Official name:
Republic of Korea
Region:
General Information
| Region | Eastern Asia | |
| Population (000, 2021) | 51 305a | |
| Pop. density (per km2, 2021) | 527.7a | |
| Capital city | Seoul | |
| Capital city pop. (000, 2021) | 9 962.4c,b | |
| UN membership date | 17-Sep-91 | |
| Surface area (km2) | 100 340b | |
| Sex ratio (m per 100 f) | 100.2a | |
| National currency | South Korean Won (KRW) | |
| Exchange rate (per US$) | 1 088.0d |
Economic indicators
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| GDP: Gross domestic product (million current US$) | 1 144 067 | 1 465 773 | 1 646 539b |
| GDP growth rate (annual %, const. 2015 prices) | 6.8 | 2.8 | 2b |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | 23 091.2 | 28 840.7 | 32 143.1b |
| Economy: Agriculturee (% of Gross Value Added) | 2.4 | 2.2 | 1.8b |
| Economy: Industryf,g (% of Gross Value Added) | 37.5 | 37.2 | 35.9b |
| Economy: Services and other activityh (% of GVA) | 60.1 | 60.6 | 62.4b |
| Employment in agriculture (% of employed) | 6.6 | 5.1 | 4.8i,d |
| Employment in industry (% of employed) | 25 | 25.2 | 25i,d |
| Employment in services (% employed) | 68.4 | 69.7 | 70.2i,d |
| Unemploymenti (% of labour force) | 3.7 | 3.6 | 4.6d |
| Labour force participation ratei (female/male pop. %) | 49.5 / 72.2 | 51.9 / 73.3 | 52.8 / 73.1d |
| CPI: Consumer Price Indexj (2010=100) | 100 | 110 | 116d |
| Agricultural production index (2014-2016=100) | 94 | 100 | 100b |
| International trade: exports (million current US$) | 466 381 | 526 753 | 512 710d |
| International trade: imports (million current US$) | 425 208 | 436 487 | 467 498d |
| International trade: balance (million current US$) | 41 173 | 90 266 | 45 212d |
| Balance of payments, current account (million US$) | 27 950 | 105 119 | 75 276d |
Social indicators
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Population growth ratek (average annual %) | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.2d |
| Urban population (% of total population) | 81.9 | 81.6 | 81.4b |
| Urban population growth ratek (average annual %) | 0.5 | 0.3 | ... |
| Fertility rate, totalk (live births per woman) | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.1d |
| Life expectancy at birthk (females/males, years) | 82.7 / 76.0 | 84.4 / 77.9 | 85.7 / 79.6d |
| Population age distribution (0-14/60+ years old, %) | 16.1 / 15.3 | 13.8 / 18.3 | 12.3 / 24.2a |
| International migrant stockl,m (000/% of total pop.) | 920.0 / 1.9 | 1 370.9 / 2.7 | 1 728.2 / 3.4d |
| Refugees and others of concern to UNHCR (000) | 1.2n | 6.6 | 28.9d |
| Infant mortality ratek (per 1 000 live births) | 3.5 | 3 | 2.1d |
| Health: Current expenditure (% of GDP) | 5.9 | 6.7 | 7.6o |
| Health: Physicians (per 1 000 pop.) | 2 | 2.2 | 2.4o |
| Education: Government expenditure (% of GDP) | ... | ... | 4.6p |
| Education: Primary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 101.8 / 101.7 | 98.7 / 98.9 | 99.5 / 99.7o |
| Education: Secondary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 96.1 / 96.6 | 99.7 / 100.3 | 98.1 / 98.8o |
| Education: Upper secondary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 92.2 / 93.0 | 96.6 / 97.1 | 99.8 / 100.8o |
| Intentional homicide rate (per 100 000 pop.) | 1 | 0.7 | 0.6o |
| Seats held by women in national parliaments (%) | 14.7 | 16.3 | 19q |
Environment and infrastructure indicators
| 2010 | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Individuals using the Internet (per 100 inhabitants) | 83.7r | 89.9s | 96.2b |
| Research & Development expenditure (% of GDP) | 3.3 | 4 | 4.5o |
| Threatened species (number) | 64 | 76 | 161 |
| Forested areai (% of land area) | 65.7 | 65 | 64.7o |
| CO2 emission estimates (million tons/tons per capita) | 550.9 / 11.1 | 582.0 / 11.4 | 586.2 / 11.3b |
| Energy production, primary (Petajoules) | 1 863 | 2 125 | 1 866o |
| Energy supply per capita (Gigajoules) | 212 | 225 | 231o |
| Tourist/visitor arrivals at national borderst (000) | 8 798 | 13 232 | 17 503b |
| Important sites for terrestrial biodiversity protected (%) | 33.8 | 36.4 | 37.6d |