South Korea vs United Kingdom
South Korea vs United Kingdom: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 84.3 years in South Korea and 81.3 years in United Kingdom, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Korea, by 3 years, or 1.04 times that in United Kingdom.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher since 2008, when it overtook United Kingdom.
- In 2023, South Korea ranked 5 and United Kingdom ranked 42 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts South Korea at 93.1 years and United Kingdom at 90.6 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | South Korea | United Kingdom | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 84.3 | 81.3 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 82.7 | 81.1 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 83.9 | 80.7 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 83.7 | 80.4 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 83.7 | 81.4 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 83.3 | 81.1 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 83.3 | 81.2 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 82.9 | 81.1 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 82.5 | 80.9 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 82.4 | 81.2 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 81.8 | 80.9 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 81.3 | 80.9 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 81.2 | 80.8 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 80.7 | 80.4 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 80.6 | 80.2 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 80 | 79.7 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 79.4 | 79.5 | 69 |
| 2006 | 79 | 79.4 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 78.5 | 79.1 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 78 | 78.9 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 77.5 | 78.3 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 77.2 | 78.2 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 76.9 | 78.1 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 76.2 | 77.9 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 75.6 | 77.4 | 66 |
| 1998 | 75 | 77.3 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 74.5 | 77.1 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 74 | 76.9 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 73.4 | 76.6 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 72.9 | 76.7 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 72.8 | 76.2 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 72.2 | 76.3 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 71.4 | 75.9 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 71 | 75.7 | 64 |
| 1989 | 70.7 | 75.4 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 70.2 | 75.3 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 69.3 | 75.2 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 69 | 74.8 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 68.4 | 74.5 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 68.1 | 74.7 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 66.7 | 74.3 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 67.1 | 74 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 67.1 | 73.9 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 64.9 | 73.6 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 66.1 | 73.2 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 65 | 73 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 64.6 | 73.1 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 65 | 72.6 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 64.7 | 72.7 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 64.2 | 72.4 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 63.8 | 72.2 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 63.2 | 72 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 62.7 | 72.2 | 56 |
| 1970 | 62.2 | 71.9 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 61.4 | 71.7 | 56 |
| 1968 | 60.9 | 71.7 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 60.9 | 72.1 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 55.4 | 71.4 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 55.8 | 71.5 | 54 |
| 1964 | 55.3 | 71.5 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 55 | 70.8 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 55 | 70.9 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 54.4 | 70.8 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 53.8 | 71 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 52.9 | 70.8 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 51.8 | 70.7 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 51.6 | 70.5 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 50.2 | 70.4 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 48.4 | 70.1 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 46.1 | 70.2 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 40.5 | 69.8 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 36.6 | 69.5 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 26.6 | 68.2 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 22.2 | 68.6 | 46.4 |
| 1949 | – | 68.1 | – |
| 1948 | – | 68.4 | – |
| 1947 | – | 66.4 | – |
| 1946 | – | 66.2 | – |
| 1945 | – | 65.8 | – |
| 1944 | – | 64.8 | – |
| 1943 | – | 64 | – |
| 1942 | 44.9 | 64 | – |
| 1941 | – | 61.3 | – |
| 1940 | – | 60.9 | – |
| 1939 | – | 63.6 | – |
| 1938 | 42.6 | 63.2 | – |
| 1937 | – | 61.8 | – |
| 1936 | – | 61.8 | – |
| 1935 | – | 62 | – |
| 1934 | – | 61.3 | – |
| 1933 | 37.4 | 60.6 | – |
| 1932 | – | 60.5 | – |
| 1931 | – | 60 | – |
| 1930 | – | 60.8 | – |
| 1929 | – | 57.6 | – |
| 1928 | 33.6 | 59.9 | – |
| 1927 | – | 59 | – |
| 1926 | – | 59.6 | – |
| 1925 | – | 58.4 | – |
| 1924 | – | 58.1 | – |
| 1923 | 29.5 | 59.3 | – |
| 1922 | – | 57 | – |
| 1921 | – | 58.1 | – |
| 1920 | – | 57.3 | – |
| 1919 | – | 54.3 | – |
| 1918 | 27 | 47.3 | – |
| 1917 | – | 54.2 | – |
| 1916 | – | 54.2 | – |
| 1915 | – | 51.2 | – |
| 1914 | – | 53.2 | – |
| 1913 | 25 | 53.4 | – |
| 1912 | – | 54.3 | – |
| 1911 | – | 51.2 | – |
| 1910 | – | 53.3 | – |
| 1909 | – | 51.7 | – |
| 1908 | 23.5 | 51 | – |
| 1907 | – | 50.6 | – |
| 1906 | – | 49.6 | – |
| 1905 | – | 49.9 | – |
| 1904 | – | 48.2 | – |
| 1903 | – | 49.5 | – |
| 1902 | – | 48.4 | – |
| 1901 | – | 46.9 | – |
| 1900 | – | 45.6 | – |
| 1899 | – | 45.2 | – |
| 1898 | – | 46.1 | – |
| 1897 | – | 46.5 | – |
| 1896 | – | 47.1 | – |
| 1895 | – | 45.4 | – |
| 1894 | – | 48.3 | – |
| 1893 | – | 44.7 | – |
| 1892 | – | 45.6 | – |
| 1891 | – | 44.4 | – |
| 1890 | – | 44.1 | – |
| 1889 | – | 45.9 | – |
| 1888 | – | 46.3 | – |
| 1887 | – | 45.1 | – |
| 1886 | – | 44.6 | – |
| 1885 | – | 44.6 | – |
| 1884 | – | 43.6 | – |
| 1883 | – | 44 | – |
| 1882 | – | 44 | – |
| 1881 | – | 45.1 | – |
| 1880 | – | 43 | – |
| 1879 | – | 43.5 | – |
| 1878 | – | 42 | – |
| 1877 | – | 43.7 | – |
| 1876 | – | 42.7 | – |
| 1875 | – | 41.5 | – |
| 1874 | – | 42.1 | – |
| 1873 | – | 43.3 | – |
| 1872 | – | 42.7 | – |
| 1871 | – | 41.1 | – |
| 1870 | – | 40.6 | – |
| 1869 | – | 41.3 | – |
| 1868 | – | 41.7 | – |
| 1867 | – | 42 | – |
| 1866 | – | 40.1 | – |
| 1865 | – | 39.8 | – |
| 1864 | – | 39.6 | – |
| 1863 | – | 40.4 | – |
| 1862 | – | 42.1 | – |
| 1861 | – | 41.6 | – |
| 1860 | – | 42 | – |
| 1859 | – | 40.4 | – |
| 1858 | – | 39.6 | – |
| 1857 | – | 40.9 | – |
| 1856 | – | 42.5 | – |
| 1855 | – | 40.7 | – |
| 1854 | – | 39.5 | – |
| 1853 | – | 40 | – |
| 1852 | – | 40.4 | – |
| 1851 | – | 41 | – |
| 1850 | – | 42.8 | – |
| 1849 | – | 37.7 | – |
| 1848 | – | 39.9 | – |
| 1847 | – | 38.5 | – |
| 1846 | – | 40.2 | – |
| 1845 | – | 42.2 | – |
| 1844 | – | 41.2 | – |
| 1843 | – | 41.6 | – |
| 1842 | – | 41 | – |
| 1838 | – | 40.6 | – |
| 1833 | – | 40.9 | – |
| 1828 | – | 41.4 | – |
| 1823 | – | 40.5 | – |
| 1818 | – | 40.8 | – |
| 1813 | – | 41.3 | – |
| 1808 | – | 40.6 | – |
| 1803 | – | 40 | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | South Korea | United Kingdom | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 84.483.5–85.3 | 81.580.6–82.3 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 84.583.2–85.9 | 81.680.3–82.8 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 84.683.1–86.2 | 81.880.2–83.3 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 84.783–86.6 | 81.980–83.7 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 84.982.9–86.9 | 8279.9–83.9 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 8582.8–87.2 | 82.279.9–84.3 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 85.182.8–87.5 | 82.479.9–84.6 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 85.282.8–87.8 | 82.579.9–84.9 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 85.382.8–88.1 | 82.779.9–85.1 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 85.482.7–88.4 | 82.879.9–85.4 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 85.582.8–88.6 | 82.979.9–85.6 | 75 |
| 2035 | 85.682.8–88.9 | 83.179.8–85.9 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 85.782.7–88.9 | 83.279.9–86.1 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 85.882.8–89.2 | 83.479.9–86.2 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 8682.8–89.5 | 83.579.8–86.5 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 86.182.8–89.7 | 83.679.8–86.7 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 86.282.8–90 | 83.879.8–87 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 86.382.8–90.2 | 83.980–87.3 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 86.482.8–90.3 | 8479.9–87.6 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 86.582.9–90.5 | 84.279.9–87.8 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 86.682.9–90.8 | 84.379.9–88 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 86.882.8–90.8 | 84.579.9–88.3 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 86.983–91 | 84.680.2–88.4 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 8782.9–91.3 | 84.780–88.6 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 87.182.9–91.5 | 84.880.1–88.9 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 87.282.8–91.9 | 84.980.2–89.1 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 87.382.8–91.9 | 85.180.2–89.2 | 77 |
| 2051 | 87.582.9–92.1 | 85.280.4–89.5 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 87.682.9–92.3 | 85.380.6–89.7 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 87.783–92.5 | 85.580.7–90 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 87.882.9–92.5 | 85.680.8–90.2 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 87.983–92.9 | 85.780.8–90.4 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 8883.1–93.1 | 85.880.8–90.5 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 88.183.1–93.2 | 85.980.8–90.9 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 88.383.3–93.7 | 86.180.9–91 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 88.483.3–93.7 | 86.281.1–91.1 | 78 |
| 2060 | 88.583.3–93.9 | 86.381.1–91.3 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 88.683.3–94.1 | 86.481.2–91.5 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 88.783.2–94.3 | 86.581.3–91.8 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 88.883.4–94.3 | 86.681.4–92 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 88.983.5–94.7 | 86.881.3–92.2 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 8983.5–94.8 | 86.981.6–92.4 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 89.283.7–95.2 | 8781.7–92.5 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 89.383.7–95.4 | 87.181.8–92.8 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 89.483.9–95.4 | 87.281.7–92.9 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 89.583.8–95.7 | 87.381.9–93.1 | 79 |
| 2070 | 89.683.8–95.9 | 87.481.9–93.4 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 89.783.8–96 | 87.582.2–93.4 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 89.883.9–96.4 | 87.682.1–93.7 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 9084–96.5 | 87.882.3–93.8 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 90.183.8–96.7 | 87.982.3–93.9 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 90.283.7–96.9 | 8882.4–94 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 90.383.9–97.2 | 88.182.3–94.2 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 90.483.9–97.2 | 88.282.4–94.5 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 90.583.8–97.3 | 88.382.6–94.7 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 90.683.8–97.5 | 88.482.5–94.8 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 90.783.9–97.7 | 88.582.6–94.9 | 80 |
| 2081 | 90.984–97.9 | 88.682.5–95.1 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 9183.8–98.1 | 88.782.5–95.4 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 91.184–98.3 | 88.882.5–95.5 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 91.284–98.5 | 88.982.6–95.6 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 91.384–98.6 | 8982.7–95.8 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 91.484.2–98.7 | 89.182.8–96.2 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 91.684.4–98.9 | 89.283–96.4 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 91.784.3–99 | 89.382.9–96.6 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 91.884.4–99.4 | 89.482.9–96.8 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 91.984.4–99.5 | 89.582.9–96.9 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 92.184.5–99.8 | 89.683.1–97 | 81 |
| 2092 | 92.284.8–99.8 | 89.883.1–97.1 | 81 |
| 2093 | 92.384.9–100.1 | 89.983.2–97.2 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 92.484.9–100.4 | 9083.3–97.4 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 92.584.9–100.8 | 90.183.2–97.5 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 92.785.1–100.9 | 90.283.3–97.6 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 92.885.2–101.1 | 90.383.4–97.7 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 92.985.3–101.4 | 90.483.5–98 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 9385.3–101.5 | 90.583.4–98 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 93.185.4–101.6 | 90.683.7–98.3 | 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
South Korea vs United Kingdom
Health
- Child mortalitySouth Korea: 0.3 per 100 live births in 2024United Kingdom: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySouth Korea: 2.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023United Kingdom: 3.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterSouth Korea: 99.3% in 2022United Kingdom: 99.8% in 2022
- DepressionSouth Korea: 3.17% in 2017United Kingdom: 4.12% in 2017
- Suicide rateSouth Korea: 20.8 per 100,000 people in 2017United Kingdom: 7.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSouth Korea: 51.8 million people in 2023United Kingdom: 68.7 million people in 2023
- Population growthSouth Korea: -0.04% a year in 2023United Kingdom: 0.7% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateSouth Korea: 0.72 births per woman in 2023United Kingdom: 1.56 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSouth Korea: 81.2% in 2025United Kingdom: 83.3% in 2025
- Median ageSouth Korea: 44.5 years in 2023United Kingdom: 39.8 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overSouth Korea: 18.3% in 2023United Kingdom: 19.2% in 2023
- Net migration rateSouth Korea: 1.7 per 1,000 people in 2023United Kingdom: 6.5 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personSouth Korea: $37,470 in 2025United Kingdom: $48,420 in 2025
- GDP growthSouth Korea: 1.1% a year in 2025United Kingdom: 1.2% a year in 2025
- InflationSouth Korea: 2.1% a year in 2025United Kingdom: 3.4% a year in 2025
- Government debtSouth Korea: 49.6% of GDP in 2024United Kingdom: 102.1% of GDP in 2025
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSouth Korea: 2.6% of GDP in 2025United Kingdom: 2.35% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsSouth Korea: $48.9B in 2025United Kingdom: $88B in 2025
- Military spending per personSouth Korea: $924 in 2025United Kingdom: $1,283 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingSouth Korea: 10.8% of government spending in 2025United Kingdom: 5.4% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelSouth Korea: 569,000 people in 2020United Kingdom: 153,000 people in 2020
- National powerSouth Korea: 2% of world capability in 2022United Kingdom: 1.25% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSouth Korea: 2.01% of the labour force in 2020United Kingdom: 0.45% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSouth Korea: 222 million TIV in 2025United Kingdom: 609 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsSouth Korea: 2.02 billion TIV in 2025United Kingdom: 702 million TIV in 2025