China vs South Korea: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 110 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Comparing China and South Korea: South Korea leads on Refined Petroleum Products Imports (908,800) against China (1.16); China leads on Refined Petroleum Products Exports (848,400) against South Korea (1.40); South Korea leads on Oil Production (48,400) against China (4.27). Across 110 compared metrics, China wins on 55 and South Korea wins on 46.
- Communications: 6 metrics compared
- Economy: 45 metrics compared
- Environment: 5 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 8 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 30 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
Communications
6 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇳 China | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 92 % | 97.9 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 78% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 97% (2023 est.) | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 14.8 points | 64.06 points★ | |
| Radios | 417★ | 47.5 | |
| Televisions | 400★ | 15.9 | |
| Waterways | 27,700★ | 1,600 |
Economy
45 metricsEnvironment
5 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇳 China | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 117.03M | -5.50M★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 12.2★ | 644.23 | |
| Population Distribution | overwhelming majority of the population is found in the eastern half of the country; the west, with its vast mountainous and desert areas, remains sparsely populated; though ranked first in the world in total population, overall density is less than that | the population is primarily concentrated in the lowland areas, where density is high; Gyeonggi Province in the northwest, which surrounds the capital of Seoul and contains the port of Incheon, is the most densely populated province; Gangwon in the northea | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 828.8 Cubic meters per year★ | 13.3 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 2.84 | 69.7★ |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇳 China | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 6.74 % | 11.86 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 64.72 | 131.69★ | |
| Agricultural land | 5.19M sq. km★ | 15,174 sq. km | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 14,500 km★ | 2,413 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 566.97 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 362.21 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 690,070★ | 7,780 |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇳 China | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 59.71 % | 85.98 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 23★ | 9 | |
| Independence | 1 | 15★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
8 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇳 China | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 11.9★ | 9.6 | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 5.4 % of GDP | 9.7 % of GDP★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | NA | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 5 people/sq km | 12.8 people/sq km★ | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 16 % | 4 %★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 6.2 % | 4.7 %★ | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | NA | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 2.4 | 0.4★ |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇨🇳 China | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 2.54M★ | 569,000 |
People and Society
30 metricsTransportation
5 metrics| Metric | 🇨🇳 China | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.46 | 1.32★ | |
| Airports | 552★ | 92 | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 284★ | 93 | |
| Heliports | 120 | 1,280★ |