South Korea vs Japan
Every indicator for South Korea and Japan side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Korea | Japan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 51,684,564 | 123,366,734 | −58.1% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,872 | 4,435 | −57.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 36,227 | 35,951 | +0.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.6 | 84.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 100,450 | 377,969 | −73.4% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 515 | 326 | +57.6% |
| Median age (years) | 45.5 | 49.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.9 | 85.5 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.7 | 2.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.1 | 3.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 81.2 | 92.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 47,571 | 55,274 | −13.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.56 | 1.37 | +86.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 11.32 | 3.25 | +248.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 920 | 448 | +105.4% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 569,000 | 261,000 | +118.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 11.0 | 2.1 | +420.4% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.01 | 0.38 | +428.9% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Korea relative to Japan; 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 8 of the 12 indicators, while Japan leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in armed forces as a share of the labor force, about 5.3 times; they are closest on gdp per capita.
Key differences
- South Korea's armed forces as a share of the labor force (2.01) is about 5.3 times Japan's (0.38).
- South Korea's armed forces per 1,000 people (11.0) is about 5.2 times Japan's (2.1).
- Japan's area (377,969) is about 3.8 times South Korea's (100,450).
- South Korea's military expenditure as a share of government spending (11.32) is about 3.5 times Japan's (3.25).
- Japan's population (2025) (123,366,734) is about 2.4 times South Korea's (51,684,564).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Korea and Japan differ most?
Where are South Korea and Japan most alike?
On how many indicators is South Korea ahead of Japan?
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 Japan.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Japan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.