Updated
Overview
Germany has about 60% more people than South Korea: 83.49 million against 51.68 million (2025).
Germany's economy is 2.7 times the size of South Korea's, at $5.05T versus $1.87T.
Per person, Germany is the wealthier of the two: $60,496 against $36,227 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Germany | South Korea | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $5.05T | $1.87T | 2025 | $4.66T / $1.71T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $60,496 | $36,227 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.2% | Higher: 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.2% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 2.3% / 2.3% |
| Unemployment | 3.7% | Lower: 2.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 80 | 57 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $4,647 | $3,168 | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,442 | $1,511 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $3.84 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 83.49 million | 51.68 million | 2025 | 84.01 million / 51.49 million |
| Population growth | 0.0% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.5 yrs | 45.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 0.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 80.8 yrs | Higher: 83.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 82% | 81% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 93% | Higher: 98% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 357,114 km² | 100,210 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 233.8/km² | 515.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 572 Mt | 584 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 6.8 t | 11.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $88.46B | $47.57B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 2.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 183,000 | 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
South Korea is growing faster: 1.0% annual GDP growth versus 0.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.2% in Germany and 2.1% in South Korea.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in South Korea: a price level of 57 versus 80 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Germany: $4,647 against $3,168 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 45.5 (Germany) and 45.6 (South Korea).
Life expectancy is 2.8 years longer in South Korea (83.6 vs 80.8).
Geography
By land area, Germany is 3.6 times the size of South Korea: 357,114 km² versus 100,210 km².
South Korea is far more densely settled: 516 people per km² against 234.
Military
Germany spends about 85% more on defence than South Korea: $88.46B versus $47.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
South Korea fields the larger armed forces: 569,000 personnel against 183,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Germany bigger than South Korea?
- Germany is larger by land area. Germany covers 357,114 km² while South Korea covers 100,210 km², so Germany is 3.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Germany or South Korea?
- Germany has the larger population: 83.49 million versus 51.68 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Germany richer than South Korea?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Germany is richer: $60,496 against $36,227. Total GDP tells the same story: $5.05T for Germany versus $1.87T for South Korea.
- Who spends more on their military, Germany or South Korea?
- Germany spends more: $88.46B versus $47.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).