South Korea vs Turkey
Every indicator for South Korea and Turkey side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | South Korea | Turkey | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 51,684,564 | 85,878,556 | −39.8% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,872 | 1,597 | +17.2% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 36,227 | 18,599 | +94.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.6 | 77.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 100,450 | 785,350 | −87.2% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 515 | 109 | +370.5% |
| Median age (years) | 45.5 | 34.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.9 | 89.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.7 | 8.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.1 | 34.9 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 81.2 | 89.5 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 47,571 | 24,979 | +90.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.56 | 1.92 | +33.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 11.32 | — | — |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 920 | 291 | +216.4% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 569,000 | 512,000 | +11.1% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 11.0 | 6.0 | +84.7% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.01 | 1.61 | +24.8% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of South Korea relative to Turkey; 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 9 of the 11 indicators, while Turkey leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in area, about 7.8 times; they are closest on armed forces personnel (2020).
Key differences
- Turkey's area (785,350) is about 7.8 times South Korea's (100,450).
- South Korea's population density (515) is about 4.7 times Turkey's (109).
- South Korea's military expenditure per capita (920) is about 3.2 times Turkey's (291).
- On gdp per capita, South Korea is %95 higher than Turkey: 36,227 against 18,599.
- On military expenditure (2024), South Korea is %90 higher than Turkey: 47,571 against 24,979.
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Korea and Turkey differ most?
Where are South Korea and Turkey most alike?
On how many indicators is South Korea ahead of Turkey?
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 Turkey.
South Korea profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Turkey profile →
All statistics, series, and details.