Updated
Overview
South Korea has about 40% more people than Poland: 51.68 million against 36.44 million (2025).
South Korea's economy is about 80% larger than Poland's, at $1.87T versus $1.04T.
Per person, South Korea is the wealthier of the two: $36,227 against $28,420 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Korea | Poland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.87T | $1.04T | 2025 | $1.71T / $914.70B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $36,227 | $28,420 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 3.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.1% | 3.8% | 2025 | 2.3% / 3.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.7% | 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 57 | 52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $3,168 | $2,302 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,511 | $1,241 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.84 | $6.22 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 51.68 million | 36.44 million | 2025 | 51.49 million / 38.75 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | -0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.6 yrs | 42.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 0.75 | 1.31 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.6 yrs | 78.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 81% | 60% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 98% | 89% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 100,210 km² | 312,679 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 515.8/km² | 116.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 584 Mt | Lower: 273 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 11.3 t | Lower: 7.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $47.57B | $38.00B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.6% | 4.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 569,000 | 189,000 | 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
Poland is growing faster: 3.6% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.1% in South Korea and 3.8% in Poland.
Average monthly earnings favour South Korea: $3,168 against $2,302 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Poland is the younger society: median age 42.5 versus 45.6 years.
Life expectancy is 5.2 years longer in South Korea (83.6 vs 78.4).
South Korea is considerably more urbanized: 81% of people live in cities, against 60%.
Geography
By land area, South Korea is 68% smaller than Poland: 100,210 km² versus 312,679 km².
South Korea is far more densely settled: 516 people per km² against 117.
Military
South Korea spends 25% more on defence than Poland: $47.57B versus $38.00B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Poland carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 2.6%.
South Korea fields the larger armed forces: 569,000 personnel against 189,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is South Korea bigger than Poland?
- Poland is larger by land area. South Korea covers 100,210 km² while Poland covers 312,679 km², so Poland is 3.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, South Korea or Poland?
- South Korea has the larger population: 51.68 million versus 36.44 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Korea richer than Poland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, South Korea is richer: $36,227 against $28,420. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.87T for South Korea versus $1.04T for Poland.
- Who spends more on their military, South Korea or Poland?
- South Korea spends more: $47.57B versus $38.00B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).