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South Korea vs Taiwan statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Korea has a population of 51.8M (ranked 29/197), compared with 23.3M in Taiwan (ranked 60/197). South Korea's land area is 37,684 sq mi versus 13,976 sq mi for Taiwan (ranked 105th vs. 133rd).

By GDP, South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T) and Taiwan ranks 22/197 ($802B). By GDP per capita, South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239), while Taiwan ranks 35/197 ($34,238).

Main facts and rankings

South Korea Taiwan
Population
51649918
23229461
Population rank 31/197 60/197
GDP
$1.88T
2024
$802B
2024
GDP rank 12/197 22/197
GDP per capita
$36,239
2024
$34,238
2024
GDP per capita rank 31/197 35/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$61,051
2024
$50,500
2017
Government debt
$934B
2024
$211B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
49.8%
2024
26.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$18,052
2024
$9,020
2024
Government debt per person rank 33/185 59/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$27,215
2026
$18,163
2026
Land area 37,684 sq mi 13,976 sq mi
Population density
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
1,662 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
0.72
2023
0.89
2024
Median age
46.1 years
2024
45.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
81.1 years
2026

South Korea and Taiwan: Comparison Charts

South Korea and Taiwan economies compared

GDP
South Korea

Taiwan
1x
Year GDP
South Korea Taiwan
2024 $1,875,388,209,407 $801,529,000,000
2023 $1,844,800,934,392 $757,328,000,000
2022 $1,799,363,116,867 $765,529,000,000
2021 $1,942,313,560,966 $777,062,000,000
2020 $1,744,070,276,373 $676,935,000,000
2019 $1,751,045,752,055 $613,453,000,000
2018 $1,824,251,454,307 $610,744,000,000
2017 $1,710,196,756,713 $591,734,000,000
2016 $1,579,150,518,945 $543,002,000,000
2015 $1,539,212,301,136 $534,474,000,000
2014 $1,556,252,422,020 $535,332,000,000
2013 $1,434,669,686,502 $512,957,000,000
2012 $1,335,343,586,438 $495,536,000,000
2011 $1,307,103,477,219 $483,957,000,000
2010 $1,192,830,015,738 $444,245,000,000
2009 $983,065,242,417 $390,788,000,000
2008 $1,091,580,692,542 $415,824,000,000
2007 $1,220,911,904,593 $406,940,000,000
2006 $1,095,175,538,508 $386,492,000,000
2005 $971,740,329,984 $374,042,000,000
2004 $823,251,107,639 $346,881,000,000
2003 $728,516,494,684 $317,374,000,000
2002 $650,014,391,470 $307,429,000,000
2001 $567,564,806,235 $299,303,000,000
2000 $597,487,173,479 $330,725,000,000
1999 $515,697,079,289 $303,827,000,000
1998 $397,297,216,492 $279,926,000,000
1997 $589,202,526,424 $303,315,000,000
1996 $631,196,863,758 $292,473,000,000
1995 $586,286,469,401 $279,013,000,000
1994 $479,181,794,217 $256,213,000,000
1993 $405,705,302,846 $234,943,000,000
1992 $366,921,291,825 $222,947,000,000
1991 $340,851,946,804 $187,100,000,000
1990 $292,064,221,389 $166,392,000,000
1989 $254,236,243,100 $152,687,000,000
1988 $205,477,530,605 $126,378,000,000
1987 $152,240,393,646 $104,956,000,000
1986 $119,965,960,795 $78,347,000,000
1985 $103,764,281,281 $63,599,000,000
1984 $99,749,645,089 $61,036,000,000
1983 $89,621,208,322 $54,155,000,000
1982 $79,921,300,447 $49,540,000,000
1981 $74,287,368,087 $49,047,000,000
1980 $66,547,970,351 $42,292,000,000
1979 $68,083,884,298 $33,875,000,000
1978 $52,824,793,388 $27,373,000,000
1977 $39,064,462,810 $22,252,000,000
1976 $30,371,074,380 $18,988,000,000
1975 $22,126,033,058 $15,836,000,000
1974 $19,860,929,977 $14,739,000,000
1973 $14,067,523,813 $10,940,000,000
1972 $10,990,490,570 $8,063,000,000
1971 $10,005,257,131 $6,727,000,000
1970 $9,085,001,794 $5,785,000,000
1969 $7,743,940,189 $5,017,000,000
1968 $6,167,109,472 $4,325,000,000
1967 $4,895,076,718 $3,709,000,000
1966 $3,957,064,541 $3,207,000,000
1965 $3,141,131,708 $2,869,000,000
1964 $3,476,789,682 $2,592,000,000
1963 $4,007,692,308 $2,218,000,000
1962 $2,826,923,077 $1,960,000,000
1961 $2,427,244,761 $1,778,000,000
1960 $3,973,069,307 $1,743,000,000
1959 - $1,444,000,000
1958 - $1,836,000,000
1957 - $1,636,000,000
1956 - $1,399,000,000
1955 - $1,940,000,000
1954 - $1,628,000,000
1953 - $1,481,000,000
1952 - $1,677,000,000
1951 - $1,197,000,000

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

South Korea and Taiwan economies compared

GDP per capita
South Korea

Taiwan
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Korea Taiwan
2024 $36,239 $34,238
2023 $35,674 $32,444
2022 $34,822 $32,827
2021 $37,518 $33,111
2020 $33,646 $28,705
2019 $33,827 $25,998
2018 $35,364 $25,901
2017 $33,297 $25,121
2016 $30,832 $23,091
2015 $30,172 $22,780
2014 $30,667 $22,874
2013 $28,449 $21,973
2012 $26,601 $21,295
2011 $26,175 $20,866
2010 $24,071 $19,197
2009 $19,937 $16,933
2008 $22,252 $18,081
2007 $25,078 $17,757
2006 $22,610 $16,934
2005 $20,167 $16,456
2004 $17,122 $15,317
2003 $15,212 $14,066
2002 $13,643 $13,686
2001 $11,981 $13,397
2000 $12,710 $14,908
1999 $11,063 $13,804
1998 $8,583 $12,820
1997 $12,822 $14,020
1996 $13,865 $13,641
1995 $13,002 $13,119
1994 $10,734 $12,150
1993 $9,180 $11,242
1992 $8,387 $10,768
1991 $7,873 $9,125
1990 $6,813 $8,205
1989 $5,989 $7,613
1988 $4,889 $6,370
1987 $3,658 $5,350
1986 $2,911 $4,036
1985 $2,543 $3,314
1984 $2,469 $3,224
1983 $2,246 $2,903
1982 $2,032 $2,699
1981 $1,918 $2,720
1980 $1,746 $2,389
1979 $1,814 $1,950
1978 $1,429 $1,606
1977 $1,073 $1,330
1976 $847 $1,158
1975 $627 $985
1974 $572 $934
1973 $412 $706
1972 $328 $530
1971 $304 $451
1970 $281.8 $397
1969 $245.5 $357
1968 $200 $319
1967 $162.5 $280.8
1966 $134.4 $249.1
1965 $109.4 $229.3
1964 $124.2 $213.6
1963 $147 $188.6
1962 $106.6 $172
1961 $94.2 $161.2
1960 $158.8 $163.4
1959 - $140.4
1958 - $185.1
1957 - $170.5
1956 - $150.6
1955 - $216.3
1954 - $188.3
1953 - $177.7
1952 - $208.4
1951 - $154.3

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

South Korea vs. Taiwan life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Korea

Taiwan
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Korea Taiwan
2026 84.6 81.1
2025 84.5 80.9
2024 84.4 80.7
2023 84.3 80.6
2022 82.7 80.2
2021 83.9 80.8
2020 83.7 81.1
2019 83.7 80.6
2018 83.3 80.4
2017 83.3 80.1
2016 82.9 79.7
2015 82.5 79.9
2014 82.4 79.5
2013 81.8 79.6
2012 81.3 79.2
2011 81.2 78.9
2010 80.7 79
2009 80.6 78.7
2008 80 78.3
2007 79.4 78
2006 79 77.8
2005 78.4 77.1
2004 78 77.2
2003 77.5 77
2002 77.2 76.9
2001 76.9 76.5
2000 76.2 76.1
1999 75.6 75.6
1998 75 75.5
1997 74.5 75.3
1996 74 74.9
1995 73.4 74.6
1994 72.9 74.7
1993 72.7 74.6
1992 72.2 74.3
1991 71.4 74.3
1990 71 73.9
1989 70.7 73.7
1988 70.2 73.4
1987 69.3 73.6
1986 69 73.3
1985 68.4 73.3
1984 68.1 73
1983 66.7 72.4
1982 67.1 72.4
1981 67.1 72
1980 64.8 72
1979 66.1 71.7
1978 65 71.7
1977 64.6 71.3
1976 65 71.2
1975 64.7 70.9
1974 64.2 70.3
1973 63.8 69.8
1972 63.2 69.6
1971 62.7 69.4
1970 62.2 69
1969 61.4 67.7
1968 60.9 66.8
1967 60.9 66.7
1966 55.4 66.1
1965 55.8 65.7
1964 55.3 64.9
1963 55 64.5
1962 55 63.8
1961 54.4 63
1960 53.8 62.5
1959 52.9 61.6
1958 51.8 61
1957 51.6 61
1956 50.2 60.3
1955 48.4 59.8
1954 46.1 58.9
1953 40.5 58.6
1952 36.6 57.9
1951 26.6 57.2
1950 22.2 56.6

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

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

South Korea and Taiwan population clocks and comparison

Population
South Korea

Taiwan
1x
Year Population
South Korea Taiwan
2025 - 23,331,886
2024 51,751,065 23,410,331
2023 51,712,619 23,342,541
2022 51,672,569 23,319,977
2021 51,769,539 23,468,275
2020 51,836,239 23,582,179
2019 51,764,822 23,596,027
2018 51,585,058 23,580,080
2017 51,361,911 23,555,522
2016 51,217,803 23,515,945
2015 51,014,947 23,462,914
2014 50,746,659 23,403,635
2013 50,428,893 23,344,670
2012 50,199,853 23,270,367
2011 49,936,638 23,193,518
2010 49,554,112 23,140,948
2009 49,307,835 23,078,402
2008 49,054,708 22,997,696
2007 48,683,638 22,917,444
2006 48,438,292 22,823,455
2005 48,184,561 22,729,753
2004 48,082,519 22,646,836
2003 47,892,330 22,562,663
2002 47,644,736 22,463,172
2001 47,370,164 22,341,120
2000 47,008,111 22,184,530
1999 46,616,677 22,010,489
1998 46,286,503 21,835,703
1997 45,953,580 21,634,124
1996 45,524,681 21,441,432
1995 45,092,991 21,267,653
1994 44,641,540 21,086,645
1993 44,194,628 20,899,019
1992 43,747,962 20,704,227
1991 43,295,704 20,503,568
1990 42,869,283 20,278,946
1989 42,449,038 20,055,492
1988 42,031,247 19,839,704
1987 41,621,690 19,617,046
1986 41,213,674 19,411,454
1985 40,805,744 19,191,510
1984 40,405,956 18,929,866
1983 39,910,403 18,653,146
1982 39,326,352 18,354,855
1981 38,723,248 18,029,982
1980 38,123,775 17,704,538
1979 37,534,236 17,372,779
1978 36,969,185 17,042,272
1977 36,411,795 16,730,895
1976 35,848,523 16,401,413
1975 35,280,725 16,075,128
1974 34,692,266 15,784,817
1973 34,103,149 15,505,121
1972 33,505,406 15,220,495
1971 32,882,704 14,913,564
1970 32,240,827 14,582,944
1969 31,544,266 14,068,984
1968 30,838,302 13,548,537
1967 30,130,983 13,210,344
1966 29,435,571 12,874,153
1965 28,704,674 12,511,863
1964 27,984,155 12,137,143
1963 27,261,747 11,762,101
1962 26,513,030 11,392,513
1961 25,765,673 11,030,385
1960 25,012,374 10,667,705
1959 - 10,288,327
1958 - 9,920,227
1957 - 9,597,690
1956 - 9,289,545
1955 - 8,967,001
1954 - 8,645,264
1953 - 8,333,009
1952 - 8,046,915
1951 - 7,758,202

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Fertility rates in South Korea and Taiwan

Fertility rate
South Korea

Taiwan
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Korea Taiwan
2024 - 0.89
2023 0.72 0.87
2022 0.78 0.87
2021 0.81 0.98
2020 0.84 0.99
2019 0.92 1.05
2018 0.98 1.06
2017 1.05 1.13
2016 1.17 1.17
2015 1.24 1.18
2014 1.21 -
2013 1.19 -
2012 1.3 -
2011 1.24 1.07
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 1.4
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 1.72
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 2.46
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 -
1959 - -
1958 - -
1957 - -
1956 - -
1955 - -
1954 - -
1953 - -
1952 - -
1951 - 7.04

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

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

South Korea and Taiwan demographics compared

Median age
South Korea

Taiwan
1x
Year Median age, years
South Korea Taiwan
2024 46.1 45.1
2023 45.5 44.5
2022 44.9 43.9
2021 44.4 43.3
2020 43.8 42.7
2019 43.1 42.1
2018 42.5 41.5
2017 41.9 41
2016 41.4 40.4
2015 40.8 39.9
2014 40.2 39.3
2013 39.5 38.9
2012 38.8 38.3
2011 38.2 37.9
2010 37.6 37.4
2009 37 36.8
2008 36.4 36.3
2007 35.8 35.8
2006 35.2 35.2
2005 34.5 34.7
2004 33.9 34.1
2003 33.4 33.6
2002 32.8 33.1
2001 32.3 32.6
2000 31.7 32.1
1999 31.2 31.6
1998 30.7 31.2
1997 30.2 30.7
1996 29.8 30.3
1995 29.4 29.8
1994 28.9 29.4
1993 28.3 28.9
1992 27.8 28.4
1991 27.2 28
1990 26.7 27.5
1989 26.3 27
1988 25.8 26.5
1987 25.3 26.1
1986 24.8 25.6
1985 24.2 25.1
1984 23.7 24.6
1983 23.3 24.1
1982 22.8 23.8
1981 22.5 23.4
1980 22.1 23
1979 21.6 22.6
1978 21.1 22.3
1977 20.7 21.9
1976 20.2 21.5
1975 19.9 21.2
1974 19.6 20.8
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1974–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Korea Taiwan
GNI, Atlas method
$1.9T
2024
$832B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
15.8%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.81%
2022
n/a
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.56%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
569,000
2020
n/a
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.78%
2024
+0.43%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.78%
2024
3.35%
2025
Services, % of GDP
57.5%
2024
58.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.9%
2024
39.8%
2024
Economic freedom index
73.7
2026
79.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2021
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2021
n/a
Number of millionaires
1,301,000
2025
759,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
2.96%
2025
3.86%
2025
Number of billionaires
30
2025
54
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00007%
2025
0.0003%
2025
Listed domestic companies
2,599
2024
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.56T
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$418B
2024
n/a
Personal remittances received
$7.45B
2024
n/a
International tourist arrivals
2,519,000
2020
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
1.94%
2020
n/a
Banked people share
96.9%
2024
n/a

Energy

South Korea Taiwan
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
5,337 kg
2023
2,308 kg
2024
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.8
2023
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
588 megatons
2024
273.7 megatons
2022
CO2 emissions per capita
11.4 tons
2024
11.7 tons
2022
Fossil fuel energy use share
79.1%
2023
n/a
Renewable energy use share
3.6%
2021
n/a
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
18.5%
2023
n/a
Net energy imports use share
84.6%
2023
n/a
Electric power consumption per capita
11,426 kWh
2023
n/a
Renewable electricity output share
6.59%
2021
n/a
Hydroelectric share
1.23%
2023
n/a
Nuclear share
29.6%
2023
n/a
Electricity access
100%
2023
n/a

Society

South Korea Taiwan
% of world population
0.64%
2024
0.29%
2025
Annual migration change
+65,731
2025
+47,029
2024
Urban population
81.2%
2024
n/a
Male:Female ratio
49.9:50.1
2024
49.3:50.7
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.69 ft
2025
Average female height
5.35 ft
2025
5.27 ft
2025
Quality of life index
87.4
2026
82.8
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
63
2025
68
2025
Higher education index
86
2026
89
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.48
2023
0.8
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
8.6
2019
2
2024
Visa free countries
172
2025
127
2025
Adult literacy rate
98.8%
2018
98.5%
2014
English speaking
20%
2025
30%
2025
People using the Internet
97.9%
2024
n/a

Health

South Korea Taiwan
Government health expenditure per capita
$3,137
2024
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,058
2024
n/a
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
81.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.61
2022
n/a
Age at first childbirth
32.2 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
14
2024
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.8
2023
n/a
Obesity rate
7.24%
2022
11.3%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.6%
2024
n/a
Air quality index
46
2026
55
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20%
2022
n/a
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.79 liters
2020
n/a

Territory

South Korea Taiwan
% of world land
0.07%
2026
0.02%
2026
Land area per capita
728 sq mi
2024
599 sq mi
2025
Agricultural land area
6,054 sq mi
2026
3,000 sq mi
2026
Forest area
24,158 sq mi
2026
8,495 sq mi
2026
Roads length
68,794 mi
2018
25,771 mi
2019

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. National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2026, retrieved 2026-02-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  8. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  12. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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