South Korea vs Russia
Every indicator for South Korea and Russia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Korea | Russia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 51,684,564 | 143,513,328 | −64.0% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,872 | 2,561 | −26.9% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 36,227 | 17,547 | +106.5% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.6 | 73.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 100,450 | 17,125,190 | −99.4% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 515 | 8 | +6,039.8% |
| Median age (years) | 45.5 | 40.3 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.9 | 94.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.7 | 2.1 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.1 | 8.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 81.2 | 75.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 47,571 | 148,967 | −68.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.56 | 7.05 | −63.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 11.32 | 18.90 | −40.1% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 920 | 1,038 | −11.3% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 569,000 | 1,454,000 | −60.9% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 11.0 | 10.1 | +8.7% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.01 | 1.98 | +1.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Korea relative to Russia; a positive value favors South Korea. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Russia is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while South Korea leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in area, about 170 times; they are closest on armed forces as a share of the labor force.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Russia stands at 17,125,190 against South Korea's 100,450 — roughly 170 times as much.
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 515 against Russia's 8 — roughly 61 times as much.
- Russia's military expenditure (2024) (148,967) is about 3.1 times South Korea's (47,571).
- Russia's population (2025) (143,513,328) is about 2.8 times South Korea's (51,684,564).
- Russia's military expenditure as a share of gdp (7.05) is about 2.8 times South Korea's (2.56).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Korea and Russia differ most?
Where are South Korea and Russia most alike?
On how many indicators is South Korea ahead of Russia?
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 Russia.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Russia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.