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South Korea vs Thailand statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Korea has a population of 51.8M (ranked 29/197), compared with 71.7M in Thailand (ranked 20/197). South Korea's land area is 37,684 sq mi versus 197,256 sq mi for Thailand (ranked 105th vs. 50th).

By GDP, South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T) and Thailand ranks 31/197 ($527B). By GDP per capita, South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239), while Thailand ranks 100/197 ($7,347).

Main facts and rankings

South Korea Thailand
Population
51649918
71571743
Population rank 31/197 21/197
GDP
$1.88T
2024
$527B
2024
GDP rank 12/197 31/197
GDP per capita
$36,239
2024
$7,347
2024
GDP per capita rank 31/197 100/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$61,051
2024
$24,712
2024
Government debt
$934B
2024
$333B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
49.8%
2024
63.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$18,052
2024
$4,643
2024
Government debt per person rank 33/185 84/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$27,215
2026
$6,733
2026
Land area 37,684 sq mi 197,256 sq mi
Population density
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
363 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
0.72
2023
1.21
2023
Median age
46.1 years
2024
41.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
77.1 years
2026

South Korea and Thailand: Comparison Charts

South Korea and Thailand economies compared

GDP
South Korea

Thailand
1x
Year GDP
South Korea Thailand
2024 $1,875,388,209,407 $526,517,658,842
2023 $1,844,800,934,392 $515,906,283,941
2022 $1,799,363,116,867 $495,644,697,588
2021 $1,942,313,560,966 $506,194,668,790
2020 $1,744,070,276,373 $500,461,898,480
2019 $1,751,045,752,055 $543,976,691,794
2018 $1,824,251,454,307 $506,754,208,404
2017 $1,710,196,756,713 $456,356,813,537
2016 $1,579,150,518,945 $413,366,349,748
2015 $1,539,212,301,136 $401,296,238,228
2014 $1,556,252,422,020 $407,339,040,198
2013 $1,434,669,686,502 $420,333,654,593
2012 $1,335,343,586,438 $397,558,325,279
2011 $1,307,103,477,219 $370,818,739,624
2010 $1,192,830,015,738 $341,104,766,329
2009 $983,065,242,417 $281,710,630,187
2008 $1,091,580,692,542 $291,382,982,431
2007 $1,220,911,904,593 $262,942,621,455
2006 $1,095,175,538,508 $221,758,296,022
2005 $971,740,329,984 $189,318,408,469
2004 $823,251,107,639 $172,895,685,155
2003 $728,516,494,684 $152,280,615,246
2002 $650,014,391,470 $134,300,904,400
2001 $567,564,806,235 $120,296,476,180
2000 $597,487,173,479 $126,392,224,254
1999 $515,697,079,289 $126,669,211,779
1998 $397,297,216,492 $113,675,596,788
1997 $589,202,526,424 $150,180,456,566
1996 $631,196,863,758 $183,035,237,429
1995 $586,286,469,401 $169,278,916,593
1994 $479,181,794,217 $146,683,778,959
1993 $405,705,302,846 $128,889,262,951
1992 $366,921,291,825 $111,452,746,518
1991 $340,851,946,804 $98,234,714,971
1990 $292,064,221,389 $85,343,190,719
1989 $254,236,243,100 $72,250,748,100
1988 $205,477,530,605 $61,667,253,471
1987 $152,240,393,646 $50,535,446,555
1986 $119,965,960,795 $43,096,773,981
1985 $103,764,281,281 $38,900,711,333
1984 $99,749,645,089 $41,797,647,776
1983 $89,621,208,322 $40,042,798,388
1982 $79,921,300,447 $36,589,772,404
1981 $74,287,368,087 $34,846,039,194
1980 $66,547,970,351 $32,353,514,989
1979 $68,083,884,298 $27,371,650,825
1978 $52,824,793,388 $24,006,566,637
1977 $39,064,462,810 $19,779,312,261
1976 $30,371,074,380 $16,985,208,648
1975 $22,126,033,058 $14,882,770,594
1974 $19,860,929,977 $13,702,998,512
1973 $14,067,523,813 $10,838,587,358
1972 $10,990,490,570 $8,177,873,151
1971 $10,005,257,131 $7,375,000,024
1970 $9,085,001,794 $7,086,538,438
1969 $7,743,940,189 $6,695,336,567
1968 $6,167,109,472 $6,081,009,428
1967 $4,895,076,718 $5,638,461,442
1966 $3,957,064,541 $5,279,230,817
1965 $3,141,131,708 $4,388,937,649
1964 $3,476,789,682 $3,889,129,942
1963 $4,007,692,308 $3,540,403,457
1962 $2,826,923,077 $3,308,912,797
1961 $2,427,244,761 $3,034,037,811
1960 $3,973,069,307 $2,760,750,861

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

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

South Korea and Thailand economies compared

GDP per capita
South Korea

Thailand
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Korea Thailand
2024 $36,239 $7,347
2023 $35,674 $7,195
2022 $34,822 $6,909
2021 $37,518 $7,057
2020 $33,646 $6,986
2019 $33,827 $7,606
2018 $35,364 $7,100
2017 $33,297 $6,413
2016 $30,832 $5,834
2015 $30,172 $5,689
2014 $30,667 $5,801
2013 $28,449 $6,018
2012 $26,601 $5,726
2011 $26,175 $5,374
2010 $24,071 $4,974
2009 $19,937 $4,135
2008 $22,252 $4,309
2007 $25,078 $3,919
2006 $22,610 $3,331
2005 $20,167 $2,868
2004 $17,122 $2,642
2003 $15,212 $2,348
2002 $13,643 $2,090
2001 $11,981 $1,890
2000 $12,710 $2,006
1999 $11,063 $2,033
1998 $8,583 $1,848
1997 $12,822 $2,473
1996 $13,865 $3,055
1995 $13,002 $2,864
1994 $10,734 $2,518
1993 $9,180 $2,245
1992 $8,387 $1,972
1991 $7,873 $1,766
1990 $6,813 $1,559
1989 $5,989 $1,342
1988 $4,889 $1,164
1987 $3,658 $970
1986 $2,911 $842
1985 $2,543 $774
1984 $2,469 $847
1983 $2,246 $827
1982 $2,032 $770
1981 $1,918 $748
1980 $1,746 $709
1979 $1,814 $612
1978 $1,429 $548
1977 $1,073 $462
1976 $847 $405
1975 $627 $364
1974 $572 $343
1973 $412 $278.3
1972 $328 $215.6
1971 $304 $199.7
1970 $281.8 $197.1
1969 $245.5 $191.4
1968 $200 $178.8
1967 $162.5 $170.7
1966 $134.4 $164.5
1965 $109.4 $140.9
1964 $124.2 $128.6
1963 $147 $120.7
1962 $106.6 $116.2
1961 $94.2 $109.7
1960 $158.8 $102.8

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

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

South Korea vs. Thailand life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Korea

Thailand
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Korea Thailand
2026 84.6 77.1
2025 84.5 76.8
2024 84.4 76.6
2023 84.3 76.4
2022 82.7 75.3
2021 83.9 77.6
2020 83.7 77.3
2019 83.7 77.2
2018 83.3 77.2
2017 83.3 77
2016 82.9 76.8
2015 82.5 76.6
2014 82.4 76.3
2013 81.8 76
2012 81.3 75.6
2011 81.2 75.3
2010 80.7 75
2009 80.6 74.7
2008 80 74.2
2007 79.4 73.8
2006 79 73.3
2005 78.4 72.9
2004 78 72.1
2003 77.5 72.1
2002 77.2 71.8
2001 76.9 71.5
2000 76.2 71.2
1999 75.6 71
1998 75 70.7
1997 74.5 70.4
1996 74 69.9
1995 73.4 69.8
1994 72.9 69.7
1993 72.7 69.6
1992 72.2 69.4
1991 71.4 69.1
1990 71 68.9
1989 70.7 68.6
1988 70.2 68.2
1987 69.3 67.8
1986 69 67.3
1985 68.4 66.5
1984 68.1 65.5
1983 66.7 64.5
1982 67.1 63.6
1981 67.1 62.9
1980 64.8 62.2
1979 66.1 61.7
1978 65 61.3
1977 64.6 60.9
1976 65 60.4
1975 64.7 59.7
1974 64.2 59
1973 63.8 58.3
1972 63.2 57.7
1971 62.7 57.1
1970 62.2 56.5
1969 61.4 55.7
1968 60.9 55
1967 60.9 54.3
1966 55.4 53.7
1965 55.8 53.1
1964 55.3 52.5
1963 55 52
1962 55 51.4
1961 54.4 51.1
1960 53.8 50.6
1959 52.9 50.1
1958 51.8 49.5
1957 51.6 49.1
1956 50.2 48.6
1955 48.4 48.1
1954 46.1 47.6
1953 40.5 47.1
1952 36.6 46.5
1951 26.6 45.9
1950 22.2 45.2

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

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

South Korea and Thailand population clocks and comparison

Population
South Korea

Thailand
1x
Year Population
South Korea Thailand
2024 51,751,065 71,668,011
2023 51,712,619 71,702,435
2022 51,672,569 71,735,329
2021 51,769,539 71,727,332
2020 51,836,239 71,641,484
2019 51,764,822 71,522,271
2018 51,585,058 71,376,079
2017 51,361,911 71,160,187
2016 51,217,803 70,859,841
2015 51,014,947 70,540,795
2014 50,746,659 70,216,367
2013 50,428,893 69,845,114
2012 50,199,853 69,436,098
2011 49,936,638 69,007,208
2010 49,554,112 68,579,447
2009 49,307,835 68,121,080
2008 49,054,708 67,619,830
2007 48,683,638 67,102,394
2006 48,438,292 66,567,687
2005 48,184,561 66,017,420
2004 48,082,519 65,452,047
2003 47,892,330 64,868,166
2002 47,644,736 64,266,437
2001 47,370,164 63,651,141
2000 47,008,111 63,007,815
1999 46,616,677 62,299,043
1998 46,286,503 61,522,630
1997 45,953,580 60,724,584
1996 45,524,681 59,920,064
1995 45,092,991 59,098,232
1994 44,641,540 58,260,854
1993 44,194,628 57,408,198
1992 43,747,962 56,528,834
1991 43,295,704 55,637,434
1990 42,869,283 54,738,329
1989 42,449,038 53,848,956
1988 42,031,247 52,969,595
1987 41,621,690 52,074,105
1986 41,213,674 51,177,834
1985 40,805,744 50,270,753
1984 40,405,956 49,351,708
1983 39,910,403 48,423,309
1982 39,326,352 47,494,577
1981 38,723,248 46,575,855
1980 38,123,775 45,650,022
1979 37,534,236 44,718,434
1978 36,969,185 43,788,976
1977 36,411,795 42,843,974
1976 35,848,523 41,896,504
1975 35,280,725 40,940,005
1974 34,692,266 39,952,891
1973 34,103,149 38,947,787
1972 33,505,406 37,933,929
1971 32,882,704 36,937,387
1970 32,240,827 35,954,408
1969 31,544,266 34,973,782
1968 30,838,302 34,002,560
1967 30,130,983 33,037,801
1966 29,435,571 32,086,071
1965 28,704,674 31,149,337
1964 27,984,155 30,232,141
1963 27,261,747 29,342,322
1962 26,513,030 28,481,040
1961 25,765,673 27,650,334
1960 25,012,374 26,851,747

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

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

Fertility rates in South Korea and Thailand

Fertility rate
South Korea

Thailand
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Korea Thailand
2023 0.72 1.21
2022 0.78 1.22
2021 0.81 1.23
2020 0.84 1.26
2019 0.92 1.29
2018 0.98 1.32
2017 1.05 1.36
2016 1.17 1.4
2015 1.24 1.45
2014 1.21 1.48
2013 1.19 1.53
2012 1.3 1.56
2011 1.24 1.57
2010 1.23 1.56
2009 1.15 1.57
2008 1.19 1.59
2007 1.26 1.62
2006 1.13 1.63
2005 1.09 1.64
2004 1.16 1.67
2003 1.19 1.67
2002 1.18 1.69
2001 1.31 1.71
2000 1.48 1.73
1999 1.43 1.77
1998 1.46 1.82
1997 1.54 1.85
1996 1.57 1.87
1995 1.63 1.89
1994 1.66 1.93
1993 1.65 1.97
1992 1.76 2.01
1991 1.71 2.04
1990 1.57 2.07
1989 1.56 2.14
1988 1.55 2.17
1987 1.53 2.26
1986 1.58 2.36
1985 1.66 2.45
1984 1.74 2.58
1983 2.06 2.76
1982 2.39 2.94
1981 2.57 3.13
1980 2.82 3.29
1979 2.9 3.45
1978 2.64 3.62
1977 2.99 3.87
1976 3 4.12
1975 3.43 4.36
1974 3.77 4.6
1973 4.07 4.85
1972 4.12 5.08
1971 4.54 5.25
1970 4.53 5.45
1969 4.45 5.7
1968 4.51 5.93
1967 4.62 6.08
1966 4.78 6.18
1965 4.89 6.26
1964 5.07 6.31
1963 5.33 6.34
1962 5.56 6.33
1961 5.8 6.32
1960 5.99 6.33

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

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

South Korea and Thailand demographics compared

Median age
South Korea

Thailand
1x
Year Median age, years
South Korea Thailand
2024 46.1 41.1
2023 45.5 40.7
2022 44.9 40.2
2021 44.4 39.7
2020 43.8 39.2
2019 43.1 38.7
2018 42.5 38.2
2017 41.9 37.7
2016 41.4 37.3
2015 40.8 36.8
2014 40.2 36.3
2013 39.5 35.9
2012 38.8 35.4
2011 38.2 35
2010 37.6 34.5
2009 37 34
2008 36.4 33.6
2007 35.8 33.1
2006 35.2 32.6
2005 34.5 32.2
2004 33.9 31.7
2003 33.4 31.3
2002 32.8 30.9
2001 32.3 30.5
2000 31.7 30
1999 31.2 29.5
1998 30.7 28.9
1997 30.2 28.3
1996 29.8 27.7
1995 29.4 27.2
1994 28.9 26.6
1993 28.3 26
1992 27.8 25.4
1991 27.2 24.8
1990 26.7 24.3
1989 26.3 23.7
1988 25.8 23.3
1987 25.3 22.8
1986 24.8 22.4
1985 24.2 21.9
1984 23.7 21.5
1983 23.3 21
1982 22.8 20.6
1981 22.5 20.2
1980 22.1 19.9
1979 21.6 19.5
1978 21.1 19.2
1977 20.7 18.9
1976 20.2 18.7
1975 19.9 18.4
1974 19.6 18.2
1973 19.3 18
1972 19.1 17.8
1971 19 17.6
1970 18.9 17.5
1969 18.8 17.4
1968 18.7 17.3
1967 18.6 17.3
1966 18.5 17.3
1965 18.6 17.4
1964 18.8 17.5
1963 19 17.6
1962 19.1 17.7
1961 19.2 17.9
1960 19.3 18

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Korea Thailand
GNI, Atlas method
$1.9T
2024
$509B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
22.7%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.81%
2022
2.52%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.56%
2024
1.08%
2024
Armed forces personnel
569,000
2020
455,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.78%
2024
-1.29%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.78%
2024
0.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
57.5%
2024
59.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.9%
2024
32.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
73.7
2026
62.2
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2021
26.1%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2021
3.4%
2023
Number of millionaires
1,301,000
2025
100,001
2025
Percentage of millionaires
2.96%
2025
0.18%
2025
Number of billionaires
30
2025
25
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00007%
2025
0.00004%
2025
Listed domestic companies
2,599
2024
860
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.56T
2024
$520B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$418B
2024
$237B
2024
Personal remittances received
$7.45B
2024
$9.46B
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,519,000
2020
39,916,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
1.94%
2020
5.97%
2020
Banked people share
96.9%
2024
91.8%
2024

Energy

South Korea Thailand
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
5,337 kg
2023
1,851 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.8
2023
$12.7
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
588 megatons
2024
283.8 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
11.4 tons
2024
3.96 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
79.1%
2023
79.7%
2022
Renewable energy use share
3.6%
2021
19%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
18.5%
2023
1.02%
2023
Net energy imports use share
84.6%
2023
57.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
11,426 kWh
2023
2,965 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
6.59%
2021
19.9%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.23%
2023
3.45%
2023
Nuclear share
29.6%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

South Korea Thailand
% of world population
0.64%
2024
0.88%
2024
Annual migration change
+65,731
2025
+27,509
2025
Urban population
81.2%
2024
61.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.9:50.1
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.63 ft
2025
Average female height
5.35 ft
2025
5.23 ft
2025
Quality of life index
87.4
2026
56.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
63
2025
33
2025
Higher education index
86
2026
76
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.48
2023
4.81
2011
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
8.6
2019
32.2
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
93
2025
Adult literacy rate
98.8%
2018
91.1%
2022
English speaking
20%
2025
27.2%
2023
People using the Internet
97.9%
2024
90.9%
2024

Health

South Korea Thailand
Government health expenditure per capita
$3,137
2024
$327
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,058
2024
$32.4
2023
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
77.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0.1%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.61
2022
0.54
2021
Age at first childbirth
32.2 years
2025
23.3 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
34
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.8
2023
9.2
2023
Obesity rate
7.24%
2022
15.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.6%
2024
10.2%
2024
Air quality index
46
2026
35
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20%
2022
19.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.79 liters
2020
7.99 liters
2020

Territory

South Korea Thailand
% of world land
0.07%
2026
0.34%
2026
Land area per capita
728 sq mi
2024
2,752 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,054 sq mi
2026
86,394 sq mi
2026
Forest area
24,158 sq mi
2026
76,313 sq mi
2026
Roads length
68,794 mi
2018
436,817 mi
2020

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)

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