South Korea vs Saudi Arabia
Every indicator for South Korea and Saudi Arabia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Korea | Saudi Arabia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 51,684,564 | 36,973,555 | +39.8% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,872 | 1,277 | +46.6% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 36,227 | 34,537 | +4.9% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.6 | 79.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 100,450 | 2,149,690 | −95.3% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 515 | 17 | +2,891.5% |
| Median age (years) | 45.5 | 30.8 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.9 | 100.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.7 | 3.0 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.1 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 81.2 | 84.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 47,571 | 80,331 | −40.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.56 | 7.30 | −64.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 11.32 | 22.31 | −49.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 920 | 2,173 | −57.6% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 569,000 | 282,000 | +101.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 11.0 | 7.6 | +44.3% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.01 | 1.92 | +4.7% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Korea relative to Saudi Arabia; 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 7 of the 12 indicators, while Saudi Arabia leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in population density, about 30 times; they are closest on armed forces as a share of the labor force.
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: South Korea stands at 515 against Saudi Arabia's 17 — roughly 30 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Saudi Arabia stands at 2,149,690 against South Korea's 100,450 — roughly 21 times as much.
- Saudi Arabia's military expenditure as a share of gdp (7.30) is about 2.9 times South Korea's (2.56).
- Saudi Arabia's military expenditure per capita (2,173) is about 2.4 times South Korea's (920).
- South Korea's armed forces personnel (2020) (569,000) is about 2.0 times Saudi Arabia's (282,000).
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Korea and Saudi Arabia differ most?
Where are South Korea and Saudi Arabia most alike?
On how many indicators is South Korea ahead of Saudi Arabia?
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 Saudi Arabia.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Saudi Arabia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.