South Korea vs Iran
Every indicator for South Korea and Iran side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Korea | Iran | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 51,684,564 | 92,417,681 | −44.1% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,872 | 363 | +415.7% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 36,227 | 3,924 | +823.2% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.6 | 77.9 | — |
| Area (km²) | 100,450 | 1,745,150 | −94.2% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 515 | 53 | +871.6% |
| Median age (years) | 45.5 | 33.8 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.9 | 85.3 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.7 | 8.3 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.1 | 42.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 81.2 | 77.4 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 47,571 | 7,892 | +502.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.56 | 2.01 | +27.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 11.32 | 12.55 | −9.8% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 920 | 85 | +977.8% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 569,000 | 650,000 | −12.5% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 11.0 | 7.0 | +56.5% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.01 | 2.35 | −14.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Korea relative to Iran; a positive value favors South Korea. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
Key differences
- On population (2025), South Korea is 44.1% lower than Iran.
- On gdp (nominal), South Korea is 415.7% higher than Iran.
- On gdp per capita, South Korea is 823.2% higher than Iran.
South KoreaIran
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 Iran.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Iran profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI