South Korean Scorecard
Country profile
South Korea occupies the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula and is known for its rapid industrialization, technological innovation, and rich cultural heritage. It has a population of 51.7 million, a population growth rate of 0.08%, and a median age of 44.49 years.
Its history features ancient kingdoms, a period of Japanese colonial rule, and the transformative impact of the Korean War that shaped its modern identity.
Today, South Korea is a global leader in technology and pop culture while maintaining deep respect for its traditional arts, cuisine, and communal values.
Its capital city is Seoul.
How does South Korea compare to other countries?
South Korea
Burkina Faso
ChadEconomic Development
GDP per Capita (PPP) in South Korea improved by 1.9% from 2022 to 2023
- Compare GDP per Capita (PPP) in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the GDP per Capita (PPP) ranking
- See historical GDP per Capita (PPP) in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Unemployment Rate in South Korea improved by 2.7% from 2023 to 2024
- Compare Unemployment Rate in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the Unemployment Rate ranking
- See historical Unemployment Rate in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Inflation Rate in South Korea improved by 35.6% from 2023 to 2024
- Compare Inflation Rate in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the Inflation Rate ranking
- See historical Inflation Rate in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
General Government Debt in South Korea improved by 0.4% from 2017 to 2018
- Compare General Government Debt in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the General Government Debt ranking
- See historical General Government Debt in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Income Inequality in South Korea worsened by 0.6% from 2020 to 2021
- Compare Income Inequality in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the Income Inequality ranking
- See historical Income Inequality in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Health and Social Development
Life Expectancy in South Korea improved by 0.9% from 2022 to 2023
- Compare Life Expectancy in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the Life Expectancy ranking
- See historical Life Expectancy in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Infant Mortality Rate in South Korea improved by 4.2% from 2022 to 2023
- Compare Infant Mortality Rate in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the Infant Mortality Rate ranking
- See historical Infant Mortality Rate in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Human Development showed no change from 2021 to 2022
- Compare Human Development in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the Human Development ranking
- See historical Human Development in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Suicide Mortality Rate in Korea, Rep. worsened by 1.4% from 2020 to 2021
- Compare Suicide Mortality Rate in Korea, Rep.
- Discover how Korea, Rep. performs in the Suicide Mortality Rate ranking
- See historical Suicide Mortality Rate in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
World Happiness Report in Korea, Rep. improved by 1.1% from 2023 to 2024
- Compare World Happiness Report in Korea, Rep.
- Discover how Korea, Rep. performs in the World Happiness Report ranking
- See historical World Happiness Report in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Freedom in the World in Korea, Rep. worsened by 2.4% from 2023 to 2024
- Compare Freedom in the World in Korea, Rep.
- Discover how Korea, Rep. performs in the Freedom in the World ranking
- See historical Freedom in the World in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Education
Completion of Upper Secondary Education in Korea, Rep. improved by 1.4% from 2022 to 2023
- Compare Completion of Upper Secondary Education in Korea, Rep.
- Discover how Korea, Rep. performs in the Completion of Upper Secondary Education ranking
- See historical Completion of Upper Secondary Education in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
PISA Scores (Reading) in Korea, Rep. improved by 0.2% from 2018 to 2022
- Compare PISA Scores (Reading) in Korea, Rep.
- Discover how Korea, Rep. performs in the PISA Scores (Reading) ranking
- See historical PISA Scores (Reading) in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
PISA Scores (Math) in Korea, Rep. improved by 0.2% from 2018 to 2022
- Compare PISA Scores (Math) in Korea, Rep.
- Discover how Korea, Rep. performs in the PISA Scores (Math) ranking
- See historical PISA Scores (Math) in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
PISA Scores (Science) in Korea, Rep. improved by 1.7% from 2018 to 2022
- Compare PISA Scores (Science) in Korea, Rep.
- Discover how Korea, Rep. performs in the PISA Scores (Science) ranking
- See historical PISA Scores (Science) in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Governance and Security
Corruption Perception showed no change from 2022 to 2023
- Compare Corruption Perception in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the Corruption Perception ranking
- See historical Corruption Perception in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Control of Corruption in South Korea improved by 18.7% from 2022 to 2023
- Compare Control of Corruption in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the Control of Corruption ranking
- See historical Control of Corruption in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Homicide Rate in South Korea improved by 11.9% from 2020 to 2021
- Compare Homicide Rate in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the Homicide Rate ranking
- See historical Homicide Rate in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Government Effectiveness in South Korea improved by 4.1% from 2022 to 2023
- Compare Government Effectiveness in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the Government Effectiveness ranking
- See historical Government Effectiveness in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Political Stability in South Korea improved by 5.2% from 2022 to 2023
- Compare Political Stability in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the Political Stability ranking
- See historical Political Stability in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Rule of Law in South Korea improved by 7.9% from 2022 to 2023
- Compare Rule of Law in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the Rule of Law ranking
- See historical Rule of Law in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Voice and Accountability in South Korea worsened by 2.1% from 2022 to 2023
- Compare Voice and Accountability in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the Voice and Accountability ranking
- See historical Voice and Accountability in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Environmental Sustainability and Energy
CO2 Emissions per Capita in South Korea improved by 4.0% from 2022 to 2023
- Compare CO2 Emissions per Capita in South Korea
- Discover how South Korea performs in the CO2 Emissions per Capita ranking
- See historical CO2 Emissions per Capita in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Air Pollution (PM2.5) in Korea, Rep. improved by 0.3% from 2019 to 2020
- Compare Air Pollution (PM2.5) in Korea, Rep.
- Discover how Korea, Rep. performs in the Air Pollution (PM2.5) ranking
- See historical Air Pollution (PM2.5) in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)
Renewable Energy Consumption showed no change from 2020 to 2021
- Compare Renewable Energy Consumption in Korea, Rep.
- Discover how Korea, Rep. performs in the Renewable Energy Consumption ranking
- See historical Renewable Energy Consumption in full screen
- Download chart (PNG)