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South Korea vs United Arab Emirates statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Korea has a population of 51.8M (ranked 29/197), compared with 11M in The United Arab Emirates (ranked 86/197). South Korea's land area is 37,684 sq mi versus 27,421 sq mi for The United Arab Emirates (ranked 105th vs. 117th).

By GDP, South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T) and The United Arab Emirates ranks 27/197 ($552B). By GDP per capita, South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239), while The United Arab Emirates ranks 24/197 ($50,274).

Main facts and rankings

South Korea UAE
Population
51649918
11686438
Population rank 31/197 84/197
GDP
$1.88T
2024
$552B
2024
GDP rank 12/197 27/197
GDP per capita
$36,239
2024
$50,274
2024
GDP per capita rank 31/197 24/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$61,051
2024
$79,229
2024
Government debt
$934B
2024
$193B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
49.8%
2024
34.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$18,052
2024
$17,568
2024
Government debt per person rank 33/185 36/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$27,215
2026
$40,522
2026
Land area 37,684 sq mi 27,421 sq mi
Population density
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
424 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
0.72
2023
1.2
2023
Median age
46.1 years
2024
32.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
83.4 years
2026

South Korea and United Arab Emirates: Comparison Charts

South Korea and United Arab Emirates economies compared

GDP
South Korea

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP
South Korea UAE
2024 $1,875,388,209,407 $552,324,846,835
2023 $1,844,800,934,392 $522,622,191,967
2022 $1,799,363,116,867 $511,403,403,676
2021 $1,942,313,560,966 $422,441,388,700
2020 $1,744,070,276,373 $357,161,878,829
2019 $1,751,045,752,055 $433,926,208,305
2018 $1,824,251,454,307 $440,560,108,918
2017 $1,710,196,756,713 $403,365,010,211
2016 $1,579,150,518,945 $381,717,086,453
2015 $1,539,212,301,136 $381,973,042,886
2014 $1,556,252,422,020 $424,935,874,745
2013 $1,434,669,686,502 $409,632,675,289
2012 $1,335,343,586,438 $392,793,464,942
2011 $1,307,103,477,219 $368,881,143,635
2010 $1,192,830,015,738 $307,736,419,333
2009 $983,065,242,417 $253,547,358,747
2008 $1,091,580,692,542 $315,474,615,739
2007 $1,220,911,904,593 $257,916,133,424
2006 $1,095,175,538,508 $222,116,541,865
2005 $971,740,329,984 $180,617,467,965
2004 $823,251,107,639 $147,824,370,320
2003 $728,516,494,684 $124,346,358,067
2002 $650,014,391,470 $109,816,201,498
2001 $567,564,806,235 $103,311,640,572
2000 $597,487,173,479 $104,337,372,362
1999 $515,697,079,289 $84,445,473,111
1998 $397,297,216,492 $75,674,336,283
1997 $589,202,526,424 $78,839,008,445
1996 $631,196,863,758 $73,571,233,996
1995 $586,286,469,401 $65,743,666,576
1994 $479,181,794,217 $59,305,093,980
1993 $405,705,302,846 $55,625,170,253
1992 $366,921,291,825 $54,239,171,888
1991 $340,851,946,804 $51,552,165,622
1990 $292,064,221,389 $50,701,443,748
1989 $254,236,243,100 $41,464,995,914
1988 $205,477,530,605 $36,275,674,203
1987 $152,240,393,646 $36,384,908,744
1986 $119,965,960,795 $33,943,612,095
1985 $103,764,281,281 $40,603,650,232
1984 $99,749,645,089 $41,807,954,236
1983 $89,621,208,322 $42,803,323,345
1982 $79,921,300,447 $46,622,718,605
1981 $74,287,368,087 $49,333,424,135
1980 $66,547,970,351 $43,599,160,050
1979 $68,083,884,298 $31,225,659,621
1978 $52,824,793,388 $23,775,764,225
1977 $39,064,462,810 $24,871,775,165
1976 $30,371,074,380 $19,213,158,779
1975 $22,126,033,058 $14,720,728,249
1974 $19,860,929,977 $11,651,505,689
1973 $14,067,523,813 $4,231,243,616
1972 $10,990,490,570 $1,415,086,929
1971 $10,005,257,131 $939,893,600
1970 $9,085,001,794 $685,986,701
1969 $7,743,940,189 -
1968 $6,167,109,472 -
1967 $4,895,076,718 -
1966 $3,957,064,541 -
1965 $3,141,131,708 -
1964 $3,476,789,682 -
1963 $4,007,692,308 -
1962 $2,826,923,077 -
1961 $2,427,244,761 -
1960 $3,973,069,307 -

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

South Korea and United Arab Emirates economies compared

GDP per capita
South Korea

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Korea UAE
2024 $36,239 $50,274
2023 $35,674 $49,851
2022 $34,822 $50,760
2021 $37,518 $44,119
2020 $33,646 $37,992
2019 $33,827 $45,939
2018 $35,364 $47,135
2017 $33,297 $43,734
2016 $30,832 $42,721
2015 $30,172 $44,910
2014 $30,667 $52,725
2013 $28,449 $53,247
2012 $26,601 $53,142
2011 $26,175 $51,922
2010 $24,071 $44,795
2009 $19,937 $37,803
2008 $22,252 $50,054
2007 $25,078 $45,855
2006 $22,610 $44,343
2005 $20,167 $38,719
2004 $17,122 $33,377
2003 $15,212 $29,660
2002 $13,643 $27,754
2001 $11,981 $27,745
2000 $12,710 $29,866
1999 $11,063 $25,856
1998 $8,583 $24,889
1997 $12,822 $27,983
1996 $13,865 $28,323
1995 $13,002 $27,003
1994 $10,734 $25,473
1993 $9,180 $25,033
1992 $8,387 $25,648
1991 $7,873 $25,691
1990 $6,813 $26,710
1989 $5,989 $23,167
1988 $4,889 $21,570
1987 $3,658 $23,113
1986 $2,911 $23,132
1985 $2,543 $29,468
1984 $2,469 $32,012
1983 $2,246 $34,650
1982 $2,032 $39,972
1981 $1,918 $44,854
1980 $1,746 $42,925
1979 $1,814 $34,238
1978 $1,429 $29,379
1977 $1,073 $35,020
1976 $847 $31,197
1975 $627 $27,117
1974 $572 $23,823
1973 $412 $9,696
1972 $328 $3,675
1971 $304 $2,805
1970 $281.8 $2,394
1969 $245.5 -
1968 $200 -
1967 $162.5 -
1966 $134.4 -
1965 $109.4 -
1964 $124.2 -
1963 $147 -
1962 $106.6 -
1961 $94.2 -
1960 $158.8 -

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

South Korea vs. United Arab Emirates life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Korea

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Korea UAE
2026 84.6 83.4
2025 84.5 83.2
2024 84.4 83.1
2023 84.3 82.9
2022 82.7 80.5
2021 83.9 79.1
2020 83.7 81.9
2019 83.7 82.6
2018 83.3 82.4
2017 83.3 82.4
2016 82.9 82.2
2015 82.5 82.1
2014 82.4 82
2013 81.8 82
2012 81.3 81.9
2011 81.2 81.9
2010 80.7 81.9
2009 80.6 81.7
2008 80 81.6
2007 79.4 81.4
2006 79 81.2
2005 78.4 80.8
2004 78 80.3
2003 77.5 79.6
2002 77.2 78.7
2001 76.9 77.6
2000 76.2 76.3
1999 75.6 75
1998 75 73.7
1997 74.5 72.6
1996 74 71.8
1995 73.4 71.4
1994 72.9 71.2
1993 72.7 71.2
1992 72.2 71.2
1991 71.4 71.1
1990 71 71.1
1989 70.7 71
1988 70.2 70.8
1987 69.3 70.6
1986 69 70.4
1985 68.4 70.1
1984 68.1 69.8
1983 66.7 69.4
1982 67.1 69.1
1981 67.1 68.6
1980 64.8 68.2
1979 66.1 67.6
1978 65 67.1
1977 64.6 66.5
1976 65 65.8
1975 64.7 65.1
1974 64.2 64.4
1973 63.8 63.5
1972 63.2 62.7
1971 62.7 61.8
1970 62.2 60.8
1969 61.4 59.8
1968 60.9 58.7
1967 60.9 57.6
1966 55.4 56.6
1965 55.8 55.5
1964 55.3 54.5
1963 55 53.5
1962 55 52.5
1961 54.4 51.6
1960 53.8 50.7
1959 52.9 49.7
1958 51.8 48.8
1957 51.6 47.8
1956 50.2 46.9
1955 48.4 46
1954 46.1 45.2
1953 40.5 44.4
1952 36.6 43.6
1951 26.6 42.9
1950 22.2 42.1

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

South Korea and United Arab Emirates population clocks and comparison

Population
South Korea

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Population
South Korea UAE
2024 51,751,065 10,986,400
2023 51,712,619 10,483,751
2022 51,672,569 10,074,977
2021 51,769,539 9,575,152
2020 51,836,239 9,401,038
2019 51,764,822 9,445,785
2018 51,585,058 9,346,701
2017 51,361,911 9,223,225
2016 51,217,803 8,935,095
2015 51,014,947 8,505,237
2014 50,746,659 8,059,440
2013 50,428,893 7,693,031
2012 50,199,853 7,391,448
2011 49,936,638 7,104,538
2010 49,554,112 6,869,838
2009 49,307,835 6,707,058
2008 49,054,708 6,302,664
2007 48,683,638 5,624,635
2006 48,438,292 5,009,100
2005 48,184,561 4,664,790
2004 48,082,519 4,428,967
2003 47,892,330 4,192,457
2002 47,644,736 3,956,826
2001 47,370,164 3,723,590
2000 47,008,111 3,493,575
1999 46,616,677 3,266,009
1998 46,286,503 3,040,421
1997 45,953,580 2,817,410
1996 45,524,681 2,597,564
1995 45,092,991 2,434,662
1994 44,641,540 2,328,188
1993 44,194,628 2,222,093
1992 43,747,962 2,114,730
1991 43,295,704 2,006,626
1990 42,869,283 1,898,220
1989 42,449,038 1,789,851
1988 42,031,247 1,681,788
1987 41,621,690 1,574,244
1986 41,213,674 1,467,383
1985 40,805,744 1,377,911
1984 40,405,956 1,305,996
1983 39,910,403 1,235,305
1982 39,326,352 1,166,370
1981 38,723,248 1,099,855
1980 38,123,775 1,015,700
1979 37,534,236 912,010
1978 36,969,185 809,274
1977 36,411,795 710,209
1976 35,848,523 615,866
1975 35,280,725 542,856
1974 34,692,266 489,087
1973 34,103,149 436,399
1972 33,505,406 385,014
1971 32,882,704 335,027
1970 32,240,827 286,536
1969 31,544,266 239,660
1968 30,838,302 199,416
1967 30,130,983 179,700
1966 29,435,571 173,976
1965 28,704,674 167,103
1964 27,984,155 159,692
1963 27,261,747 152,211
1962 26,513,030 144,946
1961 25,765,673 137,989
1960 25,012,374 131,334

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Fertility rates in South Korea and United Arab Emirates

Fertility rate
South Korea

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Korea UAE
2023 0.72 1.2
2022 0.78 1.15
2021 0.81 1.16
2020 0.84 1.29
2019 0.92 1.25
2018 0.98 1.29
2017 1.05 1.35
2016 1.17 1.37
2015 1.24 1.42
2014 1.21 1.48
2013 1.19 1.53
2012 1.3 1.53
2011 1.24 1.54
2010 1.23 1.57
2009 1.15 1.58
2008 1.19 1.52
2007 1.26 1.79
2006 1.13 1.96
2005 1.09 2.23
2004 1.16 2.38
2003 1.19 2.49
2002 1.18 2.54
2001 1.31 2.62
2000 1.48 2.73
1999 1.43 2.79
1998 1.46 2.77
1997 1.54 2.83
1996 1.57 3.06
1995 1.63 3.28
1994 1.66 3.76
1993 1.65 3.82
1992 1.76 4.09
1991 1.71 4.25
1990 1.57 4.51
1989 1.56 4.65
1988 1.55 4.77
1987 1.53 4.88
1986 1.58 5
1985 1.66 5.13
1984 1.74 5.3
1983 2.06 5.48
1982 2.39 5.66
1981 2.57 5.81
1980 2.82 5.95
1979 2.9 6.06
1978 2.64 6.15
1977 2.99 6.22
1976 3 6.29
1975 3.43 6.35
1974 3.77 6.41
1973 4.07 6.46
1972 4.12 6.5
1971 4.54 6.52
1970 4.53 6.52
1969 4.45 6.52
1968 4.51 6.53
1967 4.62 6.51
1966 4.78 6.5
1965 4.89 6.5
1964 5.07 6.49
1963 5.33 6.5
1962 5.56 6.49
1961 5.8 6.49
1960 5.99 6.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

South Korea and United Arab Emirates demographics compared

Median age
South Korea

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Median age, years
South Korea UAE
2024 46.1 32.6
2023 45.5 32.2
2022 44.9 31.9
2021 44.4 31.9
2020 43.8 31.8
2019 43.1 31.8
2018 42.5 31.8
2017 41.9 31.8
2016 41.4 31.8
2015 40.8 31.8
2014 40.2 31.8
2013 39.5 31.7
2012 38.8 31.7
2011 38.2 31.7
2010 37.6 31.7
2009 37 31.6
2008 36.4 31.6
2007 35.8 31.6
2006 35.2 31.4
2005 34.5 30.9
2004 33.9 30.3
2003 33.4 29.6
2002 32.8 29.1
2001 32.3 28.6
2000 31.7 28.2
1999 31.2 28
1998 30.7 27.9
1997 30.2 27.9
1996 29.8 28.1
1995 29.4 28
1994 28.9 27.4
1993 28.3 26.8
1992 27.8 26.4
1991 27.2 26
1990 26.7 25.8
1989 26.3 25.8
1988 25.8 25.9
1987 25.3 26.1
1986 24.8 26.5
1985 24.2 26.6
1984 23.7 26.4
1983 23.3 26.4
1982 22.8 26.4
1981 22.5 26.4
1980 22.1 26.2
1979 21.6 25.8
1978 21.1 25.5
1977 20.7 25.4
1976 20.2 25.6
1975 19.9 25.4
1974 19.6 24.7
1973 19.3 24.1
1972 19.1 23.6
1971 19 23.2
1970 18.9 23
1969 18.8 23.1
1968 18.7 23.5
1967 18.6 23.3
1966 18.5 22.6
1965 18.6 22
1964 18.8 21.5
1963 19 21
1962 19.1 20.6
1961 19.2 20.1
1960 19.3 19.6

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-korea/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Korea UAE
GNI, Atlas method
$1.9T
2024
$566B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
21.4%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.81%
2022
3.89%
2021
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.56%
2024
5.64%
2014
Armed forces personnel
569,000
2020
63,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.78%
2024
+6.41%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.78%
2024
1.88%
2024
Services, % of GDP
57.5%
2024
54.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.9%
2024
44.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
73.7
2026
71.9
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2021
20.5%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2021
2.8%
2018
Number of millionaires
1,301,000
2025
339,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
2.96%
2025
3.89%
2025
Number of billionaires
30
2025
6
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00007%
2025
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
2,599
2024
154
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.56T
2024
$1.05T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$418B
2024
$238B
2024
Personal remittances received
$7.45B
2024
$1.8B
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,519,000
2020
8,084,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.94%
2020
n/a
Banked people share
96.9%
2024
85.7%
2021

Energy

South Korea UAE
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
5,337 kg
2023
8,336 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.8
2023
$9.01
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
588 megatons
2024
200.6 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
11.4 tons
2024
18.3 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
79.1%
2023
92.7%
2022
Renewable energy use share
3.6%
2021
1%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
18.5%
2023
7.24%
2022
Net energy imports use share
84.6%
2023
-171.5%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
11,426 kWh
2023
14,688 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
6.59%
2021
4.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.23%
2023
0%
2021
Nuclear share
29.6%
2023
13.3%
2022
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

South Korea UAE
% of world population
0.64%
2024
0.14%
2024
Annual migration change
+65,731
2025
+158,634
2025
Urban population
81.2%
2024
85.8%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.9:50.1
2024
63.9:36.1
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.71 ft
2025
Average female height
5.35 ft
2025
5.27 ft
2025
Quality of life index
87.4
2026
84
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
63
2025
69
2025
Higher education index
86
2026
66
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.48
2023
0.75
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
8.6
2019
8.9
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
181
2025
Adult literacy rate
98.8%
2018
98.8%
2024
English speaking
20%
2025
65%
2025
People using the Internet
97.9%
2024
100%
2024

Health

South Korea UAE
Government health expenditure per capita
$3,137
2024
$2,402
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,058
2024
$232.1
2023
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
83.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.61
2022
2.99
2023
Age at first childbirth
32.2 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
3
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.8
2023
5
2023
Obesity rate
7.24%
2022
32.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.6%
2024
20.7%
2024
Air quality index
46
2026
11
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20%
2022
9%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.79 liters
2020
2.08 liters
2020

Territory

South Korea UAE
% of world land
0.07%
2026
0.05%
2026
Land area per capita
728 sq mi
2024
2,496 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,054 sq mi
2026
1,512 sq mi
2026
Forest area
24,158 sq mi
2026
1,225 sq mi
2026
Roads length
68,794 mi
2018
2,535 mi
2008

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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