China vs South Korea: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | China | South Korea | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 1.4bn2025 | 51.7m2025 | 2 · 29 |
| Area | 9,562,910 km²2024 | 100,460 km²2024 | 4 · 109 |
| Density | 150.12024 | 530.22024 | 76 · 23 |
| Urban share | 66.3%2025 | 81.2%2025 | 101 · 54 |
| Fertility | 1.012024 | 0.752024 | 210 · 216 |
| Aged 65+ | 14.9%2025 | 20.3%2025 | 68 · 36 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $19.5tn2025 | $1.9tn2025 | 2 · 13 |
| GDP per capita | $13,8622025 | $36,2272025 | 93 · 47 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $29,3332025 | $63,1252025 | 81 · 35 |
| GDP growth | 5.0%2025 | 1.0%2025 | 53 · 174 |
| Agriculture share | 6.7%2025 | 1.5%2025 | 95 · 161 |
| Industry share | 35.6%2025 | 34.3%2025 | 29 · 36 |
| Services share | 57.7%2025 | 57.2%2025 | 101 · 105 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | 0.1%2025 | 2.1%2025 | 167 · 119 |
| Tax revenue | 7.0%2024 | 13.3%2024 | 133 · 96 |
| Military spending | 1.72%2025 | 2.60%2025 | 78 · 38 |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 21.1%2025 | 45.8%2025 | 145 · 63 |
| FDI inflows | 0.4%2025 | 0.8%2025 | 163 · 148 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 4.6%2025 | 2.7%2025 | 112 · 159 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 26.5%2025 | 20.3%2025 | 93 · 122 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 76.9%2024 | 111.9%2024 | 38 · 5 |
| Education spending | 3.9%2023 | 5.4%2022 | 105 · 42 |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 78.0 yrs2024 | 83.6 yrs2024 | 70 · 14 |
| Infant mortality | 4.12024 | 2.32024 | 154 · 181 |
| Health spending | 5.9%2023 | 8.7%2024 | 106 · 50 |
| Physicians | 3.112022 | 2.612022 | 56 · 71 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 91.6%2025 | 97.9%2024 | 47 · 13 |
| Fixed broadband | 47.22024 | 47.82024 | 9 · 8 |
| Electricity access | 100.0%2024 | 100.0%2024 | 24 · 100 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 9.32 t2024 | 11.36 t2024 | 22 · 17 |
| Renewable energy | 15.2%2021 | 3.6%2021 | 122 · 171 |
| Forest cover | 24.0%2024 | 64.4%2024 | 122 · 23 |
Higher value in each row is highlighted; it is not always the better one (think inflation or emissions). Ranks are world positions.
GDP per capita
ChinaSouth Korea
Life expectancy
ChinaSouth Korea
Population
ChinaSouth Korea
Internet users
ChinaSouth Korea
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
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