Germany vs South Korea
Every indicator for Germany and South Korea side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Germany | South Korea | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 83,491,249 | 51,684,564 | +61.5% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 5,051 | 1,872 | +169.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 60,496 | 36,227 | +67.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.8 | 83.6 | — |
| Area (km²) | 357,680 | 100,450 | +256.1% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 233 | 515 | −54.6% |
| Median age (years) | 46.7 | 45.5 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 93.5 | 97.9 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.7 | 2.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.2 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 82.1 | 81.2 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 88,458 | 47,571 | +85.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.89 | 2.56 | −26.2% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.93 | 11.32 | −65.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,059 | 920 | +15.1% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 183,000 | 569,000 | −67.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.2 | 11.0 | −80.1% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.42 | 2.01 | −79.1% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Germany relative to South Korea; a positive value favors Germany. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: Germany is higher on 6 of 12 indicators, South Korea on 6. The widest separation is in armed forces per 1,000 people (about 5.0×); they are closest on military expenditure per capita.
Key differences
- South Korea's armed forces per 1,000 people (11.0) is about 5.0 times Germany's (2.2).
- South Korea's armed forces as a share of the labor force (2.01) is about 4.8 times Germany's (0.42).
- Germany's area (357,680) is about 3.6 times South Korea's (100,450).
- South Korea's armed forces personnel (2020) (569,000) is about 3.1 times Germany's (183,000).
- South Korea's military expenditure as a share of government spending (11.32) is about 2.9 times Germany's (3.93).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Germany and South Korea differ most?
Where are Germany and South Korea most alike?
On how many indicators is Germany 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 Germany or South Korea.
Germany profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.