South Korea vs Israel
Every indicator for South Korea and Israel side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Korea | Israel | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 51,684,564 | 10,122,800 | +410.6% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,872 | 611 | +206.4% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 36,227 | 60,337 | −40.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.6 | 83.2 | — |
| Area (km²) | 100,450 | 22,070 | +355.1% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 515 | 459 | +12.2% |
| Median age (years) | 45.5 | 29.7 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.9 | 88.2 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.7 | 3.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.1 | 3.0 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 81.2 | 91.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 47,571 | 46,505 | +2.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.56 | 8.78 | −70.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 11.32 | 19.99 | −43.4% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 920 | 4,594 | −80.0% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 569,000 | 178,000 | +219.7% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 11.0 | 17.6 | −37.4% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.01 | 4.23 | −52.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Korea relative to Israel; a positive value favors South Korea. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: South Korea is higher on 6 of 12 indicators, Israel on 6. The widest separation is in population (2025) (about 5.1×); they are closest on military expenditure (2024).
Key differences
- South Korea's population (2025) (51,684,564) is about 5.1 times Israel's (10,122,800).
- Israel's military expenditure per capita (4,594) is about 5.0 times South Korea's (920).
- South Korea's area (100,450) is about 4.6 times Israel's (22,070).
- Israel's military expenditure as a share of gdp (8.78) is about 3.4 times South Korea's (2.56).
- South Korea's armed forces personnel (2020) (569,000) is about 3.2 times Israel's (178,000).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Korea and Israel differ most?
Where are South Korea and Israel most alike?
On how many indicators is South Korea ahead of Israel?
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 Israel.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Israel profile →
All statistics, series, and details.