United Kingdom vs South Korea
Every indicator for United Kingdom and South Korea side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | United Kingdom | South Korea | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 69,487,000 | 51,684,564 | +34.4% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 4,003 | 1,872 | +113.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 57,602 | 36,227 | +59.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.4 | 83.6 | — |
| Area (km²) | 243,610 | 100,450 | +142.5% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 285 | 515 | −44.6% |
| Median age (years) | 40.6 | 45.5 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.5 | 97.9 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.7 | 2.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.9 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 83.3 | 81.2 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 81,763 | 47,571 | +71.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.28 | 2.56 | −10.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.25 | 11.32 | −53.6% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,177 | 920 | +27.8% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 153,000 | 569,000 | −73.1% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.2 | 11.0 | −80.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.45 | 2.01 | −77.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of United Kingdom relative to South Korea; a positive value favors United Kingdom. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: United Kingdom 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 as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- South Korea's armed forces per 1,000 people (11.0) is about 5.0 times United Kingdom's (2.2).
- South Korea's armed forces as a share of the labor force (2.01) is about 4.5 times United Kingdom's (0.45).
- South Korea's armed forces personnel (2020) (569,000) is about 3.7 times United Kingdom's (153,000).
- United Kingdom's area (243,610) is about 2.4 times South Korea's (100,450).
- South Korea's military expenditure as a share of government spending (11.32) is about 2.2 times United Kingdom's (5.25).
Frequently asked questions
Where do United Kingdom and South Korea differ most?
Where are United Kingdom and South Korea most alike?
On how many indicators is United Kingdom 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 Kingdom or South Korea.
United Kingdom profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.