South Korea vs Kazakhstan
Every indicator for South Korea and Kazakhstan side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Korea | Kazakhstan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 51,684,564 | 20,843,754 | +148.0% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,872 | 306 | +511.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 36,227 | 14,692 | +146.6% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.6 | 74.5 | — |
| Area (km²) | 100,450 | 2,724,902 | −96.3% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 515 | 8 | +6,626.4% |
| Median age (years) | 45.5 | 30.5 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.9 | 93.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.7 | 4.8 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.1 | 11.4 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 81.2 | 62.4 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 47,571 | 1,209 | +3,834.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.56 | 0.43 | +495.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 11.32 | 1.94 | +483.5% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 920 | 58 | +1,486.8% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 569,000 | 71,000 | +701.4% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 11.0 | 3.4 | +223.2% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.01 | 0.74 | +171.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Korea relative to Kazakhstan; 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 11 of the 12 indicators, while Kazakhstan leads on the remaining 1. The widest separation is in population density, about 67 times; they are closest on gdp per capita.
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 515 against Kazakhstan's 8 — roughly 67 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 47,571 against Kazakhstan's 1,209 — roughly 39 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Kazakhstan stands at 2,724,902 against South Korea's 100,450 — roughly 27 times as much.
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 920 against Kazakhstan's 58 — roughly 16 times as much.
- South Korea's armed forces personnel (2020) (569,000) is about 8.0 times Kazakhstan's (71,000).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Korea and Kazakhstan differ most?
Where are South Korea and Kazakhstan most alike?
On how many indicators is South Korea ahead of Kazakhstan?
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 Kazakhstan.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Kazakhstan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.