South Korea vs Netherlands
Every indicator for South Korea and Netherlands side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Korea | Netherlands | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 51,684,564 | 18,087,633 | +185.7% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,872 | 1,333 | +40.4% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 36,227 | 73,684 | −50.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.6 | 82.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 100,450 | 41,540 | +141.8% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 515 | 435 | +18.2% |
| Median age (years) | 45.5 | 42.2 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.9 | 97.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.7 | 3.9 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.1 | 3.3 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 81.2 | 95.9 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 47,571 | 23,179 | +105.2% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.56 | 1.92 | +33.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 11.32 | 4.34 | +160.8% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 920 | 1,281 | −28.2% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 569,000 | 41,000 | +1,287.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 11.0 | 2.3 | +385.7% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.01 | 0.42 | +378.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Korea relative to Netherlands; 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 10 of the 12 indicators, while Netherlands leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 14 times; they are closest on population density.
Key differences
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 569,000 against Netherlands's 41,000 — roughly 14 times as much.
- South Korea's armed forces per 1,000 people (11.0) is about 4.9 times Netherlands's (2.3).
- South Korea's armed forces as a share of the labor force (2.01) is about 4.8 times Netherlands's (0.42).
- South Korea's population (2025) (51,684,564) is about 2.9 times Netherlands's (18,087,633).
- South Korea's military expenditure as a share of government spending (11.32) is about 2.6 times Netherlands's (4.34).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Korea and Netherlands differ most?
Where are South Korea and Netherlands most alike?
On how many indicators is South Korea ahead of Netherlands?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
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South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Netherlands profile →
All statistics, series, and details.