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South Korea vs Vietnam statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Korea has a population of 51.8M (ranked 29/197), compared with 101M in Vietnam (ranked 16/197). South Korea's land area is 37,684 sq mi versus 121,016 sq mi for Vietnam (ranked 105th vs. 67th).

By GDP, South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T) and Vietnam ranks 33/197 ($476B). By GDP per capita, South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239), while Vietnam ranks 122/197 ($4,717).

Main facts and rankings

South Korea Vietnam
Population
51649918
102365351
Population rank 31/197 16/197
GDP
$1.88T
2024
$476B
2024
GDP rank 12/197 33/197
GDP per capita
$36,239
2024
$4,717
2024
GDP per capita rank 31/197 122/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$61,051
2024
$16,386
2024
Government debt
$934B
2024
$149B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
49.8%
2024
31.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$18,052
2024
$1,475
2024
Government debt per person rank 33/185 132/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$27,215
2026
$4,020
2026
Land area 37,684 sq mi 121,016 sq mi
Population density
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
845 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
0.72
2023
1.91
2023
Median age
46.1 years
2024
33.9 years
2024
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
75 years
2026

South Korea and Vietnam: Comparison Charts

South Korea and Vietnam economies compared

GDP
South Korea

Vietnam
1x
Year GDP
South Korea Vietnam
2024 $1,875,388,209,407 $476,388,230,307
2023 $1,844,800,934,392 $433,857,681,378
2022 $1,799,363,116,867 $413,445,230,669
2021 $1,942,313,560,966 $366,474,752,771
2020 $1,744,070,276,373 $346,615,738,538
2019 $1,751,045,752,055 $334,365,270,497
2018 $1,824,251,454,307 $310,106,478,395
2017 $1,710,196,756,713 $281,353,605,987
2016 $1,579,150,518,945 $257,096,001,178
2015 $1,539,212,301,136 $239,258,328,382
2014 $1,556,252,422,020 $233,451,469,643
2013 $1,434,669,686,502 $213,708,811,665
2012 $1,335,343,586,438 $195,590,661,129
2011 $1,307,103,477,219 $172,595,049,184
2010 $1,192,830,015,738 $147,201,173,197
2009 $983,065,242,417 $106,014,659,565
2008 $1,091,580,692,542 $99,130,304,099
2007 $1,220,911,904,593 $77,414,425,532
2006 $1,095,175,538,508 $66,371,664,817
2005 $971,740,329,984 $57,633,255,738
2004 $823,251,107,639 $45,427,854,693
2003 $728,516,494,684 $39,552,513,232
2002 $650,014,391,470 $35,064,105,501
2001 $567,564,806,235 $32,685,198,809
2000 $597,487,173,479 $31,172,518,403
1999 $515,697,079,289 $28,683,659,007
1998 $397,297,216,492 $27,209,602,050
1997 $589,202,526,424 $26,843,700,442
1996 $631,196,863,758 $24,657,470,575
1995 $586,286,469,401 $20,736,164,459
1994 $479,181,794,217 $16,286,433,533
1993 $405,705,302,846 $13,180,953,598
1992 $366,921,291,825 $9,866,990,236
1991 $340,851,946,804 $9,613,369,520
1990 $292,064,221,389 $6,471,740,806
1989 $254,236,243,100 $6,293,304,975
1988 $205,477,530,605 $25,423,812,649
1987 $152,240,393,646 $36,658,108,850
1986 $119,965,960,795 $26,336,616,250
1985 $103,764,281,281 $14,094,687,821
1984 $99,749,645,089 -
1983 $89,621,208,322 -
1982 $79,921,300,447 -
1981 $74,287,368,087 -
1980 $66,547,970,351 -
1979 $68,083,884,298 -
1978 $52,824,793,388 -
1977 $39,064,462,810 -
1976 $30,371,074,380 -
1975 $22,126,033,058 -
1974 $19,860,929,977 -
1973 $14,067,523,813 -
1972 $10,990,490,570 -
1971 $10,005,257,131 -
1970 $9,085,001,794 -
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/vietnam | CC BY

South Korea and Vietnam economies compared

GDP per capita
South Korea

Vietnam
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Korea Vietnam
2024 $36,239 $4,717
2023 $35,674 $4,323
2022 $34,822 $4,148
2021 $37,518 $3,704
2020 $33,646 $3,534
2019 $33,827 $3,441
2018 $35,364 $3,222
2017 $33,297 $2,956
2016 $30,832 $2,735
2015 $30,172 $2,578
2014 $30,667 $2,546
2013 $28,449 $2,360
2012 $26,601 $2,185
2011 $26,175 $1,951
2010 $24,071 $1,683
2009 $19,937 $1,226
2008 $22,252 $1,164
2007 $25,078 $926
2006 $22,610 $808
2005 $20,167 $711
2004 $17,122 $565
2003 $15,212 $497
2002 $13,643 $445
2001 $11,981 $419
2000 $12,710 $404
1999 $11,063 $376
1998 $8,583 $361
1997 $12,822 $362
1996 $13,865 $337
1995 $13,002 $287.8
1994 $10,734 $229.9
1993 $9,180 $189.4
1992 $8,387 $144.5
1991 $7,873 $143.7
1990 $6,813 $98.8
1989 $5,989 $98.1
1988 $4,889 $405
1987 $3,658 $595
1986 $2,911 $436
1985 $2,543 $238.6
1984 $2,469 -
1983 $2,246 -
1982 $2,032 -
1981 $1,918 -
1980 $1,746 -
1979 $1,814 -
1978 $1,429 -
1977 $1,073 -
1976 $847 -
1975 $627 -
1974 $572 -
1973 $412 -
1972 $328 -
1971 $304 -
1970 $281.8 -
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/vietnam | CC BY

South Korea vs. Vietnam life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Korea

Vietnam
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Korea Vietnam
2026 84.6 75
2025 84.5 74.9
2024 84.4 74.7
2023 84.3 74.6
2022 82.7 74.5
2021 83.9 74.1
2020 83.7 75.4
2019 83.7 74.2
2018 83.3 74.1
2017 83.3 74
2016 82.9 74
2015 82.5 74
2014 82.4 73.9
2013 81.8 73.8
2012 81.3 73.8
2011 81.2 73.7
2010 80.7 73.6
2009 80.6 73.5
2008 80 73.5
2007 79.4 73.4
2006 79 73.3
2005 78.4 73.2
2004 78 73.1
2003 77.5 73.2
2002 77.2 73.1
2001 76.9 73
2000 76.2 72.7
1999 75.6 72.6
1998 75 72.3
1997 74.5 71.7
1996 74 71.3
1995 73.4 70.9
1994 72.9 70.4
1993 72.7 70
1992 72.2 69.6
1991 71.4 69.3
1990 71 69
1989 70.7 68.8
1988 70.2 68.6
1987 69.3 68
1986 69 67.6
1985 68.4 67.2
1984 68.1 66.9
1983 66.7 66.5
1982 67.1 66.2
1981 67.1 65.8
1980 64.8 65.3
1979 66.1 65
1978 65 64.5
1977 64.6 64.1
1976 65 63.7
1975 64.7 61.9
1974 64.2 54.8
1973 63.8 55.7
1972 63.2 51.9
1971 62.7 55.6
1970 62.2 54.9
1969 61.4 54.8
1968 60.9 52.7
1967 60.9 56.7
1966 55.4 56.9
1965 55.8 57
1964 55.3 57.5
1963 55 56.9
1962 55 58.2
1961 54.4 58.5
1960 53.8 58
1959 52.9 57.4
1958 51.8 56.8
1957 51.6 56.2
1956 50.2 55.5
1955 48.4 54.8
1954 46.1 52
1953 40.5 50
1952 36.6 49.4
1951 26.6 48.7
1950 22.2 48

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

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

South Korea and Vietnam population clocks and comparison

Population
South Korea

Vietnam
1x
Year Population
South Korea Vietnam
2024 51,751,065 100,987,686
2023 51,712,619 100,352,192
2022 51,672,569 99,680,655
2021 51,769,539 98,935,098
2020 51,836,239 98,079,191
2019 51,764,822 97,173,776
2018 51,585,058 96,237,319
2017 51,361,911 95,176,977
2016 51,217,803 94,000,117
2015 51,014,947 92,823,254
2014 50,746,659 91,679,578
2013 50,428,893 90,573,104
2012 50,199,853 89,510,356
2011 49,936,638 88,468,314
2010 49,554,112 87,455,152
2009 49,307,835 86,460,018
2008 49,054,708 85,175,788
2007 48,683,638 83,633,375
2006 48,438,292 82,167,897
2005 48,184,561 81,088,313
2004 48,082,519 80,338,971
2003 47,892,330 79,563,777
2002 47,644,736 78,772,224
2001 47,370,164 77,969,361
2000 47,008,111 77,154,011
1999 46,616,677 76,287,452
1998 46,286,503 75,299,660
1997 45,953,580 74,226,889
1996 45,524,681 73,156,447
1995 45,092,991 72,049,940
1994 44,641,540 70,854,391
1993 44,194,628 69,586,384
1992 43,747,962 68,260,337
1991 43,295,704 66,891,775
1990 42,869,283 65,504,552
1989 42,449,038 64,147,348
1988 42,031,247 62,843,228
1987 41,621,690 61,584,651
1986 41,213,674 60,347,048
1985 40,805,744 59,060,622
1984 40,405,956 57,706,067
1983 39,910,403 56,337,921
1982 39,326,352 55,011,289
1981 38,723,248 53,738,141
1980 38,123,775 52,490,101
1979 37,534,236 51,378,211
1978 36,969,185 50,249,552
1977 36,411,795 48,954,872
1976 35,848,523 47,684,931
1975 35,280,725 46,482,903
1974 34,692,266 45,413,537
1973 34,103,149 44,409,861
1972 33,505,406 43,429,168
1971 32,882,704 42,449,276
1970 32,240,827 41,475,230
1969 31,544,266 40,582,096
1968 30,838,302 39,734,609
1967 30,130,983 38,895,080
1966 29,435,571 38,024,836
1965 28,704,674 37,129,656
1964 27,984,155 36,201,563
1963 27,261,747 35,249,101
1962 26,513,030 34,288,560
1961 25,765,673 33,409,059
1960 25,012,374 32,531,933

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

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

Fertility rates in South Korea and Vietnam

Fertility rate
South Korea

Vietnam
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Korea Vietnam
2023 0.72 1.91
2022 0.78 1.93
2021 0.81 1.94
2020 0.84 1.96
2019 0.92 1.94
2018 0.98 1.88
2017 1.05 1.99
2016 1.17 2
2015 1.24 2.1
2014 1.21 2.09
2013 1.19 1.98
2012 1.3 1.97
2011 1.24 1.93
2010 1.23 1.91
2009 1.15 1.92
2008 1.19 1.93
2007 1.26 1.91
2006 1.13 1.87
2005 1.09 1.89
2004 1.16 1.97
2003 1.19 2
2002 1.18 2.01
2001 1.31 2.02
2000 1.48 2.03
1999 1.43 2
1998 1.46 2.1
1997 1.54 2.27
1996 1.57 2.47
1995 1.63 2.7
1994 1.66 2.94
1993 1.65 3.17
1992 1.76 3.35
1991 1.71 3.52
1990 1.57 3.6
1989 1.56 3.64
1988 1.55 3.62
1987 1.53 3.72
1986 1.58 3.96
1985 1.66 4.21
1984 1.74 4.41
1983 2.06 4.52
1982 2.39 4.59
1981 2.57 4.67
1980 2.82 4.8
1979 2.9 4.94
1978 2.64 5.1
1977 2.99 5.29
1976 3 5.46
1975 3.43 5.62
1974 3.77 5.78
1973 4.07 6.11
1972 4.12 6.1
1971 4.54 6.07
1970 4.53 6.02
1969 4.45 6.01
1968 4.51 6.03
1967 4.62 5.88
1966 4.78 5.97
1965 4.89 6.16
1964 5.07 6.29
1963 5.33 6.39
1962 5.56 6.26
1961 5.8 5.48
1960 5.99 6.27

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

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

South Korea and Vietnam demographics compared

Median age
South Korea

Vietnam
1x
Year Median age, years
South Korea Vietnam
2024 46.1 33.9
2023 45.5 33.4
2022 44.9 33
2021 44.4 32.5
2020 43.8 32.1
2019 43.1 31.6
2018 42.5 31.2
2017 41.9 30.8
2016 41.4 30.5
2015 40.8 30.2
2014 40.2 29.8
2013 39.5 29.4
2012 38.8 29
2011 38.2 28.7
2010 37.6 28.3
2009 37 27.9
2008 36.4 27.4
2007 35.8 26.9
2006 35.2 26.3
2005 34.5 25.8
2004 33.9 25.4
2003 33.4 25
2002 32.8 24.6
2001 32.3 24.2
2000 31.7 23.7
1999 31.2 23.3
1998 30.7 22.9
1997 30.2 22.4
1996 29.8 22
1995 29.4 21.7
1994 28.9 21.4
1993 28.3 21.1
1992 27.8 20.9
1991 27.2 20.7
1990 26.7 20.5
1989 26.3 20.4
1988 25.8 20.2
1987 25.3 20.1
1986 24.8 20
1985 24.2 19.9
1984 23.7 19.8
1983 23.3 19.7
1982 22.8 19.6
1981 22.5 19.5
1980 22.1 19.4
1979 21.6 19.3
1978 21.1 19.1
1977 20.7 19
1976 20.2 18.8
1975 19.9 18.7
1974 19.6 18.6
1973 19.3 18.5
1972 19.1 18.5
1971 19 18.4
1970 18.9 18.4
1969 18.8 18.4
1968 18.7 18.4
1967 18.6 18.5
1966 18.5 18.7
1965 18.6 18.9
1964 18.8 19.2
1963 19 19.7
1962 19.1 20.2
1961 19.2 20.7
1960 19.3 21.2

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Korea Vietnam
GNI, Atlas method
$1.9T
2024
$454B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
19.1%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.81%
2022
2.89%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.56%
2024
1.81%
2018
Armed forces personnel
569,000
2020
522,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.78%
2024
-1.54%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.78%
2024
1.53%
2024
Services, % of GDP
57.5%
2024
42.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.9%
2024
37.6%
2024
Economic freedom index
73.7
2026
64.4
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2021
28.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2021
2.6%
2022
Number of millionaires
1,301,000
2025
n/a
Percentage of millionaires
2.96%
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
30
2025
5
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00007%
2025
0.000007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
2,599
2024
393
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.56T
2024
$205B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$418B
2024
$83.1B
2024
Personal remittances received
$7.45B
2024
$16B
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,519,000
2020
3,837,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.94%
2020
1.11%
2020
Banked people share
96.9%
2024
70.6%
2024

Energy

South Korea Vietnam
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
5,337 kg
2023
1,023 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.8
2023
$13.6
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
588 megatons
2024
431 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
11.4 tons
2024
4.27 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
79.1%
2023
79.4%
2022
Renewable energy use share
3.6%
2021
24.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
18.5%
2023
11.3%
2022
Net energy imports use share
84.6%
2023
34%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
11,426 kWh
2023
2,624 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
6.59%
2021
41.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.23%
2023
34.7%
2022
Nuclear share
29.6%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
99.8%
2023

Society

South Korea Vietnam
% of world population
0.64%
2024
1.24%
2024
Annual migration change
+65,731
2025
-48,171
2025
Urban population
81.2%
2024
38.5%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.9:50.1
2024
49:51
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.54 ft
2025
Average female height
5.35 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
87.4
2026
48.9
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
63
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
86
2026
54
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.48
2023
1.54
2011
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
8.6
2019
30.6
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
67
2025
Adult literacy rate
98.8%
2018
96.1%
2022
English speaking
20%
2025
16%
2025
People using the Internet
97.9%
2024
84.2%
2024

Health

South Korea Vietnam
Government health expenditure per capita
$3,137
2024
$197.2
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,058
2024
$77.3
2023
Life expectancy
84.6 years
2026
75 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
1.15%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.61
2022
1.11
2021
Age at first childbirth
32.2 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
48
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.8
2023
20
2023
Obesity rate
7.24%
2022
2.04%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.6%
2024
3.4%
2024
Air quality index
46
2026
20
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20%
2022
22.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.79 liters
2020
8.04 liters
2020

Territory

South Korea Vietnam
% of world land
0.07%
2026
0.21%
2026
Land area per capita
728 sq mi
2024
1,198 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,054 sq mi
2026
47,456 sq mi
2026
Forest area
24,158 sq mi
2026
57,416 sq mi
2026
Roads length
68,794 mi
2018
354,460 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. 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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