Updated
Overview
South Korea has 2.2 times the population of Taiwan: 51.68 million people against 23.30 million (2025).
South Korea's economy is 2.0 times the size of Taiwan's, at $1.87T versus $920.05B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | South Korea | Taiwan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.87T | $920.05B | 2025 | $1.71T / $611.39B |
| GDP per capita | $36,227 | Higher: $39,489 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 8.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.1% | Lower: 1.7% | 2025 | 2.3% / 2.2% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.7% | 3.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 57 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $3,168 | — | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,511 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.84 | $2.42 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 51.68 million | 23.30 million | 2025 | 51.49 million / 23.60 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.6 yrs | 44.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 0.75 | 0.86 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 83.6 yrs | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 81% | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 98% | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 100,210 km² | 36,193 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 515.8/km² | 643.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 584 Mt | Lower: 262 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 11.3 t | 11.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $47.57B | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.6% | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 569,000 | — | 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
Taiwan is growing much faster: 8.7% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.1% in South Korea and 1.7% in Taiwan.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 45.6 (South Korea) and 44.8 (Taiwan).
Geography
By land area, South Korea is 2.8 times the size of Taiwan: 100,210 km² versus 36,193 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Frequently asked
- Is South Korea bigger than Taiwan?
- South Korea is larger by land area. South Korea covers 100,210 km² while Taiwan covers 36,193 km², so South Korea is 2.8 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, South Korea or Taiwan?
- South Korea has the larger population: 51.68 million versus 23.30 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is South Korea richer than Taiwan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Taiwan is richer: $39,489 against $36,227. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.87T for South Korea versus $920.05B for Taiwan.