South Korea vs Qatar
Every indicator for South Korea and Qatar side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Korea | Qatar | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 51,684,564 | 2,972,215 | +1,638.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,872 | 216 | +766.7% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 36,227 | 72,525 | −50.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.6 | 82.5 | — |
| Area (km²) | 100,450 | 11,490 | +774.2% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 515 | 259 | +98.9% |
| Median age (years) | 45.5 | — | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.9 | 98.1 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.7 | 0.1 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.1 | 1.3 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 81.2 | 99.4 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024 / 2022) (million $) | 47,571 | 15,412 | +208.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.56 | 6.50 | −60.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 11.32 | 26.88 | −57.9% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 920 | 5,185 | −82.2% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 569,000 | 22,000 | +2,486.4% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 11.0 | 7.4 | +48.7% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.01 | 1.07 | +87.9% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Korea relative to Qatar; 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 Qatar leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 26 times; they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 569,000 against Qatar's 22,000 — roughly 26 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 51,684,564 against Qatar's 2,972,215 — roughly 17 times as much.
- South Korea's area (100,450) is about 8.7 times Qatar's (11,490).
- South Korea's gdp (nominal) (1,872) is about 8.7 times Qatar's (216).
- Qatar's military expenditure per capita (5,185) is about 5.6 times South Korea's (920).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Korea and Qatar differ most?
Where are South Korea and Qatar most alike?
On how many indicators is South Korea ahead of Qatar?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
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South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Qatar profile →
All statistics, series, and details.