China vs South Korea
Every indicator for China and South Korea side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | China | South Korea | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 1,406,585,000 | 51,684,564 | +2,621.5% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 19,498 | 1,872 | +941.6% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 13,862 | 36,227 | −61.7% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 83.6 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,562,910 | 100,450 | +9,420.1% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 147 | 515 | −71.4% |
| Median age (years) | 39.6 | 45.5 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 91.6 | 97.9 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 2.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.1 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 66.3 | 81.2 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 313,658 | 47,571 | +559.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.71 | 2.56 | −33.2% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 11.32 | −55.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 223 | 920 | −75.8% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 2,535,000 | 569,000 | +345.5% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.8 | 11.0 | −83.6% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.33 | 2.01 | −83.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of China relative to South Korea; a positive value favors China. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
South Korea is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while China leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in area, about 95 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 9,562,910 against South Korea's 100,450 — roughly 95 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 1,406,585,000 against South Korea's 51,684,564 — roughly 27 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 19,498 against South Korea's 1,872 — roughly 10 times as much.
- China's military expenditure (2024) (313,658) is about 6.6 times South Korea's (47,571).
- South Korea's armed forces per 1,000 people (11.0) is about 6.1 times China's (1.8).
Frequently asked questions
Where do China and South Korea differ most?
Where are China and South Korea most alike?
On how many indicators is China 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 China or South Korea.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.