Bangladesh vs South Korea
Every indicator for Bangladesh and South Korea side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Bangladesh | South Korea | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 175,686,899 | 51,684,564 | +239.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 456 | 1,872 | −75.6% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 2,597 | 36,227 | −92.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 74.9 | 83.6 | — |
| Area (km²) | 147,570 | 100,450 | +46.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 1,191 | 515 | +131.4% |
| Median age (years) | 26.7 | 45.5 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 53.4 | 97.9 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.8 | 2.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 8.8 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 33.2 | 81.2 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 4,035 | 47,571 | −91.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.94 | 2.56 | −63.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 6.90 | 11.32 | −39.0% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 23 | 920 | −97.5% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 227,000 | 569,000 | −60.1% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.3 | 11.0 | −88.3% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.32 | 2.01 | −84.1% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Bangladesh relative to South Korea; a positive value favors Bangladesh. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
South Korea is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Bangladesh leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in military expenditure per capita, about 40 times; they are closest on area.
Key differences
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 920 against Bangladesh's 23 — roughly 40 times as much.
- GDP per capita shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 36,227 against Bangladesh's 2,597 — roughly 14 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 47,571 against Bangladesh's 4,035 — roughly 12 times as much.
- South Korea's armed forces per 1,000 people (11.0) is about 8.5 times Bangladesh's (1.3).
- South Korea's armed forces as a share of the labor force (2.01) is about 6.3 times Bangladesh's (0.32).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Bangladesh and South Korea differ most?
Where are Bangladesh and South Korea most alike?
On how many indicators is Bangladesh 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 Bangladesh or South Korea.
Bangladesh profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.