Updated
Overview
South Korea has about 45% more people than Malaysia: 51.68 million against 35.98 million (2025).
South Korea's economy is 4.0 times the size of Malaysia's, at $1.87T versus $472.19B.
Per person, South Korea is the wealthier of the two: $36,227 against $13,125 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Korea | Malaysia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.87T | $472.19B | 2025 | $1.71T / $421.97B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $36,227 | $13,125 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 5.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.1% | Lower: 1.4% | 2025 | 2.3% / 1.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.7% | 3.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 57 | 32 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $3,168 | $698 | 2022 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,511 | $328 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.84 | $3.57 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 51.68 million | 35.98 million | 2025 | 51.49 million / 34.91 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.6 yrs | 31.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 0.75 | 1.53 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.6 yrs | 76.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 81% | 77% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 98% | Higher: 98% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 100,210 km² | 330,803 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 515.8/km² | 108.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 584 Mt | Lower: 290 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 11.3 t | Lower: 8.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $47.57B | $4.31B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.6% | 1.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 569,000 | 136,000 | 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
Malaysia is growing much faster: 5.2% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.1% in South Korea and 1.4% in Malaysia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Malaysia: a price level of 32 versus 57 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour South Korea: $3,168 against $698 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Malaysia is the far younger society: median age 31.0 versus 45.6 years.
Life expectancy is 6.8 years longer in South Korea (83.6 vs 76.8).
Geography
By land area, South Korea is 70% smaller than Malaysia: 100,210 km² versus 330,803 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
South Korea is far more densely settled: 516 people per km² against 109.
Military
South Korea spends 11 times as much on defence as Malaysia: $47.57B versus $4.31B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, South Korea carries the heavier military burden: 2.6% of GDP versus 1.0%.
South Korea fields the larger armed forces: 569,000 personnel against 136,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Korea bigger than Malaysia?
- Malaysia is larger by land area. South Korea covers 100,210 km² while Malaysia covers 330,803 km², so Malaysia is 3.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, South Korea or Malaysia?
- South Korea has the larger population: 51.68 million versus 35.98 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Korea richer than Malaysia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, South Korea is richer: $36,227 against $13,125. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.87T for South Korea versus $472.19B for Malaysia.
- Who spends more on their military, South Korea or Malaysia?
- South Korea spends more: $47.57B versus $4.31B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).