South Korea vs United States
South Korea vs United States: Safe drinking water
Safe drinking water in 2022: 99.3% in South Korea and 97.5% in United States, by WHO/UNICEF estimates. In 2022 the value was higher in South Korea, by 1.8 percentage points, or 1.02 times that in United States.
% of people · WHO/UNICEF
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher in every year both have figures for since 2005.
- In 2022, South Korea ranked 27 and United States ranked 39 of 135 countries, counting from the highest.
- The world as a whole: 72.9% in 2022.
Every year
% of people · WHO/UNICEF
| Year | South Korea | United States | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 99.3 | 97.5 | 72.9 |
| 2021 | 99.2 | 97.3 | 72.5 |
| 2020 | 99.1 | 97.2 | 72.3 |
| 2019 | 99 | 97 | 71.7 |
| 2018 | 98.9 | 96.9 | 71 |
| 2017 | 98.8 | 96.7 | 70.4 |
| 2016 | 98.7 | 96.5 | 69.7 |
| 2015 | 98.6 | 96.4 | 69.1 |
| 2014 | 98.4 | 96.2 | 68.4 |
| 2013 | 98.3 | 96.1 | 67.7 |
| 2012 | 98.1 | 95.9 | 67.1 |
| 2011 | 97.9 | 95.7 | 66.4 |
| 2010 | 97.8 | 95.6 | 65.9 |
| 2009 | 97.6 | 95.4 | 65.4 |
| 2008 | 97.4 | 95.4 | 64.9 |
| 2007 | 97.3 | 95.4 | 64.6 |
| 2006 | 97.1 | 95.4 | 64 |
| 2005 | 97.1 | 95.4 | 63.7 |
| 2004 | 97.1 | – | 63 |
| 2003 | 97.1 | – | 62.4 |
| 2002 | 97.1 | – | 61.8 |
| 2001 | – | – | 61.1 |
| 2000 | – | – | 60.8 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of people whose drinking water comes from an improved source at home, there when needed and free of contamination.
- Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, via Our World in Data.
- Ranks count the 135 countries with a value in 2022, 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 States
Health
- Life expectancySouth Korea: 84.3 years in 2023United States: 79.3 years in 2023
- Child mortalitySouth Korea: 0.3 per 100 live births in 2024United States: 0.7 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySouth Korea: 2.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023United States: 5.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionSouth Korea: 3.17% in 2017United States: 4.84% in 2017
- Suicide rateSouth Korea: 20.8 per 100,000 people in 2017United States: 12.8 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSouth Korea: 51.8 million people in 2023United States: 344 million people in 2023
- Population growthSouth Korea: -0.04% a year in 2023United States: 0.58% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateSouth Korea: 0.72 births per woman in 2023United States: 1.62 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSouth Korea: 81.2% in 2025United States: 80.2% in 2025
- Median ageSouth Korea: 44.5 years in 2023United States: 38 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overSouth Korea: 18.3% in 2023United States: 17.4% in 2023
- Net migration rateSouth Korea: 1.7 per 1,000 people in 2023United States: 3.9 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personSouth Korea: $37,470 in 2025United States: $67,950 in 2025
- GDP growthSouth Korea: 1.1% a year in 2025United States: 2.3% a year in 2025
- InflationSouth Korea: 2.1% a year in 2025United States: 2.7% a year in 2025
- Government debtSouth Korea: 49.6% of GDP in 2024United States: 124.4% of GDP in 2025
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSouth Korea: 2.6% of GDP in 2025United States: 3.12% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsSouth Korea: $48.9B in 2025United States: $929B in 2025
- Military spending per personSouth Korea: $924 in 2025United States: $2,755 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingSouth Korea: 10.8% of government spending in 2025United States: 8.3% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelSouth Korea: 569,000 people in 2020United States: 1.4 million people in 2020
- National powerSouth Korea: 2% of world capability in 2022United States: 12.36% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSouth Korea: 2.01% of the labour force in 2020United States: 0.84% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSouth Korea: 222 million TIV in 2025United States: 745 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsSouth Korea: 2.02 billion TIV in 2025United States: 14 billion TIV in 2025