South Korea vs Mexico
Every indicator for South Korea and Mexico side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Korea | Mexico | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 51,684,564 | 131,946,900 | −60.8% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,872 | 1,833 | +2.1% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 36,227 | 13,889 | +160.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.6 | 75.3 | — |
| Area (km²) | 100,450 | 1,957,194 | −94.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 515 | 67 | +663.2% |
| Median age (years) | 45.5 | 30.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.9 | 83.1 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.7 | 2.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.1 | 3.8 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 81.2 | 80.0 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 47,571 | 16,726 | +184.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.56 | 0.89 | +187.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 11.32 | 2.97 | +281.1% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 920 | 127 | +626.1% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 569,000 | 341,000 | +66.9% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 11.0 | 2.6 | +326.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.01 | 0.64 | +214.1% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Korea relative to Mexico; 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 10 of the 12 indicators, while Mexico leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in area, about 19 times; they are closest on gdp (nominal).
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Mexico stands at 1,957,194 against South Korea's 100,450 — roughly 19 times as much.
- South Korea's population density (515) is about 7.6 times Mexico's (67).
- South Korea's military expenditure per capita (920) is about 7.3 times Mexico's (127).
- South Korea's armed forces per 1,000 people (11.0) is about 4.3 times Mexico's (2.6).
- South Korea's military expenditure as a share of government spending (11.32) is about 3.8 times Mexico's (2.97).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Korea and Mexico differ most?
In area. Mexico records 1,957,194 against South Korea's 100,450 — a ratio of roughly 19 to one.
Where are South Korea and Mexico most alike?
In gdp (nominal), at 1,872 and 1,833 — a gap of only %2.1.
On how many indicators is South Korea ahead of Mexico?
South Korea is higher on 10 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Mexico on 2. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
South KoreaMexico
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 Mexico.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Mexico profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI