Official name:
Republic of Korea
Region:
General Information
| Region | Eastern Asia | |
| Population (000, 2025) | 51 667a | |
| Pop. density (per km2, 2025) | 522.2a | |
| Capital city | Seoul | |
| Capital city pop. (000, 2025) | 9 962.4c,d | |
| UN membership date | 17 September 1991 | |
| Surface area (km2) | 100 401b | |
| Sex ratio (m per 100 f) | 99.5a | |
| National currency | South Korean Won (KRW) | |
| Exchange rate (per US$) | 1 470.0e |
Economic indicators
| 2015 | 2020 | 2025 | |
| GDP: Gross domestic productf (million current US$) | 1 539 212 | 1 744 070 | 1 839 058b |
| GDP growth ratef (annual %, const. 2015 prices) | 2.9 | -0.7 | 1.4b |
| GDP per capitaf (current US$) | 30 190.0 | 33 631.0 | 35 538.0b |
| Economy: Agriculturef,g (% of Gross Value Added) | 21.6 | 22.4 | 22b |
| Economy: Industryg (% of Gross Value Added) | 46.2 | 43.8 | 47b |
| Economy: Services and other activityf,g,h (% of GVA) | 32.2 | 33.8 | 30.9b |
| Employment in agriculturei (% of employed) | 5.2 | 5.4 | 5.3b |
| Employment in industryi (% of employed) | 25.4 | 24.6 | 24b |
| Employment in servicesi (% employed) | 69.4 | 70 | 70.7b |
| Unemployment (% of labour force) | 3.5 | 3.9 | 2.6i |
| Labour force participation rate (female/male pop. %) | 52.4 / 72.8 | 53.1 / 71.5 | 55.9 / 72.3i |
| CPI: Consumer Price Indexj (2010=100) | 110 | 116 | 132e |
| Agricultural production index (2014-2016=100) | 100 | 99 | 101b |
| International trade: exports (million current US$) | 526 753 | 512 419 | 683 127e |
| International trade: imports (million current US$) | 436 487 | 467 591 | 631 727e |
| International trade: balance (million current US$) | 90 266 | 44 829 | 51 400e |
| Balance of payments, current account (million US$) | 105 119 | 75 902 | 99 043e |
Social indicators
| 2015 | 2020 | 2025 | |
| Population growth rate (average annual %) | 0.8 | 0.1 | -0.1a |
| Urban population (% of total population) | 81.6 | 81.4d | ... |
| Urban population growth rate (average annual %) | 0.3k | ... | ... |
| Fertility rate, total (live births per woman) | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.7a |
| Life expectancy at birth (females/males, years) | 85.8 / 79.0 | 86.8 / 80.3 | 87.4 / 81.4a |
| Population age distributionl (0-14/60+ years old, %) | 13.8 / 18.3 | 12.1 / 23.2 | 10.2 / 28.4a |
| International migrant stockm (000/% of total pop.) | 1 312.2 / 2.6 | 1 723.4 / 3.3 | 1 811.5 / 3.5e |
| Refugees and others of concern to UNHCR (000) | 6.6 | 28.9 | 36.1e |
| Under five mortality rate (per 1000 live births) | 3.5 | 3 | 2.5a |
| Health: Current expendituren (% of GDP) | 6.7 | 8.4 | 9.9b |
| Health: Physicians (per 1 000 pop.) | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.6o |
| Education: Primary gross enrol. ratioi (f/m per 100 pop.) | 99.9 / 100.2 | 99.1 / 99.3 | 98.9 / 99.1o |
| Education: Lowr. sec. gross enrol. ratio i (f/m per 100 pop.) | 100.9 / 101.6 | 97.1 / 97.5 | 99.4 / 99.5o |
| Education: Upr. Sec. gross enrol. ratioi (f/m per 100 pop.) | 96.2 / 96.4 | 96.1 / 97.6 | 95.6 / 96.6o |
| Intentional homicide rate (per 100 000 pop.) | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.5b |
| Seats held by women in national parliaments (%) | 16.3 | 17.3p | 20.3p |
Environment and infrastructure indicators
| 2015 | 2020 | 2025 | |
| Individuals using the Internetq (per 100 inhabitants) | 89.9 | 96.5 | 97.4b |
| Research & Development expenditure (% of GDP) | 4 | 4.8 | 4.9r |
| Threatened species (number) | 76 | 136 | 216e |
| Forested area (% of land area) | 65 | 64.4 | 64.2o |
| CO2 emission estimates (million tons/tons per capita) | 584.6 / 11.5 | 563.5 / 10.9 | 548.7 / 10.6o |
| Energy production, primary (Petajoules) | 2 123 | 2 169 | 2 381o |
| Energy supply per capita (Gigajoules) | 225 | 222 | 227o |
| Tourist/visitor arrivals at national borderss (000) | 13 232 | 2 519 | 3 198o |
| Important sites for terrestrial biodiversity protected (%) | 38.6 | 40 | 40.7e |
| Net Official Development Assist. disbursedt (% of GNI) | 0.89 | 0.74 | 0.66b |