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Country comparison

ChinavsSouth Korea

See the biggest differences first, then scan the geographic, economic, and practical reference data.

This comparison uses the latest available atlas values for each country; reporting years can differ by metric.

The biggest differences first

Population

China is higher

China records 1,408,975,000, about 27.2× the other value.

Surface area

China is higher

China records 9,562,910 km², about 95.2× the other value.

Nominal GDP

China is higher

China records $18.74 trillion, about 9.99× the other value.

What stands out

Proportional bars and relative differences make the headline numbers easier to read.

Population

🇨🇳 China1,408,975,000
🇰🇷 South Korea51,751,065

China’s population is about 27.2× that of South Korea, a difference of 1,357,223,935.

Surface area

🇨🇳 China9,562,910 km²
🇰🇷 South Korea100,450 km²

China’s surface area is about 95.2× that of South Korea, a difference of 9,462,460 km².

Population density

🇨🇳 China147 /km²
🇰🇷 South Korea515 /km²

South Korea’s population density is 250% higher than that of China, a difference of 368 /km².

Nominal GDP

🇨🇳 China$18.74 trillion · 2024
🇰🇷 South Korea$1.88 trillion · 2024

China’s nominal GDP is 899% larger than that of South Korea, a difference of $16.87 trillion.

GDP per capita

🇨🇳 China$13,303 · 2024
🇰🇷 South Korea$36,239 · 2024

South Korea’s GDP per capita is 172% higher than that of China, a difference of $22,935.

Values use the latest available observations in WorldSumma. Economic reporting years are shown when available and can differ by country.

Full side-by-side comparison

Capital

Beijing

Seoul

Population

1,408,975,000

51,751,065

Surface area

9,562,910 km²

100,450 km²

Population density

147 /km²

515 /km²

Nominal GDP

$18.74 trillion · 2024

$1.88 trillion · 2024

GDP per capita

$13,303 · 2024

$36,239 · 2024

Region

Asia

Asia

Subregion

Eastern Asia

Eastern Asia

Currency

Chinese yuan · CNY · ¥

Won · KRW · ₩

Nationality

Chinese

South Korean

Phone code

+86

+82

Internet domain

.cn

.kr

ISO codes

CN / CHN

KR / KOR

Time zone

Asia/Shanghai, Asia/Urumqi

Asia/Seoul

Native name

中国

대한민국

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About China

China, the world's most populous nation and a cradle of ancient civilization, stretches across East Asia with a tapestry of bustling megacities, timeless landscapes, and a rapidly evolving society that balances tradition and modernity.

Full China profile →

About South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a sovereign state in East Asia constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula.

Full South Korea profile →

China & South Korea: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of China?

The capital of China is Beijing.

What is the population of China?

China has a recorded population of approximately 1,408,975,000 people.

How big is China?

China covers an area of about 9,562,910 km².

What is the population density of China?

China has a population density of roughly 147 /km² (people per square kilometre).

What is the GDP of China?

China has a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately $18.74 trillion as of 2024.

What is the GDP per capita of China?

China has a GDP per capita of approximately $13,303.

What currency is used in China?

China uses the Chinese yuan (CNY), with the symbol ¥.

Where is China located?

China is located in Eastern Asia, Asia.

What is the native name of China?

The native name of China is 中国.

What are people from China called?

People from China are referred to as Chinese.

What is the phone calling code for China?

The international dialing code for China is +86.

What is the internet domain for China?

The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for China is .cn.

What time zone is China in?

China spans 2 time zones including Asia/Shanghai, Asia/Urumqi.

What is China known for?

China, the world's most populous nation and a cradle of ancient civilization, stretches across East Asia with a tapestry of bustling megacities, timeless landscapes, and a rapidly evolving society that balances tradition and modernity.

What is the capital of South Korea?

The capital of South Korea is Seoul.

What is the population of South Korea?

South Korea has a recorded population of approximately 51,751,065 people.

How big is South Korea?

South Korea covers an area of about 100,450 km².

What is the population density of South Korea?

South Korea has a population density of roughly 515 /km² (people per square kilometre).

What is the GDP of South Korea?

South Korea has a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately $1.88 trillion as of 2024.

What is the GDP per capita of South Korea?

South Korea has a GDP per capita of approximately $36,239.

What currency is used in South Korea?

South Korea uses the Won (KRW), with the symbol ₩.

Where is South Korea located?

South Korea is located in Eastern Asia, Asia.

What is the native name of South Korea?

The native name of South Korea is 대한민국.

What are people from South Korea called?

People from South Korea are referred to as South Korean.

What is the phone calling code for South Korea?

The international dialing code for South Korea is +82.

What is the internet domain for South Korea?

The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for South Korea is .kr.

What time zone is South Korea in?

South Korea uses the Asia/Seoul time zone.

What is South Korea known for?

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a sovereign state in East Asia constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula.