South Korea vs Spain
Every indicator for South Korea and Spain side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Korea | Spain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 51,684,564 | 49,355,143 | +4.7% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,872 | 1,906 | −1.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 36,227 | 38,627 | −6.2% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.6 | 83.9 | — |
| Area (km²) | 100,450 | 505,976 | −80.1% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 515 | 98 | +427.5% |
| Median age (years) | 45.5 | 46.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.9 | 95.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.7 | 10.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.1 | 2.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 81.2 | 80.5 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 47,571 | 24,615 | +93.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.56 | 1.43 | +79.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 11.32 | 3.20 | +253.8% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 920 | 499 | +84.5% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 569,000 | 199,000 | +185.9% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 11.0 | 4.0 | +173.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.01 | 0.87 | +131.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Korea relative to Spain; 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 9 of the 12 indicators, while Spain leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in population density, about 5.3 times; they are closest on gdp (nominal).
Key differences
- South Korea's population density (515) is about 5.3 times Spain's (98).
- Spain's area (505,976) is about 5.0 times South Korea's (100,450).
- South Korea's military expenditure as a share of government spending (11.32) is about 3.5 times Spain's (3.20).
- South Korea's armed forces personnel (2020) (569,000) is about 2.9 times Spain's (199,000).
- South Korea's armed forces per 1,000 people (11.0) is about 2.7 times Spain's (4.0).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Korea and Spain differ most?
In population density. South Korea records 515 against Spain's 98 — a ratio of roughly 5.3 to one.
Where are South Korea and Spain most alike?
In gdp (nominal), at 1,906 and 1,872 — a gap of only %1.8.
On how many indicators is South Korea ahead of Spain?
South Korea is higher on 9 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Spain on 3. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
South KoreaSpain
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 Spain.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Spain profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI