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South Korea vs Switzerland statistics compared

Updated on by Georank

South Korea has a population of 51.7M (ranked 29/197), compared with 9.09M in Switzerland (ranked 99/197). South Korea's land area is 37,684 sq mi versus 15,255 sq mi for Switzerland (ranked 105th vs. 131st).

By GDP, South Korea ranks 13/197 ($1.87T) and Switzerland ranks 20/197 ($1.04T). By GDP per capita, South Korea ranks 33/197 ($36,227), while Switzerland ranks 5/197 ($114,769).

Main facts and rankings

South Korea Switzerland
Population
51624449
9155878
Population rank 31/197 99/197
GDP
$1.87T
2025
$1.04T
2025
GDP rank 13/197 20/197
GDP per capita
$36,227
2025
$114,769
2025
GDP per capita rank 33/197 5/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$61,051
2024
$96,498
2024
Government debt
$978B
2025
$411B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
52.3%
2025
39.4%
2025
Government debt per person
$18,930
2025
$45,239
2025
Government debt per person rank 34/185 12/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$25,661
2026
$89,347
2026
Land area 37,684 sq mi 15,255 sq mi
Population density
1,370 ppl/mi²
2026
599 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
0.75
2024
1.29
2024
Median age
46.7 years
2025
43.9 years
2025
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
84.4 years
2026

South Korea and Switzerland: Comparison Charts

South Korea and Switzerland economies compared

GDP
South Korea

Switzerland
1x
Year GDP
South Korea Switzerland
2025 $1,872,374,961,553 $1,043,529,899,251
2024 $1,875,388,209,407 $969,919,786,395
2023 $1,844,800,934,392 $928,435,275,852
2022 $1,799,363,116,867 $858,479,038,994
2021 $1,942,313,560,966 $840,710,023,481
2020 $1,744,070,276,373 $756,096,180,222
2019 $1,751,045,752,055 $736,384,764,157
2018 $1,824,251,454,307 $740,766,531,454
2017 $1,710,196,756,713 $706,660,443,624
2016 $1,579,150,518,945 $698,607,778,795
2015 $1,539,212,301,136 $706,199,008,879
2014 $1,556,252,422,020 $741,168,119,617
2013 $1,434,669,686,502 $718,748,402,260
2012 $1,335,343,586,438 $697,882,536,677
2011 $1,307,103,477,219 $727,231,637,102
2010 $1,192,830,015,738 $609,999,593,542
2009 $983,065,242,417 $563,659,557,945
2008 $1,091,580,692,542 $574,703,945,157
2007 $1,220,911,904,593 $498,993,845,385
2006 $1,095,175,538,508 $448,364,681,767
2005 $971,740,329,984 $424,511,048,024
2004 $823,251,107,639 $409,012,909,530
2003 $728,516,494,684 $366,563,952,625
2002 $650,014,391,470 $313,930,961,761
2001 $567,564,806,235 $290,160,142,214
2000 $597,487,173,479 $282,327,351,966
1999 $515,697,079,289 $301,911,268,140
1998 $397,297,216,492 $306,907,741,068
1997 $589,202,526,424 $298,868,250,534
1996 $631,196,863,758 $345,373,647,249
1995 $586,286,469,401 $358,152,520,085
1994 $479,181,794,217 $305,916,331,798
1993 $405,705,302,846 $276,339,744,180
1992 $366,921,291,825 $284,139,428,246
1991 $340,851,946,804 $272,953,645,746
1990 $292,064,221,389 $269,768,238,555
1989 $254,236,243,100 $211,241,694,480
1988 $205,477,530,605 $218,788,504,066
1987 $152,240,393,646 $202,238,567,597
1986 $119,965,960,795 $161,487,171,049
1985 $103,764,281,281 $112,652,623,418
1984 $99,749,645,089 $111,104,641,869
1983 $89,621,208,322 $116,361,728,836
1982 $79,921,300,447 $116,776,899,473
1981 $74,287,368,087 $113,936,168,924
1980 $66,547,970,351 $124,404,609,417
1979 $68,083,884,298 $116,702,524,208
1978 $52,824,793,388 $103,821,687,919
1977 $39,064,462,810 $74,237,819,014
1976 $30,371,074,380 $69,508,364,538
1975 $22,126,033,058 $66,452,559,176
1974 $19,860,929,977 $57,963,469,607
1973 $14,067,523,813 $50,296,651,921
1972 $10,990,490,570 $37,399,508,287
1971 $10,005,257,131 $30,492,832,676
1970 $9,085,001,794 $25,374,750,743
1969 $7,743,940,189 $22,780,211,812
1968 $6,167,109,472 $21,024,203,656
1967 $4,895,076,718 $19,689,329,510
1966 $3,957,064,541 $18,290,928,227
1965 $3,141,131,708 $17,033,079,428
1964 $3,476,789,682 $16,071,715,835
1963 $4,007,692,308 $14,499,109,270
1962 $2,826,923,077 $13,185,384,691
1961 $2,427,244,761 $11,889,851,950
1960 $3,973,069,307 $10,569,129,806

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

South Korea and Switzerland economies compared

GDP per capita
South Korea

Switzerland
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Korea Switzerland
2025 $36,227 $114,769
2024 $36,239 $107,702
2023 $35,674 $104,450
2022 $34,822 $97,809
2021 $37,518 $96,583
2020 $33,646 $87,530
2019 $33,827 $85,873
2018 $35,364 $87,002
2017 $33,297 $83,610
2016 $30,832 $83,432
2015 $30,172 $85,265
2014 $30,667 $90,512
2013 $28,449 $88,851
2012 $26,601 $87,270
2011 $26,175 $91,910
2010 $24,071 $77,956
2009 $19,937 $72,788
2008 $22,252 $75,148
2007 $25,078 $66,082
2006 $22,610 $59,910
2005 $20,167 $57,080
2004 $17,122 $55,350
2003 $15,212 $49,947
2002 $13,643 $43,094
2001 $11,981 $40,134
2000 $12,710 $39,298
1999 $11,063 $42,261
1998 $8,583 $43,166
1997 $12,822 $42,160
1996 $13,865 $48,838
1995 $13,002 $50,869
1994 $10,734 $43,741
1993 $9,180 $39,828
1992 $8,387 $41,327
1991 $7,873 $40,140
1990 $6,813 $40,171
1989 $5,989 $31,780
1988 $4,889 $33,183
1987 $3,658 $30,899
1986 $2,911 $24,828
1985 $2,543 $17,411
1984 $2,469 $17,247
1983 $2,246 $18,128
1982 $2,032 $18,271
1981 $1,918 $17,931
1980 $1,746 $19,686
1979 $1,814 $18,541
1978 $1,429 $16,528
1977 $1,073 $11,819
1976 $847 $11,029
1975 $627 $10,484
1974 $572 $9,140
1973 $412 $7,974
1972 $328 $5,973
1971 $304 $4,908
1970 $281.8 $4,105
1969 $245.5 $3,712
1968 $200 $3,465
1967 $162.5 $3,286
1966 $134.4 $3,091
1965 $109.4 $2,908
1964 $124.2 $2,776
1963 $147 $2,546
1962 $106.6 $2,366
1961 $94.2 $2,188
1960 $158.8 $1,984

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

South Korea vs. Switzerland life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Korea

Switzerland
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Korea Switzerland
2026 84.6 84.4
2025 84.5 84.2
2024 84.4 84.1
2023 84.3 84
2022 82.7 83.2
2021 83.9 83.6
2020 83.7 83.1
2019 83.7 83.8
2018 83.3 83.6
2017 83.3 83.4
2016 82.9 83.4
2015 82.5 82.8
2014 82.4 83.1
2013 81.8 82.7
2012 81.3 82.6
2011 81.2 82.6
2010 80.7 82.3
2009 80.6 82
2008 80 82
2007 79.4 81.7
2006 79 81.5
2005 78.4 81.2
2004 78 81.1
2003 77.5 80.5
2002 77.2 80.4
2001 76.9 80.3
2000 76.2 79.8
1999 75.6 79.7
1998 75 79.5
1997 74.5 79.2
1996 74 79
1995 73.4 78.6
1994 72.9 78.5
1993 72.7 78.2
1992 72.2 77.9
1991 71.4 77.6
1990 71 77.4
1989 70.7 77.6
1988 70.2 77.4
1987 69.3 77.3
1986 69 77
1985 68.4 76.9
1984 68.1 76.8
1983 66.7 76.2
1982 67.1 76.2
1981 67.1 75.8
1980 64.8 75.6
1979 66.1 75.6
1978 65 75.3
1977 64.6 75.4
1976 65 74.9
1975 64.7 74.8
1974 64.2 74.4
1973 63.8 74.1
1972 63.2 73.8
1971 62.7 73.2
1970 62.2 73.1
1969 61.4 72.7
1968 60.9 72.7
1967 60.9 72.7
1966 55.4 72.4
1965 55.8 72.3
1964 55.3 72.2
1963 55 71.3
1962 55 71.3
1961 54.4 71.7
1960 53.8 71.4
1959 52.9 71.5
1958 51.8 71.3
1957 51.6 70.5
1956 50.2 70.2
1955 48.4 70.1
1954 46.1 70
1953 40.5 69.5
1952 36.6 69.6
1951 26.6 68.7
1950 22.2 68.9

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

South Korea and Switzerland population clocks and comparison

Population
South Korea

Switzerland
1x
Year Population
South Korea Switzerland
2025 51,684,564 9,092,436
2024 51,751,065 9,005,582
2023 51,712,619 8,888,822
2022 51,672,569 8,777,088
2021 51,769,539 8,704,546
2020 51,836,239 8,638,167
2019 51,764,822 8,575,280
2018 51,585,058 8,514,329
2017 51,361,911 8,451,840
2016 51,217,803 8,373,338
2015 51,014,947 8,282,396
2014 50,746,659 8,188,649
2013 50,428,893 8,089,346
2012 50,199,853 7,996,861
2011 49,936,638 7,912,398
2010 49,554,112 7,824,909
2009 49,307,835 7,743,831
2008 49,054,708 7,647,675
2007 48,683,638 7,551,117
2006 48,438,292 7,483,934
2005 48,184,561 7,437,115
2004 48,082,519 7,389,625
2003 47,892,330 7,339,001
2002 47,644,736 7,284,753
2001 47,370,164 7,229,854
2000 47,008,111 7,184,250
1999 46,616,677 7,143,991
1998 46,286,503 7,110,001
1997 45,953,580 7,088,906
1996 45,524,681 7,071,850
1995 45,092,991 7,040,687
1994 44,641,540 6,993,795
1993 44,194,628 6,938,265
1992 43,747,962 6,875,364
1991 43,295,704 6,799,978
1990 42,869,283 6,715,519
1989 42,449,038 6,646,912
1988 42,031,247 6,593,386
1987 41,621,690 6,545,106
1986 41,213,674 6,504,124
1985 40,805,744 6,470,365
1984 40,405,956 6,441,865
1983 39,910,403 6,418,773
1982 39,326,352 6,391,309
1981 38,723,248 6,354,074
1980 38,123,775 6,319,408
1979 37,534,236 6,294,365
1978 36,969,185 6,281,738
1977 36,411,795 6,281,174
1976 35,848,523 6,302,504
1975 35,280,725 6,338,632
1974 34,692,266 6,341,405
1973 34,103,149 6,307,347
1972 33,505,406 6,260,956
1971 32,882,704 6,213,399
1970 32,240,827 6,180,877
1969 31,544,266 6,136,387
1968 30,838,302 6,067,714
1967 30,130,983 5,991,785
1966 29,435,571 5,918,002
1965 28,704,674 5,856,472
1964 27,984,155 5,789,228
1963 27,261,747 5,694,247
1962 26,513,030 5,573,815
1961 25,765,673 5,434,294
1960 25,012,374 5,327,827

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Fertility rates in South Korea and Switzerland

Fertility rate
South Korea

Switzerland
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Korea Switzerland
2024 0.75 1.29
2023 0.72 1.33
2022 0.78 1.39
2021 0.81 1.52
2020 0.84 1.46
2019 0.92 1.48
2018 0.98 1.52
2017 1.05 1.52
2016 1.17 1.54
2015 1.24 1.54
2014 1.21 1.54
2013 1.19 1.52
2012 1.3 1.52
2011 1.24 1.52
2010 1.23 1.52
2009 1.15 1.5
2008 1.19 1.48
2007 1.26 1.46
2006 1.13 1.44
2005 1.09 1.42
2004 1.16 1.42
2003 1.19 1.39
2002 1.18 1.39
2001 1.31 1.38
2000 1.48 1.5
1999 1.43 1.48
1998 1.46 1.47
1997 1.54 1.48
1996 1.57 1.5
1995 1.63 1.48
1994 1.66 1.49
1993 1.65 1.51
1992 1.76 1.58
1991 1.71 1.58
1990 1.57 1.58
1989 1.56 1.56
1988 1.55 1.57
1987 1.53 1.52
1986 1.58 1.53
1985 1.66 1.52
1984 1.74 1.53
1983 2.06 1.52
1982 2.39 1.56
1981 2.57 1.55
1980 2.82 1.55
1979 2.9 1.52
1978 2.64 1.51
1977 2.99 1.53
1976 3 1.55
1975 3.43 1.61
1974 3.77 1.73
1973 4.07 1.81
1972 4.12 1.91
1971 4.54 2.04
1970 4.53 2.1
1969 4.45 2.19
1968 4.51 2.29
1967 4.62 2.39
1966 4.78 2.5
1965 4.89 2.59
1964 5.07 2.66
1963 5.33 2.65
1962 5.56 2.58
1961 5.8 2.52
1960 5.99 2.44

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

South Korea and Switzerland demographics compared

Median age
South Korea

Switzerland
1x
Year Median age, years
South Korea Switzerland
2025 46.7 43.9
2024 46.1 43.7
2023 45.5 43.4
2022 44.9 43
2021 44.4 42.8
2020 43.8 42.7
2019 43.1 42.6
2018 42.5 42.5
2017 41.9 42.4
2016 41.4 42.3
2015 40.8 42.2
2014 40.2 42.1
2013 39.5 42
2012 38.8 41.8
2011 38.2 41.6
2010 37.6 41.5
2009 37 41.3
2008 36.4 41.1
2007 35.8 40.9
2006 35.2 40.6
2005 34.5 40.3
2004 33.9 39.9
2003 33.4 39.6
2002 32.8 39.3
2001 32.3 39
2000 31.7 38.7
1999 31.2 38.4
1998 30.7 38.2
1997 30.2 37.9
1996 29.8 37.6
1995 29.4 37.3
1994 28.9 37.1
1993 28.3 37
1992 27.8 36.9
1991 27.2 36.9
1990 26.7 36.9
1989 26.3 36.8
1988 25.8 36.7
1987 25.3 36.5
1986 24.8 36.3
1985 24.2 36.1
1984 23.7 35.9
1983 23.3 35.6
1982 22.8 35.3
1981 22.5 35
1980 22.1 34.8
1979 21.6 34.5
1978 21.1 34.2
1977 20.7 33.8
1976 20.2 33.5
1975 19.9 33.1
1974 19.6 32.7
1973 19.3 32.5
1972 19.1 32.3
1971 19 32.2
1970 18.9 32
1969 18.8 31.7
1968 18.7 31.7
1967 18.6 31.6
1966 18.5 31.6
1965 18.6 31.6
1964 18.8 31.5
1963 19 31.7
1962 19.1 32
1961 19.2 32.4
1960 19.3 32.6

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Korea Switzerland
GNI, Atlas method
$1.96T
2025
$1T
2025
Government expenditure, % of GDP
24%
2025
31.2%
2025
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.41%
2022
4.86%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.56%
2024
0.72%
2024
Armed forces personnel
569,000
2020
20,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-1.43%
2025
+0.45%
2025
Unemployment rate
2.79%
2025
4.84%
2025
Services, % of GDP
57.2%
2025
71.7%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
34.3%
2025
25%
2025
Economic freedom index
73.7
2026
83.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
25%
2021
26.6%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2021
2.9%
2022
Number of millionaires
1,317,000
2026
944,000
2026
Percentage of millionaires
2.99%
2026
13%
2026
Number of billionaires
49
2026
45
2026
Percentage of billionaires
0.0001%
2026
0.0006%
2026
Listed domestic companies
2,653
2025
201
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.76T
2025
$2.51T
2025
Total reserves including gold
$437B
2025
$1.08T
2025
Personal remittances received
$7.28B
2024
$3.64B
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,519,000
2020
11,818,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
1.92%
2020
2.08%
2020
Banked people share
96.9%
2024
98.4%
2024

Energy

South Korea Switzerland
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
5,439 kg
2024
2,492 kg
2024
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$11.2
2024
$38.7
2024
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
588 megatons
2024
33.7 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
11.4 tons
2024
3.75 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
79.1%
2023
44.5%
2023
Renewable energy use share
3.6%
2021
27.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
19%
2024
48.1%
2024
Net energy imports use share
84.6%
2023
51.7%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
11,350 kWh
2024
7,117 kWh
2024
Renewable electricity output share
6.59%
2021
67.9%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.48%
2024
59.1%
2024
Nuclear share
31.1%
2024
29.1%
2024
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

South Korea Switzerland
% of world population
0.63%
2025
0.11%
2025
Annual migration change
+65,731
2025
+37,253
2025
Urban population
81.2%
2025
85.7%
2025
Male:Female ratio
49.9:50.1
2025
49.7:50.3
2025
Average male height
5.76 ft
2026
5.75 ft
2026
Average female height
5.35 ft
2026
5.38 ft
2026
Quality of life index
87
2026
100
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
63
2025
80
2025
Higher education index
86
2026
99
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.48
2023
0.6
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
8.6
2019
2.2
2019
Visa free countries
173
2026
174
2026
Adult literacy rate
98.8%
2018
99%
2003
English speaking
20%
2026
38.7%
2026
People using the Internet
97.9%
2024
97.3%
2025

Health

South Korea Switzerland
Government health expenditure per capita
$3,137
2024
$11,784
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,058
2024
$2,596
2023
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
84.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.61
2022
4.48
2022
Age at first childbirth
32.2 years
2025
31.3 years
2024
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
5
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.8
2024
3.9
2024
Obesity rate
7.24%
2022
12.5%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.6%
2024
5.3%
2024
Air quality index
46
2026
83
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
18.6%
2024
23.1%
2024
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.79 liters
2020
10.1 liters
2020

Territory

South Korea Switzerland
% of world land
0.07%
2026
0.03%
2026
Land area per capita
729 sq mi
2025
1,678 sq mi
2025
Agricultural land area
6,054 sq mi
2026
5,765 sq mi
2026
Forest area
24,158 sq mi
2026
4,940 sq mi
2026
Roads length
68,794 mi
2018
52,266 mi
2021

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  10. Passport Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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