Indonesia vs South Korea
Every indicator for Indonesia and South Korea side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Indonesia | South Korea | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 285,721,236 | 51,684,564 | +452.8% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,446 | 1,872 | −22.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 5,060 | 36,227 | −86.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 71.3 | 83.6 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,916,907 | 100,450 | +1,808.3% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 149 | 515 | −71.0% |
| Median age (years) | 30.1 | 45.5 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 72.8 | 97.9 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.2 | 2.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 1.9 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 59.4 | 81.2 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 11,043 | 47,571 | −76.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.78 | 2.56 | −69.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.60 | 11.32 | −59.4% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 39 | 920 | −95.8% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 676,000 | 569,000 | +18.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.4 | 11.0 | −78.5% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.49 | 2.01 | −75.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Indonesia relative to South Korea; a positive value favors Indonesia. 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 Indonesia leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in military expenditure per capita, about 24 times; they are closest on armed forces personnel (2020).
Key differences
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 920 against Indonesia's 39 — roughly 24 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Indonesia stands at 1,916,907 against South Korea's 100,450 — roughly 19 times as much.
- South Korea's gdp per capita (36,227) is about 7.2 times Indonesia's (5,060).
- Indonesia's population (2025) (285,721,236) is about 5.5 times South Korea's (51,684,564).
- South Korea's armed forces per 1,000 people (11.0) is about 4.7 times Indonesia's (2.4).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Indonesia and South Korea differ most?
Where are Indonesia and South Korea most alike?
On how many indicators is Indonesia 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 Indonesia or South Korea.
Indonesia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.