South Korea vs Canada
Every indicator for South Korea and Canada side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Korea | Canada | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 51,684,564 | 41,651,653 | +24.1% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,872 | 2,320 | −19.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 36,227 | 55,698 | −35.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.6 | 82.1 | — |
| Area (km²) | 100,450 | 15,634,410 | −99.4% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 515 | 3 | +19,213.5% |
| Median age (years) | 45.5 | 40.6 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.9 | 94.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.7 | 6.9 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.1 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 81.2 | 82.9 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 47,571 | 29,347 | +62.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.56 | 1.31 | +95.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 11.32 | 3.08 | +267.5% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 920 | 705 | +30.6% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 569,000 | 72,000 | +690.3% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 11.0 | 1.7 | +536.9% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.01 | 0.35 | +474.3% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Korea relative to Canada; 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 Canada leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in population density, about 193 times; they are closest on gdp (nominal).
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 515 against Canada's 3 — roughly 193 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Canada stands at 15,634,410 against South Korea's 100,450 — roughly 156 times as much.
- South Korea's armed forces personnel (2020) (569,000) is about 7.9 times Canada's (72,000).
- South Korea's armed forces per 1,000 people (11.0) is about 6.4 times Canada's (1.7).
- South Korea's armed forces as a share of the labor force (2.01) is about 5.7 times Canada's (0.35).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Korea and Canada differ most?
Where are South Korea and Canada most alike?
On how many indicators is South Korea ahead of Canada?
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 Canada.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Canada profile →
All statistics, series, and details.