Updated
Overview
South Korea has about 50% more people than Peru: 51.68 million against 34.58 million (2025).
South Korea's economy is 5.6 times the size of Peru's, at $1.87T versus $334.85B.
Per person, South Korea is the wealthier of the two: $36,227 against $9,684 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Korea | Peru | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.87T | $334.85B | 2025 | $1.71T / $289.22B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $36,227 | $9,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 3.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.1% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | 2.3% / 2.0% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.7% | 5.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 57 | 51 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $3,168 | $563 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,511 | $273 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.84 | $4.99 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 51.68 million | 34.58 million | 2025 | 51.49 million / 32.77 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.6 yrs | 30.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 0.75 | 1.94 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.6 yrs | 77.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 81% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 98% | 82% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 100,210 km² | 1,285,216 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 515.8/km² | 26.9/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 584 Mt | Lower: 70 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 11.3 t | Lower: 2.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $47.57B | $2.57B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.6% | 0.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 569,000 | 158,000 | 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
Peru is growing faster: 3.4% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.1% in South Korea and 1.5% in Peru.
Average monthly earnings favour South Korea: $3,168 against $563 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Peru is the far younger society: median age 30.2 versus 45.6 years.
Life expectancy is 5.7 years longer in South Korea (83.6 vs 77.9).
Internet adoption is higher in South Korea (98% vs 82% of the population).
Geography
By land area, South Korea is only about 1/13 the size of Peru: 100,210 km² versus 1,285,216 km².
South Korea is far more densely settled: 516 people per km² against 27.
Military
South Korea spends 19 times as much on defence as Peru: $47.57B versus $2.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, South Korea carries the heavier military burden: 2.6% of GDP versus 0.9%.
South Korea fields the larger armed forces: 569,000 personnel against 158,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Korea bigger than Peru?
- Peru is larger by land area. South Korea covers 100,210 km² while Peru covers 1,285,216 km², so Peru is 13 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, South Korea or Peru?
- South Korea has the larger population: 51.68 million versus 34.58 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Korea richer than Peru?
- Measured by GDP per capita, South Korea is richer: $36,227 against $9,684. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.87T for South Korea versus $334.85B for Peru.
- Who spends more on their military, South Korea or Peru?
- South Korea spends more: $47.57B versus $2.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).