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South Korea vs Turkey statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Korea has a population of 51.8M (ranked 29/197), compared with 85.5M in Turkey (ranked 18/197). South Korea's land area is 37,684 sq mi versus 297,156 sq mi for Turkey (ranked 105th vs. 36th).

By GDP, South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T) and Turkey ranks 17/197 ($1.36T). By GDP per capita, South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239), while Turkey ranks 66/197 ($15,893).

Main facts and rankings

South Korea Turkey
Population
51649918
86002379
Population rank 31/197 18/197
GDP
$1.88T
2024
$1.36T
2024
GDP rank 12/197 17/197
GDP per capita
$36,239
2024
$15,893
2024
GDP per capita rank 31/197 66/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$61,051
2024
$45,639
2024
Government debt
$934B
2024
$327B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
49.8%
2024
24%
2024
Government debt per person
$18,052
2024
$3,820
2024
Government debt per person rank 33/185 92/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$27,215
2026
$10,928
2026
Land area 37,684 sq mi 297,156 sq mi
Population density
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
289.2 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
0.72
2023
1.51
2023
Median age
46.1 years
2024
34 years
2024
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
78.4 years
2026

South Korea and Turkey: Comparison Charts

South Korea and Turkey economies compared

GDP
South Korea

Turkey
1x
Year GDP
South Korea Turkey
2024 $1,875,388,209,407 $1,359,123,768,774
2023 $1,844,800,934,392 $1,141,242,864,657
2022 $1,799,363,116,867 $926,097,476,914
2021 $1,942,313,560,966 $839,938,668,172
2020 $1,744,070,276,373 $733,628,247,119
2019 $1,751,045,752,055 $775,853,144,223
2018 $1,824,251,454,307 $788,356,985,774
2017 $1,710,196,756,713 $863,874,522,365
2016 $1,579,150,518,945 $870,818,016,910
2015 $1,539,212,301,136 $865,460,050,684
2014 $1,556,252,422,020 $942,343,431,929
2013 $1,434,669,686,502 $962,167,643,589
2012 $1,335,343,586,438 $885,327,622,479
2011 $1,307,103,477,219 $844,192,507,381
2010 $1,192,830,015,738 $782,545,664,268
2009 $983,065,242,417 $653,894,449,921
2008 $1,091,580,692,542 $775,415,944,333
2007 $1,220,911,904,593 $685,228,481,017
2006 $1,095,175,538,508 $559,668,118,237
2005 $971,740,329,984 $508,314,210,213
2004 $823,251,107,639 $410,156,784,496
2003 $728,516,494,684 $315,392,899,922
2002 $650,014,391,470 $240,778,008,474
2001 $567,564,806,235 $202,195,080,239
2000 $597,487,173,479 $274,748,463,179
1999 $515,697,079,289 $256,673,939,248
1998 $397,297,216,492 $276,035,372,655
1997 $589,202,526,424 $263,817,553,748
1996 $631,196,863,758 $250,366,965,174
1995 $586,286,469,401 $234,699,627,004
1994 $479,181,794,217 $130,650,447,499
1993 $405,705,302,846 $180,415,757,852
1992 $366,921,291,825 $159,104,772,992
1991 $340,851,946,804 $151,034,731,544
1990 $292,064,221,389 $150,655,500,192
1989 $254,236,243,100 $107,127,191,329
1988 $205,477,530,605 $90,875,175,809
1987 $152,240,393,646 $87,190,081,680
1986 $119,965,960,795 $75,673,037,037
1985 $103,764,281,281 $67,232,758,621
1984 $99,749,645,089 $59,937,602,180
1983 $89,621,208,322 $61,803,555,556
1982 $79,921,300,447 $64,369,325,153
1981 $74,287,368,087 $71,180,180,180
1980 $66,547,970,351 $68,823,684,211
1979 $68,083,884,298 $89,616,129,032
1978 $52,824,793,388 $65,912,500,000
1977 $39,064,462,810 $58,683,333,333
1976 $30,371,074,380 $51,450,000,000
1975 $22,126,033,058 $46,042,857,143
1974 $19,860,929,977 $35,414,285,714
1973 $14,067,523,813 $26,000,000,000
1972 $10,990,490,570 $20,650,000,000
1971 $10,005,257,131 $16,166,666,667
1970 $9,085,001,794 $17,863,636,364
1969 $7,743,940,189 $19,466,666,667
1968 $6,167,109,472 $17,500,000,000
1967 $4,895,076,718 $15,644,444,444
1966 $3,957,064,541 $14,100,000,000
1965 $3,141,131,708 $11,966,666,667
1964 $3,476,789,682 $11,177,777,778
1963 $4,007,692,308 $10,355,555,556
1962 $2,826,923,077 $8,922,222,222
1961 $2,427,244,761 $7,988,888,889
1960 $3,973,069,307 $7,566,666,667

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

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

South Korea and Turkey economies compared

GDP per capita
South Korea

Turkey
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Korea Turkey
2024 $36,239 $15,893
2023 $35,674 $13,375
2022 $34,822 $10,898
2021 $37,518 $9,982
2020 $33,646 $8,798
2019 $33,827 $9,395
2018 $35,364 $9,684
2017 $33,297 $10,756
2016 $30,832 $10,984
2015 $30,172 $11,065
2014 $30,667 $12,209
2013 $28,449 $12,636
2012 $26,601 $11,777
2011 $26,175 $11,374
2010 $24,071 $10,699
2009 $19,937 $9,077
2008 $22,252 $10,913
2007 $25,078 $9,767
2006 $22,610 $7,990
2005 $20,167 $7,332
2004 $17,122 $5,980
2003 $15,212 $4,650
2002 $13,643 $3,591
2001 $11,981 $3,052
2000 $12,710 $4,199
1999 $11,063 $3,974
1998 $8,583 $4,331
1997 $12,822 $4,197
1996 $13,865 $4,041
1995 $13,002 $3,846
1994 $10,734 $2,176
1993 $9,180 $3,058
1992 $8,387 $2,744
1991 $7,873 $2,649
1990 $6,813 $2,690
1989 $5,989 $1,949
1988 $4,889 $1,686
1987 $3,658 $1,650
1986 $2,911 $1,461
1985 $2,543 $1,326
1984 $2,469 $1,209
1983 $2,246 $1,276
1982 $2,032 $1,360
1981 $1,918 $1,537
1980 $1,746 $1,516
1979 $1,814 $2,013
1978 $1,429 $1,510
1977 $1,073 $1,372
1976 $847 $1,228
1975 $627 $1,122
1974 $572 $881
1973 $412 $661
1972 $328 $537
1971 $304 $431
1970 $281.8 $488
1969 $245.5 $544
1968 $200 $501
1967 $162.5 $459
1966 $134.4 $425
1965 $109.4 $370
1964 $124.2 $354
1963 $147 $337
1962 $106.6 $298.2
1961 $94.2 $274.4
1960 $158.8 $267.1

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

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

South Korea vs. Turkey life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Korea

Turkey
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Korea Turkey
2026 84.6 78.4
2025 84.5 77.8
2024 84.4 77.4
2023 84.3 77.2
2022 82.7 77.6
2021 83.9 75.7
2020 83.7 76.5
2019 83.7 77.7
2018 83.3 77.5
2017 83.3 77
2016 82.9 76.6
2015 82.5 76.5
2014 82.4 76.5
2013 81.8 76.2
2012 81.3 75.6
2011 81.2 74.8
2010 80.7 75
2009 80.6 74.7
2008 80 74.4
2007 79.4 74.1
2006 79 73.8
2005 78.4 73.5
2004 78 73.2
2003 77.5 72.9
2002 77.2 72.6
2001 76.9 72.3
2000 76.2 71.9
1999 75.6 70.8
1998 75 71.1
1997 74.5 70.7
1996 74 70.2
1995 73.4 69.7
1994 72.9 69.4
1993 72.7 69
1992 72.2 68.6
1991 71.4 68.3
1990 71 67.8
1989 70.7 67.4
1988 70.2 66.9
1987 69.3 66.4
1986 69 65.9
1985 68.4 65.3
1984 68.1 64.8
1983 66.7 64.3
1982 67.1 63.7
1981 67.1 63.2
1980 64.8 62.7
1979 66.1 62.2
1978 65 61.6
1977 64.6 60.8
1976 65 60
1975 64.7 59.5
1974 64.2 59
1973 63.8 58.5
1972 63.2 58
1971 62.7 57.2
1970 62.2 56.7
1969 61.4 56.2
1968 60.9 55.6
1967 60.9 55.2
1966 55.4 54.6
1965 55.8 54.1
1964 55.3 53.6
1963 55 53.1
1962 55 52.3
1961 54.4 51.6
1960 53.8 50.8
1959 52.9 50.1
1958 51.8 49.2
1957 51.6 49.2
1956 50.2 49.5
1955 48.4 49.1
1954 46.1 48.8
1953 40.5 48.2
1952 36.6 48.1
1951 26.6 47.6
1950 22.2 47.3

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

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

South Korea and Turkey population clocks and comparison

Population
South Korea

Turkey
1x
Year Population
South Korea Turkey
2024 51,751,065 85,518,661
2023 51,712,619 85,325,965
2022 51,672,569 84,979,913
2021 51,769,539 84,147,318
2020 51,836,239 83,384,680
2019 51,764,822 82,579,440
2018 51,585,058 81,407,204
2017 51,361,911 80,312,698
2016 51,217,803 79,277,962
2015 51,014,947 78,218,479
2014 50,746,659 77,181,884
2013 50,428,893 76,147,624
2012 50,199,853 75,175,827
2011 49,936,638 74,223,629
2010 49,554,112 73,142,150
2009 49,307,835 72,039,206
2008 49,054,708 71,051,678
2007 48,683,638 70,158,112
2006 48,438,292 70,045,349
2005 48,184,561 69,329,557
2004 48,082,519 68,592,617
2003 47,892,330 67,831,730
2002 47,644,736 67,048,795
2001 47,370,164 66,245,128
2000 47,008,111 65,425,961
1999 46,616,677 64,591,923
1998 46,286,503 63,734,383
1997 45,953,580 62,852,966
1996 45,524,681 61,951,134
1995 45,092,991 61,024,503
1994 44,641,540 60,033,836
1993 44,194,628 58,999,167
1992 43,747,962 57,990,118
1991 43,295,704 57,009,887
1990 42,869,283 56,015,628
1989 42,449,038 54,976,723
1988 42,031,247 53,909,626
1987 41,621,690 52,843,670
1986 41,213,674 51,777,772
1985 40,805,744 50,687,115
1984 40,405,956 49,574,069
1983 39,910,403 48,447,410
1982 39,326,352 47,322,096
1981 38,723,248 46,321,190
1980 38,123,775 45,408,815
1979 37,534,236 44,510,429
1978 36,969,185 43,645,306
1977 36,411,795 42,773,298
1976 35,848,523 41,899,984
1975 35,280,725 41,053,126
1974 34,692,266 40,210,234
1973 34,103,149 39,329,533
1972 33,505,406 38,430,221
1971 32,882,704 37,518,611
1970 32,240,827 36,638,465
1969 31,544,266 35,787,774
1968 30,838,302 34,921,684
1967 30,130,983 34,050,421
1966 29,435,571 33,177,672
1965 28,704,674 32,345,220
1964 27,984,155 31,543,072
1963 27,261,747 30,726,841
1962 26,513,030 29,916,147
1961 25,765,673 29,119,238
1960 25,012,374 28,329,898

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

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

Fertility rates in South Korea and Turkey

Fertility rate
South Korea

Turkey
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Korea Turkey
2023 0.72 1.51
2022 0.78 1.63
2021 0.81 1.71
2020 0.84 1.77
2019 0.92 1.89
2018 0.98 2
2017 1.05 2.08
2016 1.17 2.11
2015 1.24 2.16
2014 1.21 2.19
2013 1.19 2.11
2012 1.3 2.11
2011 1.24 2.05
2010 1.23 2.08
2009 1.15 2.1
2008 1.19 2.15
2007 1.26 2.16
2006 1.13 2.19
2005 1.09 2.2
2004 1.16 2.2
2003 1.19 2.2
2002 1.18 2.27
2001 1.31 2.39
2000 1.48 2.49
1999 1.43 2.63
1998 1.46 2.71
1997 1.54 2.74
1996 1.57 2.78
1995 1.63 2.84
1994 1.66 2.87
1993 1.65 2.92
1992 1.76 2.94
1991 1.71 3
1990 1.57 3.11
1989 1.56 3.34
1988 1.55 3.45
1987 1.53 3.54
1986 1.58 3.66
1985 1.66 3.78
1984 1.74 3.91
1983 2.06 4.06
1982 2.39 4.21
1981 2.57 4.35
1980 2.82 4.45
1979 2.9 4.58
1978 2.64 4.69
1977 2.99 4.78
1976 3 4.93
1975 3.43 5.09
1974 3.77 5.24
1973 4.07 5.41
1972 4.12 5.55
1971 4.54 5.67
1970 4.53 5.78
1969 4.45 5.87
1968 4.51 5.96
1967 4.62 6.06
1966 4.78 6.15
1965 4.89 6.22
1964 5.07 6.29
1963 5.33 6.34
1962 5.56 6.38
1961 5.8 6.42
1960 5.99 6.38

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

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

South Korea and Turkey demographics compared

Median age
South Korea

Turkey
1x
Year Median age, years
South Korea Turkey
2024 46.1 34
2023 45.5 33.5
2022 44.9 33.1
2021 44.4 32.7
2020 43.8 32.3
2019 43.1 31.8
2018 42.5 31.5
2017 41.9 31.2
2016 41.4 30.9
2015 40.8 30.6
2014 40.2 30.4
2013 39.5 30.1
2012 38.8 29.8
2011 38.2 29.5
2010 37.6 29.1
2009 37 28.6
2008 36.4 28.3
2007 35.8 27.9
2006 35.2 27.5
2005 34.5 27
2004 33.9 26.6
2003 33.4 26.2
2002 32.8 25.8
2001 32.3 25.4
2000 31.7 25
1999 31.2 24.7
1998 30.7 24.3
1997 30.2 24
1996 29.8 23.6
1995 29.4 23.3
1994 28.9 23
1993 28.3 22.7
1992 27.8 22.4
1991 27.2 22.1
1990 26.7 21.8
1989 26.3 21.6
1988 25.8 21.3
1987 25.3 21.1
1986 24.8 20.9
1985 24.2 20.6
1984 23.7 20.4
1983 23.3 20.2
1982 22.8 20
1981 22.5 19.9
1980 22.1 19.8
1979 21.6 19.7
1978 21.1 19.5
1977 20.7 19.4
1976 20.2 19.3
1975 19.9 19.1
1974 19.6 19
1973 19.3 18.9
1972 19.1 18.8
1971 19 18.7
1970 18.9 18.6
1969 18.8 18.6
1968 18.7 18.6
1967 18.6 18.7
1966 18.5 18.8
1965 18.6 18.9
1964 18.8 18.9
1963 19 19
1962 19.1 19.1
1961 19.2 19.3
1960 19.3 19.4

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Korea Turkey
GNI, Atlas method
$1.9T
2024
$1.15T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
32.6%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.81%
2022
3.1%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.56%
2024
1.92%
2024
Armed forces personnel
569,000
2020
512,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.78%
2024
-4.57%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.78%
2024
8.71%
2024
Services, % of GDP
57.5%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.9%
2024
25.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
73.7
2026
55
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2021
35.2%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2021
2.1%
2022
Number of millionaires
1,301,000
2025
60,787
2025
Percentage of millionaires
2.96%
2025
0.1%
2025
Number of billionaires
30
2025
32
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00007%
2025
0.00005%
2025
Listed domestic companies
2,599
2024
551
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.56T
2024
$379B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$418B
2024
$155B
2024
Personal remittances received
$7.45B
2024
$982M
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,519,000
2020
15,971,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.94%
2020
6.63%
2020
Banked people share
96.9%
2024
81.6%
2024

Energy

South Korea Turkey
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
5,337 kg
2023
1,850 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.8
2023
$23.1
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
588 megatons
2024
460 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
11.4 tons
2024
5.38 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
79.1%
2023
81.4%
2023
Renewable energy use share
3.6%
2021
12%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
18.5%
2023
15.3%
2023
Net energy imports use share
84.6%
2023
72%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
11,426 kWh
2023
3,581 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
6.59%
2021
35.4%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.23%
2023
19.3%
2023
Nuclear share
29.6%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

South Korea Turkey
% of world population
0.64%
2024
1.05%
2024
Annual migration change
+65,731
2025
-258,205
2025
Urban population
81.2%
2024
89.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.9:50.1
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.79 ft
2025
Average female height
5.35 ft
2025
5.31 ft
2025
Quality of life index
87.4
2026
58
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
63
2025
31
2025
Higher education index
86
2026
75
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.48
2023
3.23
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
8.6
2019
6.7
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
121
2025
Adult literacy rate
98.8%
2018
97.3%
2021
English speaking
20%
2025
15%
2023
People using the Internet
97.9%
2024
87.3%
2024

Health

South Korea Turkey
Government health expenditure per capita
$3,137
2024
$548
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,058
2024
$104.3
2023
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
78.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.61
2022
2.24
2022
Age at first childbirth
32.2 years
2025
27.1 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
15
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.8
2023
12.8
2023
Obesity rate
7.24%
2022
34.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.6%
2024
16.5%
2024
Air quality index
46
2026
48
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20%
2022
30.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.79 liters
2020
1.69 liters
2020

Territory

South Korea Turkey
% of world land
0.07%
2026
0.52%
2026
Land area per capita
728 sq mi
2024
3,475 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,054 sq mi
2026
148,989 sq mi
2026
Forest area
24,158 sq mi
2026
87,600 sq mi
2026
Roads length
68,794 mi
2018
272,554 mi
2024

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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