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Sheet 162 of 195 · AsiaKOR · 36.2°N 128.0°E

South Korea

Republic of Korea · 대한민국

Capital
Seoul
Population
51.7 million 2025
Area
100,210 km²
Neighbours
1
Locator map of South KoreaSOUTH KOREASeoulNORTH KOREAJAPANYellow SeaSea of JapanKorea Strait0200 km
South Korea hatched, Seoul marked with a triangle, land neighbours shaded. Orthographic projection centred on 35.9°N 128.5°E; the scale bar is true at the centre.

South Korea lies in Eastern Asia, and its one land border is with North Korea. Its area of 100,210 km² puts it 107th in the world and 30th of 47 in Asia.

The World Bank counts 51.7 million people in 2025: 29th of 194 worldwide and 13th of 47 in Asia. Density is 516 people per km². 81.2% of people lived in urban areas in 2025. The population shrank by 0.13% in 2025.

GDP per capita was US$36,227 in 2025 (World Bank, current US$), 33rd of 191 and 5th of 46 in Asia. Life expectancy at birth was 83.6 years in 2024. The fertility rate was 0.75 births per woman in 2024. Forest covers 64.4% of its land (2024).

Its main landmass lies entirely in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres. North to south it runs about 603 km, between 33.2°N and 38.6°N. Seoul's antipode is in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 330 km from Argentina, the nearest land.

How it compares Asia: 47 countries

MeasureFigureWorldAsia
Population51,684,5642025, World Bank29th of 19413th of 47
Area100,210 km²world-countries107th of 19530th of 47
GDPUS$1.87 trillion2025, World Bank, current US$13th of 1914th of 46
GDP per capitaUS$36,2272025, World Bank, current US$33rd of 1915th of 46
Population density516 per km²population 2025, World Bank; area, world-countries15th of 1947th of 47
Life expectancy83.6 years2024, World Bank11th of 1943rd of 47
Urban population81.2%2025, World Bank40th of 19413th of 47
Forest area64.4% of land2024, World Bank21st of 1945th of 47
Population growth-0.13% a year2025, World Bank167th of 19442nd of 47
Internet users97.9%2024, World Bank13th of 1887th of 45
Fertility rate0.75 births per woman2024, World Bank194th of 19447th of 47
Land neighbours1world-countries; among the 195141st of 19538th of 47
 Ranks run from the largest value (1st) among the countries with data; equal values share a rank.

Closest in areaIceland, Hungary and Guatemala

Closest in populationSudan, Uganda and Colombia

Neighbours 1 country by land, nearest capital first

  • North Korea195 km
    Seoul to Pyongyang, capital to capital

Where on Earth main landmass

Hemispheres
Northern and Eastern
Capital
Seoul
37.57°N 127.00°E
Northernmost latitude
38.62°N
Southernmost latitude
33.20°N
Westernmost longitude
126.01°E
Easternmost longitude
130.94°E
North to south
about 603 km
Antipode of Seoul
37.57°S 53.00°W
in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 330 km from the nearest land (Argentina)