Saudi Arabia vs South Korea
Saudi Arabia vs South Korea: Population growth
Population growth in 2023: 2.39% a year in Saudi Arabia and -0.04% a year in South Korea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Saudi Arabia, by 2.43 percentage points.
% a year · UN
What the numbers say
- Saudi Arabia has been higher since 2019, when it overtook South Korea.
- In 2023, Saudi Arabia ranked 30 and South Korea ranked 181 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Saudi Arabia at 0.63% a year and South Korea at -1.45% a year in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 0.87% a year in 2023.
Every year
% a year · UN
| Year | Saudi Arabia | South Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2.39 | -0.04 | 0.87 |
| 2022 | 4.3 | -0.09 | 0.88 |
| 2021 | 0.99 | -0.17 | 0.8 |
| 2020 | 1.18 | 0.13 | 0.9 |
| 2019 | 2.21 | 0.22 | 1.03 |
| 2018 | -1.51 | 0.27 | 1.07 |
| 2017 | -1.23 | 0.33 | 1.13 |
| 2016 | 1.65 | 0.4 | 1.17 |
| 2015 | 3.27 | 0.83 | 1.18 |
| 2014 | 3.36 | 0.93 | 1.22 |
| 2013 | 3.45 | 0.94 | 1.23 |
| 2012 | 3.55 | 0.96 | 1.27 |
| 2011 | 3.65 | 0.96 | 1.26 |
| 2010 | 3.75 | 0.51 | 1.27 |
| 2009 | 3.86 | 0.41 | 1.28 |
| 2008 | 3.97 | 0.38 | 1.28 |
| 2007 | 4.09 | 0.36 | 1.28 |
| 2006 | 4.21 | 0.35 | 1.28 |
| 2005 | 4.35 | 0.29 | 1.27 |
| 2004 | 4.51 | 0.35 | 1.28 |
| 2003 | 4.68 | 0.42 | 1.29 |
| 2002 | 4.87 | 0.49 | 1.3 |
| 2001 | 5.09 | 0.59 | 1.33 |
| 2000 | 5.32 | 0.59 | 1.35 |
| 1999 | 3.56 | 0.55 | 1.35 |
| 1998 | 3.68 | 0.61 | 1.37 |
| 1997 | 3.79 | 0.65 | 1.39 |
| 1996 | 3.93 | 0.68 | 1.42 |
| 1995 | 4.07 | 0.51 | 1.45 |
| 1994 | 4.22 | 0.54 | 1.47 |
| 1993 | 4.35 | 0.54 | 1.52 |
| 1992 | 4.52 | 0.5 | 1.57 |
| 1991 | 4.7 | 0.46 | 1.63 |
| 1990 | 4.85 | 1.16 | 1.76 |
| 1989 | 5.02 | 1.38 | 1.78 |
| 1988 | 5.09 | 1.4 | 1.79 |
| 1987 | 5.57 | 1.42 | 1.84 |
| 1986 | 5.74 | 1.46 | 1.83 |
| 1985 | 5.63 | 1.29 | 1.8 |
| 1984 | 5.85 | 1.4 | 1.8 |
| 1983 | 6.05 | 1.56 | 1.78 |
| 1982 | 6.13 | 1.69 | 1.86 |
| 1981 | 6.07 | 1.73 | 1.82 |
| 1980 | 5.88 | 1.12 | 1.8 |
| 1979 | 5.84 | 1.15 | 1.79 |
| 1978 | 5.77 | 1.14 | 1.74 |
| 1977 | 5.65 | 1.23 | 1.75 |
| 1976 | 5.47 | 1.31 | 1.78 |
| 1975 | 5.27 | 1.49 | 1.8 |
| 1974 | 5.21 | 1.82 | 1.88 |
| 1973 | 5.1 | 1.97 | 1.94 |
| 1972 | 4.91 | 2.05 | 1.97 |
| 1971 | 4.61 | 2.1 | 1.97 |
| 1970 | 4.25 | 2.15 | 2.06 |
| 1969 | 4.07 | 2.13 | 2.06 |
| 1968 | 3.95 | 2.17 | 2.09 |
| 1967 | 3.84 | 2.24 | 2 |
| 1966 | 3.73 | 2.06 | 2.04 |
| 1965 | 3.72 | 1.73 | 2.09 |
| 1964 | 3.71 | 1.99 | 2.16 |
| 1963 | 3.7 | 2.23 | 2.28 |
| 1962 | 3.68 | 2.34 | 2.11 |
| 1961 | 3.67 | 2.49 | 1.67 |
| 1960 | 3.66 | 3.09 | 1.58 |
| 1959 | 3.65 | 3.27 | 1.73 |
| 1958 | 3.63 | 3.36 | 2 |
| 1957 | 3.61 | 3.4 | 2.07 |
| 1956 | 3.6 | 3.36 | 1.98 |
| 1955 | 3.58 | 3.3 | 2.01 |
| 1954 | 3.56 | 3.22 | 1.99 |
| 1953 | 3.55 | 2.85 | 1.9 |
| 1952 | 3.52 | 2.47 | 1.94 |
| 1951 | 3.49 | 1.12 | 1.75 |
| 1950 | 3.47 | 0 | 1.74 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Saudi Arabia | South Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1.78-0.13–3 | -0.08-0.43–0.26 | 0.86 |
| 2025 | 1.75-0.36–3.3 | -0.12-0.58–0.35 | 0.84 |
| 2026 | 1.69-0.39–3.37 | -0.14-0.69–0.42 | 0.83 |
| 2027 | 1.66-0.36–3.6 | -0.18-0.8–0.49 | 0.81 |
| 2028 | 1.59-0.26–3.75 | -0.2-0.91–0.53 | 0.8 |
| 2029 | 1.5-0.05–3.71 | -0.23-0.95–0.49 | 0.78 |
| 2030 | 1.37-0.07–3.53 | -0.26-1.07–0.49 | 0.76 |
| 2031 | 1.35-0.1–3.56 | -0.29-1.13–0.47 | 0.75 |
| 2032 | 1.33-0.16–3.41 | -0.33-1.19–0.55 | 0.73 |
| 2033 | 1.32-0.19–3.37 | -0.37-1.25–0.51 | 0.72 |
| 2034 | 1.3-0.32–3.3 | -0.41-1.29–0.51 | 0.7 |
| 2035 | 1.29-0.25–3.2 | -0.45-1.37–0.48 | 0.69 |
| 2036 | 1.28-0.25–3.15 | -0.49-1.48–0.52 | 0.67 |
| 2037 | 1.26-0.37–3.2 | -0.53-1.52–0.47 | 0.65 |
| 2038 | 1.24-0.4–3.2 | -0.57-1.56–0.46 | 0.64 |
| 2039 | 1.22-0.54–3.09 | -0.6-1.65–0.33 | 0.62 |
| 2040 | 1.21-0.39–3.08 | -0.63-1.66–0.42 | 0.61 |
| 2041 | 1.19-0.4–3.01 | -0.67-1.72–0.39 | 0.59 |
| 2042 | 1.18-0.52–2.97 | -0.69-1.77–0.41 | 0.57 |
| 2043 | 1.16-0.49–2.94 | -0.72-1.82–0.39 | 0.56 |
| 2044 | 1.15-0.54–2.96 | -0.77-1.91–0.35 | 0.54 |
| 2045 | 1.13-0.49–2.9 | -0.8-1.96–0.39 | 0.52 |
| 2046 | 1.12-0.49–2.9 | -0.83-2.09–0.34 | 0.5 |
| 2047 | 1.1-0.58–2.83 | -0.88-2.14–0.3 | 0.48 |
| 2048 | 1.09-0.57–2.89 | -0.93-2.15–0.3 | 0.46 |
| 2049 | 1.07-0.68–2.84 | -0.98-2.19–0.28 | 0.44 |
| 2050 | 1.06-0.62–2.88 | -1.02-2.28–0.27 | 0.42 |
| 2051 | 1.05-0.54–2.8 | -1.08-2.37–0.2 | 0.4 |
| 2052 | 1.03-0.6–2.73 | -1.14-2.4–0.19 | 0.38 |
| 2053 | 1.02-0.55–2.72 | -1.17-2.48–0.2 | 0.36 |
| 2054 | 1.01-0.55–2.78 | -1.2-2.52–0.19 | 0.34 |
| 2055 | 0.99-0.68–2.7 | -1.25-2.55–0.21 | 0.33 |
| 2056 | 0.98-0.64–2.63 | -1.29-2.56–0.17 | 0.31 |
| 2057 | 0.97-0.64–2.61 | -1.34-2.68–0.21 | 0.3 |
| 2058 | 0.96-0.68–2.59 | -1.38-2.81–0.19 | 0.28 |
| 2059 | 0.95-0.73–2.68 | -1.39-2.88–0.13 | 0.27 |
| 2060 | 0.93-0.69–2.6 | -1.42-2.89–0.16 | 0.25 |
| 2061 | 0.92-0.7–2.45 | -1.42-2.91–0.15 | 0.24 |
| 2062 | 0.91-0.72–2.47 | -1.44-2.98–0.16 | 0.23 |
| 2063 | 0.89-0.89–2.5 | -1.45-3.02–0.12 | 0.22 |
| 2064 | 0.88-0.68–2.41 | -1.46-3.09–0.21 | 0.21 |
| 2065 | 0.87-0.83–2.38 | -1.46-3.06–0.22 | 0.2 |
| 2066 | 0.86-0.77–2.32 | -1.46-3.11–0.23 | 0.19 |
| 2067 | 0.85-0.73–2.38 | -1.47-3.14–0.22 | 0.18 |
| 2068 | 0.83-0.83–2.34 | -1.47-3.13–0.26 | 0.17 |
| 2069 | 0.82-0.89–2.34 | -1.49-3.26–0.21 | 0.16 |
| 2070 | 0.8-0.82–2.38 | -1.5-3.32–0.25 | 0.15 |
| 2071 | 0.79-0.87–2.24 | -1.5-3.34–0.15 | 0.14 |
| 2072 | 0.78-0.87–2.23 | -1.5-3.35–0.21 | 0.13 |
| 2073 | 0.77-0.94–2.28 | -1.49-3.35–0.25 | 0.12 |
| 2074 | 0.76-0.96–2.25 | -1.49-3.45–0.32 | 0.1 |
| 2075 | 0.75-0.98–2.27 | -1.49-3.44–0.34 | 0.09 |
| 2076 | 0.74-0.9–2.22 | -1.49-3.5–0.34 | 0.08 |
| 2077 | 0.74-0.94–2.18 | -1.5-3.53–0.41 | 0.07 |
| 2078 | 0.73-1.02–2.18 | -1.5-3.55–0.45 | 0.06 |
| 2079 | 0.72-0.93–2.2 | -1.49-3.57–0.47 | 0.05 |
| 2080 | 0.72-0.96–2.26 | -1.5-3.73–0.46 | 0.04 |
| 2081 | 0.72-0.96–2.2 | -1.52-3.81–0.54 | 0.03 |
| 2082 | 0.71-0.96–2.21 | -1.51-3.79–0.5 | 0.02 |
| 2083 | 0.71-0.92–2.11 | -1.52-3.87–0.51 | 0.01 |
| 2084 | 0.7-1.04–2.15 | -1.52-3.88–0.5 | -0 |
| 2085 | 0.7-1.07–2.13 | -1.53-4–0.59 | -0.01 |
| 2086 | 0.7-1.01–2.13 | -1.54-4.09–0.59 | -0.02 |
| 2087 | 0.7-1.05–2.08 | -1.56-4.22–0.59 | -0.03 |
| 2088 | 0.69-1.05–2.12 | -1.56-4.21–0.56 | -0.04 |
| 2089 | 0.69-0.97–2.09 | -1.57-4.35–0.59 | -0.05 |
| 2090 | 0.69-1.02–2.1 | -1.57-4.47–0.6 | -0.05 |
| 2091 | 0.68-0.96–2.1 | -1.57-4.49–0.69 | -0.06 |
| 2092 | 0.68-0.96–2.02 | -1.57-4.63–0.65 | -0.07 |
| 2093 | 0.67-0.98–2.01 | -1.56-4.73–0.7 | -0.07 |
| 2094 | 0.67-1.02–2.04 | -1.55-4.77–0.64 | -0.08 |
| 2095 | 0.66-1.02–2.04 | -1.54-4.87–0.7 | -0.09 |
| 2096 | 0.66-1.02–2.01 | -1.51-4.85–0.71 | -0.1 |
| 2097 | 0.65-1.04–2 | -1.49-4.79–0.63 | -0.11 |
| 2098 | 0.64-1.05–1.96 | -1.48-4.92–0.72 | -0.11 |
| 2099 | 0.64-1.03–1.95 | -1.46-4.94–0.77 | -0.12 |
| 2100 | 0.63-1.07–1.95 | -1.45-5.06–0.8 | -0.13 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How fast the population grew or shrank in a year: births minus deaths, plus people moving in minus people moving out.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- 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
Saudi Arabia vs South Korea
Health
- Life expectancySaudi Arabia: 78.7 years in 2023South Korea: 84.3 years in 2023
- Child mortalitySaudi Arabia: 0.6 per 100 live births in 2024South Korea: 0.3 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySaudi Arabia: 5.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Korea: 2.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionSaudi Arabia: 3.54% in 2017South Korea: 3.17% in 2017
- Suicide rateSaudi Arabia: 2.9 per 100,000 people in 2017South Korea: 20.8 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSaudi Arabia: 33.3 million people in 2023South Korea: 51.8 million people in 2023
- Fertility rateSaudi Arabia: 2.28 births per woman in 2023South Korea: 0.72 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSaudi Arabia: 84.6% in 2025South Korea: 81.2% in 2025
- Median ageSaudi Arabia: 29.3 years in 2023South Korea: 44.5 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overSaudi Arabia: 2.8% in 2023South Korea: 18.3% in 2023
- Net migration rateSaudi Arabia: 9.8 per 1,000 people in 2023South Korea: 1.7 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personSaudi Arabia: $25,070 in 2025South Korea: $37,470 in 2025
- GDP growthSaudi Arabia: 4.6% a year in 2025South Korea: 1.1% a year in 2025
- InflationSaudi Arabia: 2% a year in 2025South Korea: 2.1% a year in 2025
- Government debtSaudi Arabia: 31.8% of GDP in 2025South Korea: 49.6% of GDP in 2024
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSaudi Arabia: 6.48% of GDP in 2025South Korea: 2.6% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsSaudi Arabia: $81.5B in 2025South Korea: $48.9B in 2025
- Military spending per personSaudi Arabia: $2,428 in 2025South Korea: $924 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingSaudi Arabia: 23.5% of government spending in 2025South Korea: 10.8% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelSaudi Arabia: 282,000 people in 2020South Korea: 569,000 people in 2020
- National powerSaudi Arabia: 1.34% of world capability in 2022South Korea: 2% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSaudi Arabia: 1.92% of the labour force in 2020South Korea: 2.01% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSaudi Arabia: 3.04 billion TIV in 2025South Korea: 222 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsSaudi Arabia: 3 million TIV in 2023South Korea: 2.02 billion TIV in 2025