2.26
2004 1.16 2.27
2003 1.19 2.3
2002 1.18 2.31
2001 1.31 2.28
2000 1.48 2.21
1999 1.43 2.14
1998 1.46 2.14
1997 1.54 2.22
1996 1.57 2.29
1995 1.63 2.35
1994 1.66 2.4
1993 1.65 2.44
1992 1.76 2.49
1991 1.71 2.51
1990 1.57 2.54
1989 1.56 2.58
1988 1.55 2.57
1987 1.53 2.64
1986 1.58 2.74
1985 1.66 2.9
1984 1.74 3.01
1983 2.06 3.11
1982 2.39 3.32
1981 2.57 3.65
1980 2.82 3.73
1979 2.9 3.82
1978 2.64 3.81
1977 2.99 3.74
1976 3 3.78
1975 3.43 3.82
1974 3.77 3.86
1973 4.07 4
1972 4.12 4.16
1971 4.54 4.27
1970 4.53 4.39
1969 4.45 4.5
1968 4.51 4.66
1967 4.62 4.79
1966 4.78 4.83
1965 4.89 4.93
1964 5.07 5.06
1963 5.33 5.12
1962 5.56 5.18
1961 5.8 5.24
1960 5.99 5.35

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea/sri-lanka | CC BY

South Korea and Sri Lanka demographics compared

Median age
South Korea

Sri Lanka
1x
Year Median age, years
South Korea Sri Lanka
2024 46.1 34.1
2023 45.5 33.8
2022 44.9 33.6
2021 44.4 33.3
2020 43.8 33.1
2019 43.1 32.8
2018 42.5 32.5
2017 41.9 32.3
2016 41.4 32
2015 40.8 31.7
2014 40.2 31.4
2013 39.5 31.1
2012 38.8 30.8
2011 38.2 30.5
2010 37.6 30.2
2009 37 29.9
2008 36.4 29.6
2007 35.8 29.3
2006 35.2 29
2005 34.5 28.8
2004 33.9 28.5
2003 33.4 28.2
2002 32.8 27.9
2001 32.3 27.6
2000 31.7 27.2
1999 31.2 26.9
1998 30.7 26.5
1997 30.2 26.2
1996 29.8 25.8
1995 29.4 25.3
1994 28.9 24.9
1993 28.3 24.6
1992 27.8 24.3
1991 27.2 23.9
1990 26.7 23.6
1989 26.3 23.4
1988 25.8 23.1
1987 25.3 22.8
1986 24.8 22.5
1985 24.2 22.2
1984 23.7 22
1983 23.3 21.9
1982 22.8 21.7
1981 22.5 21.6
1980 22.1 21.5
1979 21.6 21.3
1978 21.1 21.2
1977 20.7 21
1976 20.2 20.9
1975 19.9 20.7
1974 19.6 20.6
1973 19.3 20.4
1972 19.1 20.2
1971 19 20.1
1970 18.9 20
1969 18.8 19.9
1968 18.7 19.8
1967 18.6 19.7
1966 18.5 19.6
1965 18.6 19.5
1964 18.8 19.5
1963 19 19.5
1962 19.1 19.5
1961 19.2 19.5
1960 19.3 19.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea/sri-lanka | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for South Korea and Sri Lanka.

1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x

National statistics comparison

Finance

South Korea Sri Lanka
GNI, Atlas method
$1.9T
2024
$84.6B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
19.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.81%
2022
1.83%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.56%
2024
1.43%
2024
Armed forces personnel
569,000
2020
317,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.78%
2024
-5.64%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.78%
2024
4.67%
2023
Services, % of GDP
57.5%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.9%
2024
25.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
73.7
2026
50.3
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2021
30.8%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2021
3.1%
2019
Number of millionaires
1,301,000
2025
n/a
Percentage of millionaires
2.96%
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
30
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.00007%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
2,599
2024
284
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.56T
2024
$19.5B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$418B
2024
$6.09B
2024
Personal remittances received
$7.45B
2024
$6.72B
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,519,000
2020
540,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.94%
2020
8.22%
2020
Banked people share
96.9%
2024
81.7%
2024

Energy

South Korea Sri Lanka
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
5,337 kg
2023
474 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.8
2023
$29.9
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
588 megatons
2024
23.3 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
11.4 tons
2024
1.06 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
79.1%
2023
53.9%
2022
Renewable energy use share
3.6%
2021
48.8%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
18.5%
2023
6.72%
2022
Net energy imports use share
84.6%
2023
60%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
11,426 kWh
2023
684 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
6.59%
2021
49.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.23%
2023
40.8%
2022
Nuclear share
29.6%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

South Korea Sri Lanka
% of world population
0.64%
2024
0.27%
2024
Annual migration change
+65,731
2025
-30,724
2025
Urban population
81.2%
2024
20.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.9:50.1
2024
48.4:51.6
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.52 ft
2025
Average female height
5.35 ft
2025
5.11 ft
2025
Quality of life index
87.4
2026
51.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
63
2025
35
2025
Higher education index
86
2026
53
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.48
2023
3.43
2019
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
8.6
2019
19.7
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
55
2025
Adult literacy rate
98.8%
2018
92.7%
2023
English speaking
20%
2025
18.3%
2023
People using the Internet
97.9%
2024
51.2%
2023

Health

South Korea Sri Lanka
Government health expenditure per capita
$3,137
2024
$134.2
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,058
2024
$73.6
2023
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
78 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
6.05%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.61
2022
1.14
2023
Age at first childbirth
32.2 years
2025
25.6 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
18
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.8
2023
6.1
2023
Obesity rate
7.24%
2022
10.9%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.6%
2024
10.2%
2024
Air quality index
46
2026
40
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20%
2022
19.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.79 liters
2020
2.91 liters
2020

Territory

South Korea Sri Lanka
% of world land
0.07%
2026
0.04%
2026
Land area per capita
728 sq mi
2024
1,090 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,054 sq mi
2026
11,610 sq mi
2026
Forest area
24,158 sq mi
2026
8,122 sq mi
2026
Roads length
68,794 mi
2018
70,894 mi
2010

In-depth comparisons

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

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.