United States vs South Korea
Every indicator for United States and South Korea side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | United States | South Korea | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 341,784,857 | 51,684,564 | +561.3% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 30,770 | 1,872 | +1,543.7% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 90,027 | 36,227 | +148.5% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.9 | 83.6 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,831,510 | 100,450 | +9,687.5% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 35 | 515 | −93.2% |
| Median age (years) | 38.3 | 45.5 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 94.7 | 97.9 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.2 | 2.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.9 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 80.2 | 81.2 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 997,309 | 47,571 | +1,996.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 3.42 | 2.56 | +33.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 9.11 | 11.32 | −19.5% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 2,918 | 920 | +217.0% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 1,395,000 | 569,000 | +145.2% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 4.1 | 11.0 | −62.9% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.84 | 2.01 | −58.2% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of United States relative to South Korea; a positive value favors United States. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
United States is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while South Korea leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in area, about 98 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of government spending.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 9,831,510 against South Korea's 100,450 — roughly 98 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 997,309 against South Korea's 47,571 — roughly 21 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 30,770 against South Korea's 1,872 — roughly 16 times as much.
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 515 against United States's 35 — roughly 15 times as much.
- United States's population (2025) (341,784,857) is about 6.6 times South Korea's (51,684,564).
Frequently asked questions
Where do United States and South Korea differ most?
Where are United States and South Korea most alike?
On how many indicators is United States ahead of South Korea?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving United States or South Korea.
United States profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.