Germany vs South Korea
Germany vs South Korea: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 81.4 years in Germany and 84.3 years in South Korea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Korea, by 3 years, or 1.04 times that in Germany.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher since 2008, when it overtook Germany.
- In 2023, Germany ranked 41 and South Korea ranked 5 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Germany at 90.8 years and South Korea at 93.1 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | Germany | South Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 81.4 | 84.3 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 80.6 | 82.7 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 81.1 | 83.9 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 81 | 83.7 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 81.2 | 83.7 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 80.9 | 83.3 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 80.9 | 83.3 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 80.8 | 82.9 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 80.6 | 82.5 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 80.9 | 82.4 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 80.5 | 81.8 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 80.5 | 81.3 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 80.4 | 81.2 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 80.1 | 80.7 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 79.9 | 80.6 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 79.8 | 80 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 79.7 | 79.4 | 69 |
| 2006 | 79.6 | 79 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 79.3 | 78.5 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 79.1 | 78 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 78.5 | 77.5 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 78.5 | 77.2 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 78.4 | 76.9 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 78.1 | 76.2 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 77.8 | 75.6 | 66 |
| 1998 | 77.6 | 75 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 77.2 | 74.5 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 76.8 | 74 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 76.6 | 73.4 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 76.4 | 72.9 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 76.1 | 72.8 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 76 | 72.2 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 75.6 | 71.4 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 75.3 | 71 | 64 |
| 1989 | 75.5 | 70.7 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 75.3 | 70.2 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 75.1 | 69.3 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 74.7 | 69 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 74.5 | 68.4 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 74.4 | 68.1 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 73.9 | 66.7 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 73.6 | 67.1 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 73.3 | 67.1 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 73.1 | 64.9 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 72.9 | 66.1 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 72.6 | 65 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 72.6 | 64.6 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 72 | 65 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 71.5 | 64.7 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 71.7 | 64.2 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 71.4 | 63.8 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 71.2 | 63.2 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 70.9 | 62.7 | 56 |
| 1970 | 70.7 | 62.2 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 70.5 | 61.4 | 56 |
| 1968 | 70.6 | 60.9 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 71 | 60.9 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 70.7 | 55.4 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 70.6 | 55.8 | 54 |
| 1964 | 70.7 | 55.3 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 70.1 | 55 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 70 | 55 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 69.8 | 54.4 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 69.3 | 53.8 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 69.3 | 52.9 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 69.2 | 51.8 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 68.5 | 51.6 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 68.6 | 50.2 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 68.3 | 48.4 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 68.1 | 46.1 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 67.8 | 40.5 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 67.5 | 36.6 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 67.1 | 26.6 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 66.8 | 22.2 | 46.4 |
| 1946 | 60.5 | – | – |
| 1942 | – | 44.9 | – |
| 1938 | – | 42.6 | – |
| 1935 | 61.5 | – | – |
| 1933 | – | 37.4 | – |
| 1928 | – | 33.6 | – |
| 1925 | 57.4 | – | – |
| 1923 | – | 29.5 | – |
| 1918 | – | 27 | – |
| 1915 | 40.5 | – | – |
| 1913 | – | 25 | – |
| 1911 | 49 | – | – |
| 1908 | – | 23.5 | – |
| 1905 | 45.5 | – | – |
| 1895 | 42.4 | – | – |
| 1885 | 39.4 | – | – |
| 1875 | 38.4 | – | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Germany | South Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 81.580.7–82.5 | 84.483.5–85.3 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 81.780.4–82.9 | 84.583.2–85.9 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 81.980.3–83.4 | 84.683.1–86.2 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 8280.2–83.8 | 84.783–86.6 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 82.280.2–84.1 | 84.982.9–86.9 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 82.380.1–84.3 | 8582.8–87.2 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 82.580.2–84.7 | 85.182.8–87.5 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 82.680.1–84.9 | 85.282.8–87.8 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 82.880.1–85.2 | 85.382.8–88.1 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 8380–85.6 | 85.482.7–88.4 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 83.180–85.8 | 85.582.8–88.6 | 75 |
| 2035 | 83.280.1–86.2 | 85.682.8–88.9 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 83.480.1–86.4 | 85.782.7–88.9 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 83.580.2–86.7 | 85.882.8–89.2 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 83.780.4–86.8 | 8682.8–89.5 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 83.880.2–87 | 86.182.8–89.7 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 83.980.2–87.2 | 86.282.8–90 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 84.180.2–87.5 | 86.382.8–90.2 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 84.280.4–87.7 | 86.482.8–90.3 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 84.380.4–87.9 | 86.582.9–90.5 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 84.480.4–88.1 | 86.682.9–90.8 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 84.680.5–88.4 | 86.882.8–90.8 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 84.780.6–88.7 | 86.983–91 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 84.880.8–88.9 | 8782.9–91.3 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 84.980.8–89 | 87.182.9–91.5 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 85.181–89.2 | 87.282.8–91.9 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 85.281–89.4 | 87.382.8–91.9 | 77 |
| 2051 | 85.381–89.8 | 87.582.9–92.1 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 85.481.2–90 | 87.682.9–92.3 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 85.681.1–90.2 | 87.783–92.5 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 85.781.1–90.4 | 87.882.9–92.5 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 85.881.4–90.5 | 87.983–92.9 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 85.981.5–90.6 | 8883.1–93.1 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 86.181.6–90.8 | 88.183.1–93.2 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 86.281.5–91.1 | 88.383.3–93.7 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 86.381.5–91 | 88.483.3–93.7 | 78 |
| 2060 | 86.481.7–91.3 | 88.583.3–93.9 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 86.581.7–91.4 | 88.683.3–94.1 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 86.681.7–91.7 | 88.783.2–94.3 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 86.781.7–91.8 | 88.883.4–94.3 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 86.981.8–91.9 | 88.983.5–94.7 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 8781.9–92.1 | 8983.5–94.8 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 87.182–92.3 | 89.283.7–95.2 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 87.282.1–92.4 | 89.383.7–95.4 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 87.382–92.7 | 89.483.9–95.4 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 87.482.2–92.9 | 89.583.8–95.7 | 79 |
| 2070 | 87.582.2–93.2 | 89.683.8–95.9 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 87.782.2–93.4 | 89.783.8–96 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 87.882.2–93.6 | 89.883.9–96.4 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 87.982.3–93.8 | 9084–96.5 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 8882.3–94 | 90.183.8–96.7 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 88.182.4–94.1 | 90.283.7–96.9 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 88.282.4–94.3 | 90.383.9–97.2 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 88.382.5–94.4 | 90.483.9–97.2 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 88.482.6–94.6 | 90.583.8–97.3 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 88.682.7–94.9 | 90.683.8–97.5 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 88.782.7–94.7 | 90.783.9–97.7 | 80 |
| 2081 | 88.882.7–95 | 90.984–97.9 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 88.982.7–95.3 | 9183.8–98.1 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 8982.9–95.3 | 91.184–98.3 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 89.182.9–95.6 | 91.284–98.5 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 89.283–95.8 | 91.384–98.6 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 89.383–95.9 | 91.484.2–98.7 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 89.483.2–96 | 91.684.4–98.9 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 89.583.2–96.3 | 91.784.3–99 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 89.683.3–96.6 | 91.884.4–99.4 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 89.783.4–96.7 | 91.984.4–99.5 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 89.883.5–96.8 | 92.184.5–99.8 | 81 |
| 2092 | 9083.5–97.2 | 92.284.8–99.8 | 81 |
| 2093 | 90.183.6–97.2 | 92.384.9–100.1 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 90.283.8–97.4 | 92.484.9–100.4 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 90.383.6–97.5 | 92.584.9–100.8 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 90.483.9–97.7 | 92.785.1–100.9 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 90.583.9–97.8 | 92.885.2–101.1 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 90.684–98.1 | 92.985.3–101.4 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 90.783.9–98.1 | 9385.3–101.5 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 90.884–98.3 | 93.185.4–101.6 | 81.7 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How long a newborn would live on average if the year’s death rates held all its life.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- Before 1950: Our World in Data, long-run life expectancy.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Germany vs South Korea
Health
- Child mortalityGermany: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024South Korea: 0.3 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityGermany: 3 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Korea: 2.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterGermany: 99.9% in 2022South Korea: 99.3% in 2022
- DepressionGermany: 3.96% in 2017South Korea: 3.17% in 2017
- Suicide rateGermany: 9.9 per 100,000 people in 2017South Korea: 20.8 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationGermany: 84.6 million people in 2023South Korea: 51.8 million people in 2023
- Population growthGermany: 0.35% a year in 2023South Korea: -0.04% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateGermany: 1.44 births per woman in 2023South Korea: 0.72 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationGermany: 82.1% in 2025South Korea: 81.2% in 2025
- Median ageGermany: 45.2 years in 2023South Korea: 44.5 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overGermany: 22.8% in 2023South Korea: 18.3% in 2023
- Net migration rateGermany: 7.2 per 1,000 people in 2023South Korea: 1.7 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingGermany: 2.27% of GDP in 2025South Korea: 2.6% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsGermany: $107B in 2025South Korea: $48.9B in 2025
- Military spending per personGermany: $1,346 in 2025South Korea: $924 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingGermany: 4.5% of government spending in 2025South Korea: 10.8% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelGermany: 183,000 people in 2020South Korea: 569,000 people in 2020
- National powerGermany: 1.5% of world capability in 2022South Korea: 2% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersGermany: 0.42% of the labour force in 2020South Korea: 2.01% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsGermany: 1.63 billion TIV in 2025South Korea: 222 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsGermany: 1.7 billion TIV in 2025South Korea: 2.02 billion TIV in 2025