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.
At a glance
South Korea is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Iran leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in area, about 17 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of government spending.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Iran stands at 1,745,150 against South Korea's 100,450 — roughly 17 times as much.
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 920 against Iran's 85 — roughly 11 times as much.
- South Korea's population density (515) is about 9.7 times Iran's (53).
- South Korea's gdp per capita (36,227) is about 9.2 times Iran's (3,924).
- South Korea's military expenditure (2024) (47,571) is about 6.0 times Iran's (7,892).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Korea and Iran differ most?
Where are South Korea and Iran most alike?
On how many indicators is South Korea ahead of Iran?
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.