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South Korea vs Sweden statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Korea has a population of 51.8M (ranked 29/197), compared with 10.6M in Sweden (ranked 93/197). South Korea's land area is 37,684 sq mi versus 157,248 sq mi for Sweden (ranked 105th vs. 58th).

By GDP, South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T) and Sweden ranks 26/197 ($604B). By GDP per capita, South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239), while Sweden ranks 17/197 ($57,117).

Main facts and rankings

South Korea Sweden
Population
51649918
10680056
Population rank 31/197 91/197
GDP
$1.88T
2024
$604B
2024
GDP rank 12/197 26/197
GDP per capita
$36,239
2024
$57,117
2024
GDP per capita rank 31/197 17/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$61,051
2024
$71,845
2024
Government debt
$934B
2024
$199B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
49.8%
2024
33%
2024
Government debt per person
$18,052
2024
$18,842
2024
Government debt per person rank 33/185 32/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$27,215
2026
$42,066
2026
Land area 37,684 sq mi 157,248 sq mi
Population density
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
67.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
0.72
2023
1.45
2023
Median age
46.1 years
2024
41.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
83.7 years
2026

South Korea and Sweden: Comparison Charts

South Korea and Sweden economies compared

GDP
South Korea

Sweden
1x
Year GDP
South Korea Sweden
2024 $1,875,388,209,407 $603,715,224,266
2023 $1,844,800,934,392 $578,990,915,246
2022 $1,799,363,116,867 $575,071,237,641
2021 $1,942,313,560,966 $631,693,331,301
2020 $1,744,070,276,373 $544,265,668,452
2019 $1,751,045,752,055 $530,894,124,494
2018 $1,824,251,454,307 $549,649,344,043
2017 $1,710,196,756,713 $535,172,356,785
2016 $1,579,150,518,945 $513,058,312,951
2015 $1,539,212,301,136 $501,602,351,912
2014 $1,556,252,422,020 $577,727,767,304
2013 $1,434,669,686,502 $584,125,353,119
2012 $1,335,343,586,438 $549,739,674,655
2011 $1,307,103,477,219 $570,538,581,144
2010 $1,192,830,015,738 $492,750,897,239
2009 $983,065,242,417 $434,311,714,442
2008 $1,091,580,692,542 $514,614,100,833
2007 $1,220,911,904,593 $490,047,789,548
2006 $1,095,175,538,508 $422,528,394,459
2005 $971,740,329,984 $391,688,455,929
2004 $823,251,107,639 $384,545,442,175
2003 $728,516,494,684 $334,072,443,516
2002 $650,014,391,470 $267,371,907,447
2001 $567,564,806,235 $242,497,797,485
2000 $597,487,173,479 $262,903,560,280
1999 $515,697,079,289 $274,318,357,862
1998 $397,297,216,492 $270,887,306,759
1997 $589,202,526,424 $268,249,616,891
1996 $631,196,863,758 $291,949,597,375
1995 $586,286,469,401 $267,050,453,507
1994 $479,181,794,217 $228,699,066,874
1993 $405,705,302,846 $212,644,602,616
1992 $366,921,291,825 $283,908,914,454
1991 $340,851,946,804 $273,831,464,572
1990 $292,064,221,389 $261,466,577,009
1989 $254,236,243,100 $217,632,340,195
1988 $205,477,530,605 $206,686,590,776
1987 $152,240,393,646 $182,744,315,974
1986 $119,965,960,795 $150,279,869,729
1985 $103,764,281,281 $113,958,084,357
1984 $99,749,645,089 $109,043,045,407
1983 $89,621,208,322 $104,862,109,663
1982 $79,921,300,447 $114,214,731,799
1981 $74,287,368,087 $129,498,921,476
1980 $66,547,970,351 $141,886,067,004
1979 $68,083,884,298 $123,207,527,699
1978 $52,824,793,388 $104,290,933,496
1977 $39,064,462,810 $94,331,782,622
1976 $30,371,074,380 $89,232,517,046
1975 $22,126,033,058 $82,765,232,648
1974 $19,860,929,977 $65,917,634,590
1973 $14,067,523,813 $59,318,842,992
1972 $10,990,490,570 $48,883,173,400
1971 $10,005,257,131 $41,506,151,115
1970 $9,085,001,794 $38,037,226,668
1969 $7,743,940,189 $33,967,301,561
1968 $6,167,109,472 $31,277,871,669
1967 $4,895,076,718 $29,474,881,506
1966 $3,957,064,541 $27,154,716,721
1965 $3,141,131,708 $24,963,947,415
1964 $3,476,789,682 $22,685,490,195
1963 $4,007,692,308 $20,342,131,882
1962 $2,826,923,077 $18,794,066,990
1961 $2,427,244,761 $17,329,620,585
1960 $3,973,069,307 $15,930,075,467

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

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

South Korea and Sweden economies compared

GDP per capita
South Korea

Sweden
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Korea Sweden
2024 $36,239 $57,117
2023 $35,674 $54,950
2022 $34,822 $54,837
2021 $37,518 $60,648
2020 $33,646 $52,569
2019 $33,827 $51,649
2018 $35,364 $54,018
2017 $33,297 $53,210
2016 $30,832 $51,704
2015 $30,172 $51,188
2014 $30,667 $59,583
2013 $28,449 $60,844
2012 $26,601 $57,750
2011 $26,175 $60,379
2010 $24,071 $52,543
2009 $19,937 $46,708
2008 $22,252 $55,817
2007 $25,078 $53,568
2006 $22,610 $46,531
2005 $20,167 $43,378
2004 $17,122 $42,758
2003 $15,212 $37,292
2002 $13,643 $29,958
2001 $11,981 $27,259
2000 $12,710 $29,633
1999 $11,063 $30,969
1998 $8,583 $30,605
1997 $12,822 $30,324
1996 $13,865 $33,022
1995 $13,002 $30,254
1994 $10,734 $26,046
1993 $9,180 $24,390
1992 $8,387 $32,753
1991 $7,873 $31,777
1990 $6,813 $30,549
1989 $5,989 $25,625
1988 $4,889 $24,499
1987 $3,658 $21,761
1986 $2,911 $17,955
1985 $2,543 $13,647
1984 $2,469 $13,080
1983 $2,246 $12,590
1982 $2,032 $13,719
1981 $1,918 $15,564
1980 $1,746 $17,073
1979 $1,814 $14,856
1978 $1,429 $12,602
1977 $1,073 $11,432
1976 $847 $10,853
1975 $627 $10,103
1974 $572 $8,078
1973 $412 $7,291
1972 $328 $6,018
1971 $304 $5,125
1970 $281.8 $4,729
1969 $245.5 $4,263
1968 $200 $3,953
1967 $162.5 $3,746
1966 $134.4 $3,478
1965 $109.4 $3,228
1964 $124.2 $2,961
1963 $147 $2,675
1962 $106.6 $2,485
1961 $94.2 $2,304
1960 $158.8 $2,128

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

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

South Korea vs. Sweden life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Korea

Sweden
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Korea Sweden
2026 84.6 83.7
2025 84.5 83.6
2024 84.4 83.4
2023 84.3 83.3
2022 82.7 83
2021 83.9 83
2020 83.7 82.4
2019 83.7 83.1
2018 83.3 82.5
2017 83.3 82.4
2016 82.9 82.3
2015 82.5 82.2
2014 82.4 82.2
2013 81.8 81.9
2012 81.3 81.7
2011 81.2 81.8
2010 80.7 81.5
2009 80.6 81.4
2008 80 81.1
2007 79.4 81
2006 79 80.8
2005 78.4 80.6
2004 78 80.5
2003 77.5 80.2
2002 77.2 79.9
2001 76.9 79.8
2000 76.2 79.7
1999 75.6 79.5
1998 75 79.4
1997 74.5 79.3
1996 74 79
1995 73.4 78.8
1994 72.9 78.7
1993 72.7 78.1
1992 72.2 78.1
1991 71.4 77.7
1990 71 77.6
1989 70.7 77.7
1988 70.2 77
1987 69.3 77.1
1986 69 77
1985 68.4 76.7
1984 68.1 76.8
1983 66.7 76.6
1982 67.1 76.3
1981 67.1 76
1980 64.8 75.7
1979 66.1 75.5
1978 65 75.5
1977 64.6 75.4
1976 65 75
1975 64.7 75
1974 64.2 75
1973 63.8 74.9
1972 63.2 74.7
1971 62.7 74.6
1970 62.2 74.7
1969 61.4 74.1
1968 60.9 74
1967 60.9 74.1
1966 55.4 74.1
1965 55.8 73.9
1964 55.3 73.7
1963 55 73.5
1962 55 73.4
1961 54.4 73.5
1960 53.8 73
1959 52.9 73.4
1958 51.8 73.2
1957 51.6 72.5
1956 50.2 72.7
1955 48.4 72.6
1954 46.1 72.4
1953 40.5 71.9
1952 36.6 71.8
1951 26.6 71.4
1950 22.2 71.1

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

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

South Korea and Sweden population clocks and comparison

Population
South Korea

Sweden
1x
Year Population
South Korea Sweden
2024 51,751,065 10,569,709
2023 51,712,619 10,536,632
2022 51,672,569 10,486,941
2021 51,769,539 10,415,811
2020 51,836,239 10,353,442
2019 51,764,822 10,278,887
2018 51,585,058 10,175,214
2017 51,361,911 10,057,698
2016 51,217,803 9,923,085
2015 51,014,947 9,799,186
2014 50,746,659 9,696,110
2013 50,428,893 9,600,379
2012 50,199,853 9,519,374
2011 49,936,638 9,449,213
2010 49,554,112 9,378,126
2009 49,307,835 9,298,515
2008 49,054,708 9,219,637
2007 48,683,638 9,148,092
2006 48,438,292 9,080,505
2005 48,184,561 9,029,572
2004 48,082,519 8,993,531
2003 47,892,330 8,958,229
2002 47,644,736 8,924,958
2001 47,370,164 8,895,960
2000 47,008,111 8,872,109
1999 46,616,677 8,857,874
1998 46,286,503 8,850,974
1997 45,953,580 8,846,062
1996 45,524,681 8,840,998
1995 45,092,991 8,826,939
1994 44,641,540 8,780,745
1993 44,194,628 8,718,561
1992 43,747,962 8,668,067
1991 43,295,704 8,617,375
1990 42,869,283 8,558,835
1989 42,449,038 8,492,964
1988 42,031,247 8,436,489
1987 41,621,690 8,397,804
1986 41,213,674 8,369,829
1985 40,805,744 8,350,386
1984 40,405,956 8,336,605
1983 39,910,403 8,329,033
1982 39,326,352 8,325,263
1981 38,723,248 8,320,503
1980 38,123,775 8,310,531
1979 37,534,236 8,293,678
1978 36,969,185 8,275,599
1977 36,411,795 8,251,540
1976 35,848,523 8,222,286
1975 35,280,725 8,192,437
1974 34,692,266 8,159,955
1973 34,103,149 8,136,312
1972 33,505,406 8,122,300
1971 32,882,704 8,098,334
1970 32,240,827 8,042,801
1969 31,544,266 7,968,072
1968 30,838,302 7,912,273
1967 30,130,983 7,867,931
1966 29,435,571 7,807,797
1965 28,704,674 7,733,853
1964 27,984,155 7,661,354
1963 27,261,747 7,604,328
1962 26,513,030 7,561,588
1961 25,765,673 7,519,998
1960 25,012,374 7,484,656

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

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

Fertility rates in South Korea and Sweden

Fertility rate
South Korea

Sweden
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Korea Sweden
2023 0.72 1.45
2022 0.78 1.53
2021 0.81 1.67
2020 0.84 1.67
2019 0.92 1.71
2018 0.98 1.76
2017 1.05 1.78
2016 1.17 1.85
2015 1.24 1.85
2014 1.21 1.88
2013 1.19 1.89
2012 1.3 1.91
2011 1.24 1.9
2010 1.23 1.98
2009 1.15 1.94
2008 1.19 1.91
2007 1.26 1.88
2006 1.13 1.85
2005 1.09 1.77
2004 1.16 1.75
2003 1.19 1.71
2002 1.18 1.65
2001 1.31 1.57
2000 1.48 1.54
1999 1.43 1.5
1998 1.46 1.5
1997 1.54 1.52
1996 1.57 1.6
1995 1.63 1.73
1994 1.66 1.88
1993 1.65 1.99
1992 1.76 2.09
1991 1.71 2.11
1990 1.57 2.13
1989 1.56 2.01
1988 1.55 1.96
1987 1.53 1.84
1986 1.58 1.8
1985 1.66 1.74
1984 1.74 1.66
1983 2.06 1.61
1982 2.39 1.62
1981 2.57 1.63
1980 2.82 1.68
1979 2.9 1.66
1978 2.64 1.6
1977 2.99 1.64
1976 3 1.68
1975 3.43 1.77
1974 3.77 1.87
1973 4.07 1.87
1972 4.12 1.91
1971 4.54 1.96
1970 4.53 1.92
1969 4.45 1.93
1968 4.51 2.07
1967 4.62 2.28
1966 4.78 2.37
1965 4.89 2.39
1964 5.07 2.47
1963 5.33 2.33
1962 5.56 2.25
1961 5.8 2.21
1960 5.99 2.17

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

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

South Korea and Sweden demographics compared

Median age
South Korea

Sweden
1x
Year Median age, years
South Korea Sweden
2024 46.1 41.1
2023 45.5 40.9
2022 44.9 40.7
2021 44.4 40.7
2020 43.8 40.6
2019 43.1 40.5
2018 42.5 40.6
2017 41.9 40.7
2016 41.4 40.8
2015 40.8 40.9
2014 40.2 40.9
2013 39.5 40.9
2012 38.8 40.9
2011 38.2 40.8
2010 37.6 40.7
2009 37 40.7
2008 36.4 40.6
2007 35.8 40.5
2006 35.2 40.4
2005 34.5 40.2
2004 33.9 40
2003 33.4 39.8
2002 32.8 39.7
2001 32.3 39.5
2000 31.7 39.4
1999 31.2 39.2
1998 30.7 39
1997 30.2 38.8
1996 29.8 38.6
1995 29.4 38.5
1994 28.9 38.4
1993 28.3 38.4
1992 27.8 38.4
1991 27.2 38.3
1990 26.7 38.3
1989 26.3 38.3
1988 25.8 38.2
1987 25.3 38.1
1986 24.8 37.9
1985 24.2 37.6
1984 23.7 37.4
1983 23.3 37.1
1982 22.8 36.8
1981 22.5 36.5
1980 22.1 36.2
1979 21.6 36
1978 21.1 35.7
1977 20.7 35.5
1976 20.2 35.4
1975 19.9 35.3
1974 19.6 35.3
1973 19.3 35.3
1972 19.1 35.3
1971 19 35.3
1970 18.9 35.4
1969 18.8 35.6
1968 18.7 35.8
1967 18.6 35.9
1966 18.5 36
1965 18.6 36.2
1964 18.8 36.3
1963 19 36.3
1962 19.1 36.3
1961 19.2 36.2
1960 19.3 36

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Korea Sweden
GNI, Atlas method
$1.9T
2024
$615B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
49.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.81%
2022
7.32%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.56%
2024
2%
2024
Armed forces personnel
569,000
2020
15,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.78%
2024
-1.72%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.78%
2024
8.31%
2024
Services, % of GDP
57.5%
2024
66.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.9%
2024
21.7%
2024
Economic freedom index
73.7
2026
77.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2021
22.3%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2021
2.8%
2023
Number of millionaires
1,301,000
2025
490,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
2.96%
2025
6.01%
2025
Number of billionaires
30
2025
45
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00007%
2025
0.0006%
2025
Listed domestic companies
2,599
2024
278
2002
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.56T
2024
$290B
2003
Total reserves including gold
$418B
2024
$62.6B
2024
Personal remittances received
$7.45B
2024
$4.43B
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,519,000
2020
1,957,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.94%
2020
4.85%
2010
Banked people share
96.9%
2024
98.6%
2024

Energy

South Korea Sweden
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
5,337 kg
2023
4,289 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.8
2023
$16.1
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
588 megatons
2024
37.8 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
11.4 tons
2024
3.57 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
79.1%
2023
24.9%
2023
Renewable energy use share
3.6%
2021
57.9%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
18.5%
2023
49.9%
2023
Net energy imports use share
84.6%
2023
27.8%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
11,426 kWh
2023
12,150 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
6.59%
2021
67.4%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.23%
2023
39.9%
2023
Nuclear share
29.6%
2023
29.2%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

South Korea Sweden
% of world population
0.64%
2024
0.13%
2024
Annual migration change
+65,731
2025
+47,079
2025
Urban population
81.2%
2024
88.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.9:50.1
2024
50.4:49.6
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.92 ft
2025
Average female height
5.35 ft
2025
5.47 ft
2025
Quality of life index
87.4
2026
94.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
63
2025
80
2025
Higher education index
86
2026
94
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.48
2023
1.15
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
8.6
2019
3.1
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
98.8%
2018
99%
2003
English speaking
20%
2025
89%
2023
People using the Internet
97.9%
2024
95.5%
2024

Health

South Korea Sweden
Government health expenditure per capita
$3,137
2024
$6,485
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,058
2024
$868
2024
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
83.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.61
2022
4.41
2021
Age at first childbirth
32.2 years
2025
30 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.8
2023
2.5
2023
Obesity rate
7.24%
2022
15.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.6%
2024
5.8%
2024
Air quality index
46
2026
89
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20%
2022
22.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.79 liters
2020
9.57 liters
2020

Territory

South Korea Sweden
% of world land
0.07%
2026
0.27%
2026
Land area per capita
728 sq mi
2024
14,877 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,054 sq mi
2026
11,514 sq mi
2026
Forest area
24,158 sq mi
2026
108,031 sq mi
2026
Roads length
68,794 mi
2018
356,129 mi
2016

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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