South Korea vs Iraq
Every indicator for South Korea and Iraq side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Korea | Iraq | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 51,684,564 | 47,020,774 | +9.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,872 | 254 | +637.0% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 36,227 | 5,410 | +569.6% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.6 | 72.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 100,450 | 435,050 | −76.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 515 | 108 | +376.1% |
| Median age (years) | 45.5 | 21.5 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.9 | 81.5 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.7 | 15.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.1 | 0.3 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 81.2 | 69.9 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 47,571 | 6,179 | +669.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.56 | 2.36 | +8.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 11.32 | 4.87 | +132.4% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 920 | 131 | +600.4% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 569,000 | 459,000 | +24.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 11.0 | 9.8 | +12.8% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.01 | 4.40 | −54.3% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Korea relative to Iraq; 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 Iraq leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024), about 7.7 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- South Korea's military expenditure (2024) (47,571) is about 7.7 times Iraq's (6,179).
- South Korea's gdp (nominal) (1,872) is about 7.4 times Iraq's (254).
- South Korea's military expenditure per capita (920) is about 7.0 times Iraq's (131).
- South Korea's gdp per capita (36,227) is about 6.7 times Iraq's (5,410).
- South Korea's population density (515) is about 4.8 times Iraq's (108).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Korea and Iraq differ most?
Where are South Korea and Iraq most alike?
On how many indicators is South Korea ahead of Iraq?
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 Iraq.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Iraq profile →
All statistics, series, and details.