South Korea vs India
Every indicator for South Korea and India side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Korea | India | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 51,684,564 | 1,463,865,525 | −96.5% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,872 | 3,956 | −52.7% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 36,227 | 2,702 | +1,240.7% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.6 | 72.2 | — |
| Area (km²) | 100,450 | 3,287,260 | −96.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 515 | 445 | +15.5% |
| Median age (years) | 45.5 | 28.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.9 | 70.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.7 | 4.2 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.1 | 2.4 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 81.2 | 35.7 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 47,571 | 86,126 | −44.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.56 | 2.27 | +12.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 11.32 | 7.63 | +48.4% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 920 | 59 | +1,464.4% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 569,000 | 3,068,000 | −81.5% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 11.0 | 2.1 | +425.3% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.01 | 0.58 | +246.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Korea relative to India; a positive value favors South Korea. 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 India leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in area, about 33 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: India stands at 3,287,260 against South Korea's 100,450 — roughly 33 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: India stands at 1,463,865,525 against South Korea's 51,684,564 — roughly 28 times as much.
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 920 against India's 59 — roughly 16 times as much.
- GDP per capita shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 36,227 against India's 2,702 — roughly 13 times as much.
- India's armed forces personnel (2020) (3,068,000) is about 5.4 times South Korea's (569,000).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Korea and India differ most?
Where are South Korea and India most alike?
On how many indicators is South Korea ahead of India?
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 South Korea or India.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
India profile →
All statistics, series, and details.