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South Korea vs United Kingdom statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Korea has a population of 51.8M (ranked 29/197), compared with 69.2M in The United Kingdom (ranked 21/197). South Korea's land area is 37,684 sq mi versus 93,410 sq mi for The United Kingdom (ranked 105th vs. 78th).

By GDP, South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T) and The United Kingdom ranks 6/197 ($3.69T). By GDP per capita, South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239), while The United Kingdom ranks 22/197 ($53,246).

Main facts and rankings

South Korea United Kingdom
Population
51649918
70154914
Population rank 31/197 22/197
GDP
$1.88T
2024
$3.69T
2024
GDP rank 12/197 6/197
GDP per capita
$36,239
2024
$53,246
2024
GDP per capita rank 31/197 22/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$61,051
2024
$62,009
2024
Government debt
$934B
2024
$3.73T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
49.8%
2024
101.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$18,052
2024
$53,900
2024
Government debt per person rank 33/185 7/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$27,215
2026
$39,230
2026
Land area 37,684 sq mi 93,410 sq mi
Population density
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
750 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
0.72
2023
1.56
2023
Median age
46.1 years
2024
41 years
2024
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
81.7 years
2026

South Korea and United Kingdom: Comparison Charts

South Korea and United Kingdom economies compared

GDP
South Korea

United Kingdom
1x
Year GDP
South Korea United Kingdom
2024 $1,875,388,209,407 $3,686,033,044,482
2023 $1,844,800,934,392 $3,420,796,653,789
2022 $1,799,363,116,867 $3,181,244,350,465
2021 $1,942,313,560,966 $3,194,559,188,926
2020 $1,744,070,276,373 $2,724,001,478,305
2019 $1,751,045,752,055 $2,875,710,080,015
2018 $1,824,251,454,307 $2,897,028,009,916
2017 $1,710,196,756,713 $2,699,118,387,873
2016 $1,579,150,518,945 $2,706,807,606,539
2015 $1,539,212,301,136 $2,945,579,890,258
2014 $1,556,252,422,020 $3,085,362,169,410
2013 $1,434,669,686,502 $2,796,908,333,283
2012 $1,335,343,586,438 $2,719,715,961,540
2011 $1,307,103,477,219 $2,675,590,034,129
2010 $1,192,830,015,738 $2,496,740,681,057
2009 $983,065,242,417 $2,429,358,155,476
2008 $1,091,580,692,542 $2,945,251,838,235
2007 $1,220,911,904,593 $3,104,699,879,952
2006 $1,095,175,538,508 $2,719,558,417,663
2005 $971,740,329,984 $2,551,361,818,182
2004 $823,251,107,639 $2,429,774,807,763
2003 $728,516,494,684 $2,061,227,755,102
2002 $650,014,391,470 $1,790,536,570,743
2001 $567,564,806,235 $1,656,171,009,069
2000 $597,487,173,479 $1,671,597,821,153
1999 $515,697,079,289 $1,693,458,987,219
1998 $397,297,216,492 $1,660,821,464,061
1997 $589,202,526,424 $1,569,317,288,802
1996 $631,196,863,758 $1,425,287,051,482
1995 $586,286,469,401 $1,349,094,208,616
1994 $479,181,794,217 $1,140,489,745,944
1993 $405,705,302,846 $1,061,388,722,256
1992 $366,921,291,825 $1,179,659,529,660
1991 $340,851,946,804 $1,142,797,178,131
1990 $292,064,221,389 $1,093,169,389,205
1989 $254,236,243,100 $926,884,816,754
1988 $205,477,530,605 $910,122,732,124
1987 $152,240,393,646 $745,162,608,269
1986 $119,965,960,795 $601,452,653,181
1985 $103,764,281,281 $489,285,164,271
1984 $99,749,645,089 $461,487,097,632
1983 $89,621,208,322 $489,618,008,186
1982 $79,921,300,447 $515,048,916,841
1981 $74,287,368,087 $540,765,675,241
1980 $66,547,970,351 $564,947,710,899
1979 $68,083,884,298 $438,994,070,309
1978 $52,824,793,388 $335,883,029,722
1977 $39,064,462,810 $263,066,457,352
1976 $30,371,074,380 $232,614,555,256
1975 $22,126,033,058 $241,756,637,168
1974 $19,860,929,977 $206,131,369,799
1973 $14,067,523,813 $192,537,971,583
1972 $10,990,490,570 $169,965,034,965
1971 $10,005,257,131 $148,113,896,325
1970 $9,085,001,794 $130,671,946,244
1969 $7,743,940,189 $116,464,702,803
1968 $6,167,109,472 $107,759,910,068
1967 $4,895,076,718 $113,116,888,211
1966 $3,957,064,541 $108,572,752,102
1965 $3,141,131,708 $101,824,755,079
1964 $3,476,789,682 $94,407,558,351
1963 $4,007,692,308 $86,561,961,812
1962 $2,826,923,077 $81,247,564,157
1961 $2,427,244,761 $77,741,965,703
1960 $3,973,069,307 $73,233,967,692

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

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

South Korea and United Kingdom economies compared

GDP per capita
South Korea

United Kingdom
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Korea United Kingdom
2024 $36,239 $53,246
2023 $35,674 $49,944
2022 $34,822 $47,057
2021 $37,518 $47,691
2020 $33,646 $40,813
2019 $33,827 $43,159
2018 $35,364 $43,703
2017 $33,297 $40,917
2016 $30,832 $41,258
2015 $30,172 $45,255
2014 $30,667 $47,746
2013 $28,449 $43,607
2012 $26,601 $42,688
2011 $26,175 $42,296
2010 $24,071 $39,778
2009 $19,937 $39,009
2008 $22,252 $47,652
2007 $25,078 $50,629
2006 $22,610 $44,695
2005 $20,167 $42,240
2004 $17,122 $40,504
2003 $15,212 $34,557
2002 $13,643 $30,159
2001 $11,981 $28,014
2000 $12,710 $28,384
1999 $11,063 $28,858
1998 $8,583 $28,396
1997 $12,822 $26,910
1996 $13,865 $24,503
1995 $13,002 $23,253
1994 $10,734 $19,709
1993 $9,180 $18,389
1992 $8,387 $20,487
1991 $7,873 $19,901
1990 $6,813 $19,095
1989 $5,989 $16,239
1988 $4,889 $15,987
1987 $3,658 $13,119
1986 $2,911 $10,611
1985 $2,543 $8,652
1984 $2,469 $8,179
1983 $2,246 $8,692
1982 $2,032 $9,146
1981 $1,918 $9,599
1980 $1,746 $10,032
1979 $1,814 $7,805
1978 $1,429 $5,977
1977 $1,073 $4,681
1976 $847 $4,138
1975 $627 $4,300
1974 $572 $3,666
1973 $412 $3,426
1972 $328 $3,030
1971 $304 $2,650
1970 $281.8 $2,348
1969 $245.5 $2,101
1968 $200 $1,952
1967 $162.5 $2,059
1966 $134.4 $1,987
1965 $109.4 $1,874
1964 $124.2 $1,748
1963 $147 $1,613
1962 $106.6 $1,526
1961 $94.2 $1,472
1960 $158.8 $1,398

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

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

South Korea vs. United Kingdom life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Korea

United Kingdom
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Korea United Kingdom
2026 84.6 81.7
2025 84.5 81.6
2024 84.4 81.4
2023 84.3 81.3
2022 82.7 81.1
2021 83.9 80.7
2020 83.7 80.4
2019 83.7 81.4
2018 83.3 81.1
2017 83.3 81.2
2016 82.9 81.1
2015 82.5 80.9
2014 82.4 81.2
2013 81.8 80.9
2012 81.3 80.9
2011 81.2 80.8
2010 80.7 80.4
2009 80.6 80.2
2008 80 79.7
2007 79.4 79.5
2006 79 79.3
2005 78.4 79.1
2004 78 78.9
2003 77.5 78.3
2002 77.2 78.2
2001 76.9 78.1
2000 76.2 77.8
1999 75.6 77.4
1998 75 77.3
1997 74.5 77.1
1996 74 76.9
1995 73.4 76.6
1994 72.9 76.7
1993 72.7 76.2
1992 72.2 76.3
1991 71.4 75.9
1990 71 75.7
1989 70.7 75.4
1988 70.2 75.3
1987 69.3 75.1
1986 69 74.8
1985 68.4 74.5
1984 68.1 74.7
1983 66.7 74.3
1982 67.1 74
1981 67.1 73.9
1980 64.8 73.6
1979 66.1 73.2
1978 65 73
1977 64.6 73.1
1976 65 72.6
1975 64.7 72.7
1974 64.2 72.4
1973 63.8 72.2
1972 63.2 72
1971 62.7 72.2
1970 62.2 71.9
1969 61.4 71.7
1968 60.9 71.7
1967 60.9 72.1
1966 55.4 71.4
1965 55.8 71.5
1964 55.3 71.5
1963 55 70.8
1962 55 70.9
1961 54.4 70.8
1960 53.8 71
1959 52.9 70.8
1958 51.8 70.7
1957 51.6 70.5
1956 50.2 70.4
1955 48.4 70.1
1954 46.1 70.2
1953 40.5 69.8
1952 36.6 69.5
1951 26.6 68.2
1950 22.2 68.6

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

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

South Korea and United Kingdom population clocks and comparison

Population
South Korea

United Kingdom
1x
Year Population
South Korea United Kingdom
2024 51,751,065 69,226,000
2023 51,712,619 68,492,000
2022 51,672,569 67,604,000
2021 51,769,539 66,984,000
2020 51,836,239 66,744,000
2019 51,764,822 66,631,000
2018 51,585,058 66,289,000
2017 51,361,911 65,966,000
2016 51,217,803 65,607,000
2015 51,014,947 65,088,000
2014 50,746,659 64,620,000
2013 50,428,893 64,139,000
2012 50,199,853 63,711,000
2011 49,936,638 63,258,810
2010 49,554,112 62,766,365
2009 49,307,835 62,276,270
2008 49,054,708 61,806,995
2007 48,683,638 61,322,463
2006 48,438,292 60,846,820
2005 48,184,561 60,401,206
2004 48,082,519 59,987,905
2003 47,892,330 59,647,577
2002 47,644,736 59,370,479
2001 47,370,164 59,119,673
2000 47,008,111 58,892,514
1999 46,616,677 58,682,466
1998 46,286,503 58,487,141
1997 45,953,580 58,316,954
1996 45,524,681 58,166,950
1995 45,092,991 58,019,030
1994 44,641,540 57,865,745
1993 44,194,628 57,718,614
1992 43,747,962 57,580,402
1991 43,295,704 57,424,897
1990 42,869,283 57,247,586
1989 42,449,038 57,076,711
1988 42,031,247 56,928,327
1987 41,621,690 56,802,050
1986 41,213,674 56,681,396
1985 40,805,744 56,550,268
1984 40,405,956 56,422,072
1983 39,910,403 56,332,848
1982 39,326,352 56,313,641
1981 38,723,248 56,333,829
1980 38,123,775 56,314,216
1979 37,534,236 56,246,951
1978 36,969,185 56,196,504
1977 36,411,795 56,193,492
1976 35,848,523 56,211,968
1975 35,280,725 56,225,800
1974 34,692,266 56,229,974
1973 34,103,149 56,194,527
1972 33,505,406 56,086,065
1971 32,882,704 55,896,223
1970 32,240,827 55,663,250
1969 31,544,266 55,441,750
1968 30,838,302 55,211,700
1967 30,130,983 54,943,600
1966 29,435,571 54,648,500
1965 28,704,674 54,348,050
1964 27,984,155 54,000,000
1963 27,261,747 53,650,000
1962 26,513,030 53,250,000
1961 25,765,673 52,800,000
1960 25,012,374 52,400,000

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

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

Fertility rates in South Korea and United Kingdom

Fertility rate
South Korea

United Kingdom
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Korea United Kingdom
2023 0.72 1.56
2022 0.78 1.56
2021 0.81 1.58
2020 0.84 1.57
2019 0.92 1.63
2018 0.98 1.68
2017 1.05 1.74
2016 1.17 1.79
2015 1.24 1.8
2014 1.21 1.81
2013 1.19 1.83
2012 1.3 1.92
2011 1.24 1.91
2010 1.23 1.92
2009 1.15 1.89
2008 1.19 1.91
2007 1.26 1.86
2006 1.13 1.82
2005 1.09 1.76
2004 1.16 1.75
2003 1.19 1.7
2002 1.18 1.63
2001 1.31 1.63
2000 1.48 1.64
1999 1.43 1.68
1998 1.46 1.71
1997 1.54 1.72
1996 1.57 1.73
1995 1.63 1.71
1994 1.66 1.74
1993 1.65 1.76
1992 1.76 1.79
1991 1.71 1.82
1990 1.57 1.83
1989 1.56 1.79
1988 1.55 1.82
1987 1.53 1.81
1986 1.58 1.78
1985 1.66 1.79
1984 1.74 1.77
1983 2.06 1.77
1982 2.39 1.78
1981 2.57 1.82
1980 2.82 1.9
1979 2.9 1.86
1978 2.64 1.75
1977 2.99 1.69
1976 3 1.74
1975 3.43 1.81
1974 3.77 1.92
1973 4.07 2.04
1972 4.12 2.2
1971 4.54 2.41
1970 4.53 2.44
1969 4.45 2.51
1968 4.51 2.6
1967 4.62 2.68
1966 4.78 2.78
1965 4.89 2.86
1964 5.07 2.93
1963 5.33 2.88
1962 5.56 2.86
1961 5.8 2.78
1960 5.99 2.69

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

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

South Korea and United Kingdom demographics compared

Median age
South Korea

United Kingdom
1x
Year Median age, years
South Korea United Kingdom
2024 46.1 41
2023 45.5 40.8
2022 44.9 40.5
2021 44.4 40.3
2020 43.8 40.2
2019 43.1 40.1
2018 42.5 40
2017 41.9 39.9
2016 41.4 39.8
2015 40.8 39.8
2014 40.2 39.7
2013 39.5 39.6
2012 38.8 39.5
2011 38.2 39.3
2010 37.6 39.2
2009 37 39
2008 36.4 38.9
2007 35.8 38.8
2006 35.2 38.6
2005 34.5 38.5
2004 33.9 38.4
2003 33.4 38.2
2002 32.8 38.1
2001 32.3 37.9
2000 31.7 37.7
1999 31.2 37.4
1998 30.7 37.2
1997 30.2 37
1996 29.8 36.8
1995 29.4 36.6
1994 28.9 36.5
1993 28.3 36.3
1992 27.8 36.2
1991 27.2 36.1
1990 26.7 36
1989 26.3 35.9
1988 25.8 35.7
1987 25.3 35.4
1986 24.8 35.4
1985 24.2 35.3
1984 23.7 35.2
1983 23.3 35
1982 22.8 34.8
1981 22.5 34.5
1980 22.1 34.4
1979 21.6 34.3
1978 21.1 34.2
1977 20.7 34.1
1976 20.2 34
1975 19.9 34
1974 19.6 34
1973 19.3 34
1972 19.1 34
1971 19 34.1
1970 18.9 34.2
1969 18.8 34.4
1968 18.7 34.6
1967 18.6 34.8
1966 18.5 34.9
1965 18.6 35.1
1964 18.8 35.2
1963 19 35.3
1962 19.1 35.3
1961 19.2 35.4
1960 19.3 35.5

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Korea United Kingdom
GNI, Atlas method
$1.9T
2024
$3.42T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
44%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.81%
2022
4.96%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.56%
2024
2.28%
2024
Armed forces personnel
569,000
2020
153,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.78%
2024
-5.75%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.78%
2024
4.36%
2024
Services, % of GDP
57.5%
2024
72.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.9%
2024
17.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
73.7
2026
70.4
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2021
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2021
3%
2021
Number of millionaires
1,301,000
2025
2,624,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
2.96%
2025
4.93%
2025
Number of billionaires
30
2025
55
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00007%
2025
0.0001%
2025
Listed domestic companies
2,599
2024
1,606
2022
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.56T
2024
$3.1T
2022
Total reserves including gold
$418B
2024
$175B
2024
Personal remittances received
$7.45B
2024
$4.83B
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,519,000
2020
11,101,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.94%
2020
8.24%
1998
Banked people share
96.9%
2024
99.3%
2024

Energy

South Korea United Kingdom
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
5,337 kg
2023
2,128 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.8
2023
$28.2
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
588 megatons
2024
292.4 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
11.4 tons
2024
4.22 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
79.1%
2023
75.5%
2023
Renewable energy use share
3.6%
2021
12.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
18.5%
2023
13.4%
2023
Net energy imports use share
84.6%
2023
44%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
11,426 kWh
2023
4,208 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
6.59%
2021
40.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.23%
2023
2.51%
2023
Nuclear share
29.6%
2023
13.8%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

South Korea United Kingdom
% of world population
0.64%
2024
0.85%
2024
Annual migration change
+65,731
2025
+389,911
2025
Urban population
81.2%
2024
83.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.9:50.1
2024
49.2:50.8
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.85 ft
2025
Average female height
5.35 ft
2025
5.38 ft
2025
Quality of life index
87.4
2026
91
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
63
2025
70
2025
Higher education index
86
2026
100
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.48
2023
1.15
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
8.6
2019
3.2
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
167
2025
Adult literacy rate
98.8%
2018
99%
2003
English speaking
20%
2025
98.3%
2023
People using the Internet
97.9%
2024
96.3%
2023

Health

South Korea United Kingdom
Government health expenditure per capita
$3,137
2024
$5,860
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,058
2024
$853
2024
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
81.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0.009%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.61
2022
3.3
2023
Age at first childbirth
32.2 years
2025
29 years
2018
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
8
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.8
2023
4.5
2023
Obesity rate
7.24%
2022
27.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.6%
2024
7.4%
2024
Air quality index
46
2026
83
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20%
2022
14.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.79 liters
2020
10.7 liters
2020

Territory

South Korea United Kingdom
% of world land
0.07%
2026
0.16%
2026
Land area per capita
728 sq mi
2024
1,349 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,054 sq mi
2026
65,674 sq mi
2026
Forest area
24,158 sq mi
2026
12,415 sq mi
2026
Roads length
68,794 mi
2018
263,542 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)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2018, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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