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South Korea vs Switzerland statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Korea has a population of 51.8M (ranked 29/197), compared with 9.01M in Switzerland (ranked 101/197). 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 12/197 ($1.88T) and Switzerland ranks 20/197 ($937B). By GDP per capita, South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239), while Switzerland ranks 5/197 ($103,998).

Main facts and rankings

South Korea Switzerland
Population
51649918
9107866
Population rank 31/197 100/197
GDP
$1.88T
2024
$937B
2024
GDP rank 12/197 20/197
GDP per capita
$36,239
2024
$103,998
2024
GDP per capita rank 31/197 5/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$61,051
2024
$96,498
2024
Government debt
$934B
2024
$351B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
49.8%
2024
37.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$18,052
2024
$39,021
2024
Government debt per person rank 33/185 15/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$27,215
2026
$85,867
2026
Land area 37,684 sq mi 15,255 sq mi
Population density
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
596 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
0.72
2023
1.33
2023
Median age
46.1 years
2024
43.7 years
2024
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
2024 $1,875,388,209,407 $936,564,198,049
2023 $1,844,800,934,392 $894,424,821,645
2022 $1,799,363,116,867 $828,508,926,958
2021 $1,942,313,560,966 $815,309,330,987
2020 $1,744,070,276,373 $741,999,406,006
2019 $1,751,045,752,055 $721,369,112,727
2018 $1,824,251,454,307 $725,568,717,468
2017 $1,710,196,756,713 $695,200,833,086
2016 $1,579,150,518,945 $687,895,460,903
2015 $1,539,212,301,136 $694,118,186,380
2014 $1,556,252,422,020 $726,537,808,338
2013 $1,434,669,686,502 $706,234,937,371
2012 $1,335,343,586,438 $686,420,221,558
2011 $1,307,103,477,219 $715,888,126,682
2010 $1,192,830,015,738 $598,851,028,907
2009 $983,065,242,417 $554,212,916,092
2008 $1,091,580,692,542 $567,267,767,519
2007 $1,220,911,904,593 $490,740,715,595
2006 $1,095,175,538,508 $441,634,672,197
2005 $971,740,329,984 $418,284,865,885
2004 $823,251,107,639 $403,912,891,033
2003 $728,516,494,684 $362,075,086,508
2002 $650,014,391,470 $309,301,422,430
2001 $567,564,806,235 $286,582,672,434
2000 $597,487,173,479 $279,216,033,870
1999 $515,697,079,289 $297,873,643,323
1998 $397,297,216,492 $303,459,014,347
1997 $589,202,526,424 $294,788,198,856
1996 $631,196,863,758 $340,103,959,547
1995 $586,286,469,401 $352,835,806,342
1994 $479,181,794,217 $301,375,055,202
1993 $405,705,302,846 $272,237,527,071
1992 $366,921,291,825 $279,921,425,828
1991 $340,851,946,804 $268,901,693,863
1990 $292,064,221,389 $265,763,573,999
1989 $254,236,243,100 $208,105,846,934
1988 $205,477,530,605 $215,540,625,299
1987 $152,240,393,646 $199,236,370,038
1986 $119,965,960,795 $159,089,921,063
1985 $103,764,281,281 $110,980,314,192
1984 $99,749,645,089 $109,455,312,168
1983 $89,621,208,322 $114,634,358,535
1982 $79,921,300,447 $115,043,365,512
1981 $74,287,368,087 $112,244,805,519
1980 $66,547,970,351 $122,557,843,886
1979 $68,083,884,298 $114,970,094,425
1978 $52,824,793,388 $102,280,472,036
1977 $39,064,462,810 $73,135,771,167
1976 $30,371,074,380 $68,476,524,644
1975 $22,126,033,058 $65,466,081,819
1974 $19,860,929,977 $57,103,011,446
1973 $14,067,523,813 $49,550,006,320
1972 $10,990,490,570 $36,844,318,854
1971 $10,005,257,131 $30,040,171,751
1970 $9,085,001,794 $24,998,066,773
1969 $7,743,940,189 $22,442,043,274
1968 $6,167,109,472 $20,712,102,794
1967 $4,895,076,718 $19,397,044,714
1966 $3,957,064,541 $18,019,402,374
1965 $3,141,131,708 $16,780,226,225
1964 $3,476,789,682 $15,833,133,858
1963 $4,007,692,308 $14,283,872,299
1962 $2,826,923,077 $12,989,649,694
1961 $2,427,244,761 $11,713,348,834
1960 $3,973,069,307 $10,412,232,621

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

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
2024 $36,239 $103,998
2023 $35,674 $100,624
2022 $34,822 $94,395
2021 $37,518 $93,665
2020 $33,646 $85,898
2019 $33,827 $84,122
2018 $35,364 $85,217
2017 $33,297 $82,254
2016 $30,832 $82,153
2015 $30,172 $83,806
2014 $30,667 $88,725
2013 $28,449 $87,304
2012 $26,601 $85,836
2011 $26,175 $90,477
2010 $24,071 $76,531
2009 $19,937 $71,568
2008 $22,252 $74,175
2007 $25,078 $64,989
2006 $22,610 $59,011
2005 $20,167 $56,243
2004 $17,122 $54,659
2003 $15,212 $49,336
2002 $13,643 $42,459
2001 $11,981 $39,639
2000 $12,710 $38,865
1999 $11,063 $41,696
1998 $8,583 $42,681
1997 $12,822 $41,584
1996 $13,865 $48,093
1995 $13,002 $50,114
1994 $10,734 $43,092
1993 $9,180 $39,237
1992 $8,387 $40,714
1991 $7,873 $39,544
1990 $6,813 $39,575
1989 $5,989 $31,309
1988 $4,889 $32,690
1987 $3,658 $30,441
1986 $2,911 $24,460
1985 $2,543 $17,152
1984 $2,469 $16,991
1983 $2,246 $17,859
1982 $2,032 $18,000
1981 $1,918 $17,665
1980 $1,746 $19,394
1979 $1,814 $18,266
1978 $1,429 $16,282
1977 $1,073 $11,644
1976 $847 $10,865
1975 $627 $10,328
1974 $572 $9,005
1973 $412 $7,856
1972 $328 $5,885
1971 $304 $4,835
1970 $281.8 $4,044
1969 $245.5 $3,657
1968 $200 $3,413
1967 $162.5 $3,237
1966 $134.4 $3,045
1965 $109.4 $2,865
1964 $124.2 $2,735
1963 $147 $2,508
1962 $106.6 $2,330
1961 $94.2 $2,155
1960 $158.8 $1,954

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

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 2026-03-10).

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
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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
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 (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Korea Switzerland
GNI, Atlas method
$1.9T
2024
$857B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
31.9%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.81%
2022
4.92%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.56%
2024
0.72%
2024
Armed forces personnel
569,000
2020
20,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.78%
2024
+0.58%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.78%
2024
4.34%
2024
Services, % of GDP
57.5%
2024
72%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.9%
2024
24.7%
2024
Economic freedom index
73.7
2026
83.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2021
26.6%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2021
2.9%
2022
Number of millionaires
1,301,000
2025
1,119,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
2.96%
2025
15.5%
2025
Number of billionaires
30
2025
42
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00007%
2025
0.0006%
2025
Listed domestic companies
2,599
2024
206
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.56T
2024
$1.97T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$418B
2024
$909B
2024
Personal remittances received
$7.45B
2024
$3.64B
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,519,000
2020
11,818,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
1.94%
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
5,337 kg
2023
2,511 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.8
2023
$37.9
2023
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
18.5%
2023
45.1%
2023
Net energy imports use share
84.6%
2023
51.7%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
11,426 kWh
2023
7,096 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
6.59%
2021
68.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.23%
2023
55.8%
2023
Nuclear share
29.6%
2023
33%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

South Korea Switzerland
% of world population
0.64%
2024
0.11%
2024
Annual migration change
+65,731
2025
+37,253
2025
Urban population
81.2%
2024
85.5%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.9:50.1
2024
49.7:50.3
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.86 ft
2025
Average female height
5.35 ft
2025
5.39 ft
2025
Quality of life index
87.4
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
172
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
98.8%
2018
99%
2003
English speaking
20%
2025
61.3%
2023
People using the Internet
97.9%
2024
97.3%
2023

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
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
5
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.8
2023
3.9
2023
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
20%
2022
25.5%
2022
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
728 sq mi
2024
1,694 sq mi
2024
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 (1960–2025, 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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