Updated
Overview
Egypt has 2.3 times the population of South Korea: 118.37 million people against 51.68 million (2025).
South Korea's economy is 5.1 times the size of Egypt's, at $1.87T versus $365.25B.
Per person, South Korea is the wealthier of the two: $36,227 against $3,086 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Egypt | South Korea | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $365.25B | Higher: $1.87T | 2025 | $389.06B / $1.71T |
| GDP per capita | $3,086 | Higher: $36,227 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 14.1% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 28.3% / 2.3% |
| Unemployment | 6.8% | Lower: 2.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 15 | 57 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $109 | Higher: $3,168 | 2024 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $132 | Higher: $1,511 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.87 | $3.84 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 118.37 million | 51.68 million | 2025 | 112.87 million / 51.49 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 24.5 yrs | 45.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.71 | 0.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 71.8 yrs | Higher: 83.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 43% | 81% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 75% | Higher: 98% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,002,450 km² | 100,210 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 118.1/km² | 515.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 258 Mt | 584 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 11.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.40B | $47.57B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 2.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 836,000 | 569,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Egypt is growing much faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Egypt runs the hotter price environment: 14.1% inflation versus 2.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Egypt: a price level of 15 versus 57 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour South Korea: $3,168 against $109 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Egypt is the far younger society: median age 24.5 versus 45.6 years.
Life expectancy is 11.8 years longer in South Korea (83.6 vs 71.8).
South Korea is considerably more urbanized: 81% of people live in cities, against 43%.
Internet adoption is higher in South Korea (98% vs 75% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Egypt is 10 times the size of South Korea: 1,002,450 km² versus 100,210 km².
South Korea is far more densely settled: 516 people per km² against 118.
Military
South Korea spends 20 times as much on defence as Egypt: $47.57B versus $2.40B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, South Korea carries the heavier military burden: 2.6% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Egypt fields the larger armed forces: 836,000 personnel against 569,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Egypt bigger than South Korea?
- Egypt is larger by land area. Egypt covers 1,002,450 km² while South Korea covers 100,210 km², so Egypt is 10 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Egypt or South Korea?
- Egypt has the larger population: 118.37 million versus 51.68 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Egypt richer than South Korea?
- Measured by GDP per capita, South Korea is richer: $36,227 against $3,086. Total GDP tells the same story: $365.25B for Egypt versus $1.87T for South Korea.
- Who spends more on their military, Egypt or South Korea?
- South Korea spends more: $47.57B versus $2.40B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).