Papua New Guinea vs South Korea
Papua New Guinea vs South Korea: Learning-adjusted schooling
Learning-adjusted schooling in 2020: 6 years in Papua New Guinea and 11.7 years in South Korea, by World Bank estimates. In 2020 the value was higher in South Korea, by 5.7 years, or 1.95 times that in Papua New Guinea.
years · World Bank
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher in every year both have figures for since 2017.
- In 2020, Papua New Guinea ranked 130 and South Korea ranked 7 of 174 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
years · World Bank
| Year | Papua New Guinea | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 | 11.7 |
| 2018 | 5.9 | 12.3 |
| 2017 | 4.7 | 12.2 |
| 2010 | – | 12.3 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The years of school a child can expect by 18, cut to what students actually learn: the World Bank’s learning-adjusted years of school.
- Source: World Bank Human Capital Index, via Our World in Data.
- Ranks count the 174 countries with a value in 2020, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Papua New Guinea vs South Korea
Health
- Life expectancyPapua New Guinea: 66.1 years in 2023South Korea: 84.3 years in 2023
- Child mortalityPapua New Guinea: 3.9 per 100 live births in 2024South Korea: 0.3 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityPapua New Guinea: 32.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Korea: 2.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionPapua New Guinea: 3.17% in 2017South Korea: 3.17% in 2017
- Suicide ratePapua New Guinea: 23.1 per 100,000 people in 2017South Korea: 20.8 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationPapua New Guinea: 10.4 million people in 2023South Korea: 51.8 million people in 2023
- Population growthPapua New Guinea: 1.8% a year in 2023South Korea: -0.04% a year in 2023
- Fertility ratePapua New Guinea: 3.1 births per woman in 2023South Korea: 0.72 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationPapua New Guinea: 15.8% in 2025South Korea: 81.2% in 2025
- Median agePapua New Guinea: 22.3 years in 2023South Korea: 44.5 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overPapua New Guinea: 3.3% in 2023South Korea: 18.3% in 2023
- Net migration ratePapua New Guinea: -0.1 per 1,000 people in 2023South Korea: 1.7 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personPapua New Guinea: $2,665 in 2025South Korea: $37,470 in 2025
- GDP growthPapua New Guinea: 3.9% a year in 2024South Korea: 1.1% a year in 2025
- InflationPapua New Guinea: 4.4% a year in 2025South Korea: 2.1% a year in 2025
- Government debtPapua New Guinea: 51.6% of GDP in 2025South Korea: 49.6% of GDP in 2024
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingPapua New Guinea: 0.35% of GDP in 2025South Korea: 2.6% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsPapua New Guinea: $110M in 2025South Korea: $48.9B in 2025
- Military spending per personPapua New Guinea: $10 in 2025South Korea: $924 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingPapua New Guinea: 1.6% of government spending in 2025South Korea: 10.8% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelPapua New Guinea: 4,000 people in 2020South Korea: 569,000 people in 2020
- National powerPapua New Guinea: 0.03% of world capability in 2022South Korea: 2% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersPapua New Guinea: 0.12% of the labour force in 2020South Korea: 2.01% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsPapua New Guinea: 9 million TIV in 2023South Korea: 222 million TIV in 2025
Climate
Technology and environment
- CO₂ per personPapua New Guinea: 0.52 tonnes in 2024South Korea: 11.36 tonnes in 2024
- Internet usersPapua New Guinea: 18.8% in 2024South Korea: 97.9% in 2024
- Access to electricityPapua New Guinea: 43.3% in 2024South Korea: 100% in 2024
- Forest areaPapua New Guinea: 75.2% in 2024South Korea: 64.4% in 2024