Updated
Overview
South Korea has 9.2 times the population of Finland: 51.68 million people against 5.65 million (2025).
South Korea's economy is 5.9 times the size of Finland's, at $1.87T versus $317.04B.
Per person, Finland is the wealthier of the two: $56,149 against $36,227 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Korea | Finland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.87T | $317.04B | 2025 | $1.71T / $299.84B |
| GDP per capita | $36,227 | Higher: $56,149 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.0% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.1% | Lower: 0.3% | 2025 | 2.3% / 1.6% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.7% | 9.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 57 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $3,168 | Higher: $5,760 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,511 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.84 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 51.68 million | 5.65 million | 2025 | 51.49 million / 5.55 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.6 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 0.75 | 1.30 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.6 yrs | 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 81% | 75% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 98% | 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 100,210 km² | 338,424 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 515.8/km² | 16.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 584 Mt | Lower: 30 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 11.3 t | Lower: 5.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $47.57B | $6.99B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 569,000 | 22,000 | 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: 2.1% in South Korea and 0.3% in Finland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in South Korea: a price level of 57 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Finland: $5,760 against $3,168 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Finland is the younger society: median age 43.2 versus 45.6 years.
Life expectancy is 1.3 years longer in South Korea (83.6 vs 82.3).
Geography
By land area, South Korea is 70% smaller than Finland: 100,210 km² versus 338,424 km².
South Korea is far more densely settled: 516 people per km² against 17.
Military
South Korea spends 6.8 times as much on defence as Finland: $47.57B versus $6.99B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
South Korea fields the larger armed forces: 569,000 personnel against 22,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Korea bigger than Finland?
- Finland is larger by land area. South Korea covers 100,210 km² while Finland covers 338,424 km², so Finland is 3.4 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, South Korea or Finland?
- South Korea has the larger population: 51.68 million versus 5.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Korea richer than Finland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Finland is richer: $56,149 against $36,227. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.87T for South Korea versus $317.04B for Finland.
- Who spends more on their military, South Korea or Finland?
- South Korea spends more: $47.57B versus $6.99B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).