Updated
Overview
South Korea has 9.4 times the population of Ireland: 51.68 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
South Korea's economy is 2.6 times the size of Ireland's, at $1.87T versus $721.70B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $36,227 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Korea | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.87T | $721.70B | 2025 | $1.71T / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $36,227 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.1% | 2.2% | 2025 | 2.3% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.7% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 57 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $3,168 | Higher: $5,697 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,511 | Higher: $2,579 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.84 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 51.68 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 51.49 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.6 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 0.75 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.6 yrs | 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 81% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 98% | 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 100,210 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 515.8/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 584 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 11.3 t | Lower: 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $47.57B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.6% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 569,000 | 9,000 | 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
Ireland is growing much faster: 12.3% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.1% in South Korea and 2.2% in Ireland.
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 Ireland: $5,697 against $3,168 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Ireland is the younger society: median age 39.0 versus 45.6 years.
South Korea is considerably more urbanized: 81% of people live in cities, against 65%.
Geography
By land area, South Korea is 43% larger than Ireland: 100,210 km² versus 70,273 km².
South Korea is far more densely settled: 516 people per km² against 78.
Military
South Korea spends 36 times as much on defence as Ireland: $47.57B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, South Korea carries the heavier military burden: 2.6% of GDP versus 0.2%.
South Korea fields the larger armed forces: 569,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Korea bigger than Ireland?
- South Korea is larger by land area. South Korea covers 100,210 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so South Korea is 43% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, South Korea or Ireland?
- South Korea has the larger population: 51.68 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Korea richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $36,227. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.87T for South Korea versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, South Korea or Ireland?
- South Korea spends more: $47.57B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).