South Korea vs Vietnam
South Korea vs Vietnam: Median age
Median age in 2023: 44.5 years in South Korea and 32.4 years in Vietnam, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Korea, by 12.1 years, or 1.37 times that in Vietnam.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher since 1966, when it overtook Vietnam.
- In 2023, South Korea ranked 19 and Vietnam ranked 112 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts South Korea at 59.9 years and Vietnam at 49.3 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 30.4 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | South Korea | Vietnam | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 44.5 | 32.4 | 30.4 |
| 2022 | 43.9 | 31.9 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 43.4 | 31.5 | 29.8 |
| 2020 | 42.8 | 31 | 29.6 |
| 2019 | 42.2 | 30.6 | 29.3 |
| 2018 | 41.6 | 30.2 | 29 |
| 2017 | 41.1 | 29.8 | 28.8 |
| 2016 | 40.5 | 29.5 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | 39.9 | 29.2 | 28.3 |
| 2014 | 39.2 | 28.8 | 28.1 |
| 2013 | 38.5 | 28.4 | 27.8 |
| 2012 | 37.9 | 28 | 27.6 |
| 2011 | 37.2 | 27.6 | 27.4 |
| 2010 | 36.6 | 27.2 | 27.2 |
| 2009 | 36 | 26.8 | 27 |
| 2008 | 35.4 | 26.3 | 26.7 |
| 2007 | 34.8 | 25.8 | 26.5 |
| 2006 | 34.2 | 25.3 | 26.3 |
| 2005 | 33.6 | 24.8 | 26.1 |
| 2004 | 32.9 | 24.4 | 25.9 |
| 2003 | 32.3 | 24 | 25.7 |
| 2002 | 31.7 | 23.5 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | 31.2 | 23.1 | 25.3 |
| 2000 | 30.7 | 22.7 | 25.1 |
| 1999 | 30.2 | 22.2 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 29.7 | 21.8 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 29.2 | 21.4 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 28.8 | 21 | 24.2 |
| 1995 | 28.3 | 20.6 | 24 |
| 1994 | 27.9 | 20.3 | 23.8 |
| 1993 | 27.4 | 20 | 23.5 |
| 1992 | 26.9 | 19.8 | 23.3 |
| 1991 | 26.3 | 19.6 | 23.1 |
| 1990 | 25.8 | 19.5 | 22.9 |
| 1989 | 25.3 | 19.3 | 22.8 |
| 1988 | 24.8 | 19.2 | 22.6 |
| 1987 | 24.3 | 19.1 | 22.4 |
| 1986 | 23.8 | 19 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 23.3 | 18.9 | 22 |
| 1984 | 22.8 | 18.8 | 21.9 |
| 1983 | 22.3 | 18.7 | 21.8 |
| 1982 | 21.8 | 18.6 | 21.7 |
| 1981 | 21.4 | 18.5 | 21.6 |
| 1980 | 20.9 | 18.4 | 21.5 |
| 1979 | 20.5 | 18.3 | 21.3 |
| 1978 | 20 | 18.1 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 19.6 | 17.9 | 21 |
| 1976 | 19.2 | 17.7 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 18.9 | 17.6 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 18.5 | 17.5 | 20.5 |
| 1973 | 18.2 | 17.4 | 20.4 |
| 1972 | 18 | 17.3 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 17.8 | 17.3 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | 17.7 | 17.2 | 20.3 |
| 1969 | 17.6 | 17.2 | 20.3 |
| 1968 | 17.6 | 17.2 | 20.4 |
| 1967 | 17.5 | 17.2 | 20.5 |
| 1966 | 17.5 | 17.3 | 20.6 |
| 1965 | 17.5 | 17.7 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 17.7 | 18.1 | 21 |
| 1963 | 17.9 | 18.7 | 21.2 |
| 1962 | 18.1 | 19.2 | 21.4 |
| 1961 | 18.3 | 19.7 | 21.4 |
| 1960 | 18.3 | 20.2 | 21.5 |
| 1959 | 18.3 | 20.7 | 21.5 |
| 1958 | 18.3 | 21.2 | 21.5 |
| 1957 | 18.2 | 21.6 | 21.6 |
| 1956 | 18 | 21.9 | 21.7 |
| 1955 | 17.9 | 22 | 21.8 |
| 1954 | 17.7 | 22.3 | 21.9 |
| 1953 | 17.6 | 22.5 | 22 |
| 1952 | 17.5 | 22.7 | 22.1 |
| 1951 | 17.5 | 22.9 | 22.1 |
| 1950 | 17.7 | 23.1 | 22.2 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | South Korea | Vietnam | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 45.145–45.1 | 32.932.9–33 | 30.6 |
| 2025 | 45.645.5–45.8 | 33.433.2–33.6 | 30.9 |
| 2026 | 46.245.9–46.5 | 33.933.6–34.3 | 31.1 |
| 2027 | 46.846.4–47.2 | 34.433.9–34.9 | 31.3 |
| 2028 | 47.346.8–47.9 | 34.834.2–35.5 | 31.6 |
| 2029 | 47.947.2–48.6 | 35.334.5–36.1 | 31.8 |
| 2030 | 48.547.6–49.3 | 35.734.8–36.7 | 32 |
| 2031 | 4948–50 | 36.135–37.2 | 32.2 |
| 2032 | 49.648.4–50.8 | 36.535.2–37.8 | 32.4 |
| 2033 | 50.148.7–51.5 | 36.835.4–38.3 | 32.6 |
| 2034 | 50.749–52.2 | 37.135.4–38.8 | 32.8 |
| 2035 | 51.249.2–52.9 | 37.435.5–39.3 | 33 |
| 2036 | 51.649.4–53.6 | 37.635.5–39.8 | 33.2 |
| 2037 | 52.149.7–54.2 | 37.735.6–40.2 | 33.4 |
| 2038 | 52.549.8–54.9 | 37.935.6–40.6 | 33.6 |
| 2039 | 52.950–55.5 | 3835.6–40.9 | 33.8 |
| 2040 | 53.350.2–56.1 | 38.235.7–41.3 | 34 |
| 2041 | 53.750.4–56.7 | 38.335.9–41.6 | 34.2 |
| 2042 | 5450.6–57.2 | 38.536–41.9 | 34.4 |
| 2043 | 54.450.8–57.7 | 38.736.2–42.2 | 34.6 |
| 2044 | 54.751–58.2 | 38.836.3–42.5 | 34.8 |
| 2045 | 5551.2–58.7 | 3936.6–42.7 | 35 |
| 2046 | 55.351.4–59.2 | 39.236.8–43 | 35.2 |
| 2047 | 55.751.6–59.6 | 39.437.1–43.2 | 35.4 |
| 2048 | 5651.8–60.1 | 39.737.3–43.5 | 35.6 |
| 2049 | 56.452–60.5 | 4037.5–43.7 | 35.9 |
| 2050 | 56.752.2–60.9 | 40.237.8–44 | 36.1 |
| 2051 | 57.152.4–61.4 | 40.538.2–44.3 | 36.3 |
| 2052 | 57.552.6–61.8 | 40.838.5–44.5 | 36.5 |
| 2053 | 57.852.7–62.2 | 41.138.9–44.8 | 36.7 |
| 2054 | 58.252.9–62.6 | 41.439.2–45.2 | 36.9 |
| 2055 | 58.553–63.1 | 41.839.5–45.5 | 37.1 |
| 2056 | 58.853.1–63.5 | 42.239.8–45.8 | 37.3 |
| 2057 | 59.253.1–63.9 | 42.640–46.1 | 37.5 |
| 2058 | 59.553.1–64.4 | 42.940.2–46.4 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 59.853.1–64.9 | 43.340.4–46.8 | 37.8 |
| 2060 | 60.153.1–65.4 | 43.640.6–47.2 | 37.9 |
| 2061 | 60.353.1–65.8 | 43.940.7–47.7 | 38 |
| 2062 | 60.653.2–66.3 | 44.140.9–48.1 | 38.1 |
| 2063 | 60.853.2–66.7 | 44.441–48.5 | 38.3 |
| 2064 | 60.953.2–67.1 | 44.641–48.9 | 38.4 |
| 2065 | 6153.3–67.5 | 44.841.1–49.3 | 38.5 |
| 2066 | 61.153.4–67.9 | 4541.1–49.7 | 38.6 |
| 2067 | 61.253.5–68.3 | 45.241.2–50.1 | 38.7 |
| 2068 | 61.353.5–68.7 | 45.341.3–50.4 | 38.8 |
| 2069 | 61.453.5–69 | 45.541.3–50.7 | 38.9 |
| 2070 | 61.553.6–69.4 | 45.641.4–51 | 39 |
| 2071 | 61.653.6–69.7 | 45.741.4–51.3 | 39.1 |
| 2072 | 61.853.5–70 | 45.841.4–51.6 | 39.2 |
| 2073 | 61.953.4–70.2 | 45.841.4–51.9 | 39.3 |
| 2074 | 62.153.3–70.3 | 45.941.4–52.2 | 39.4 |
| 2075 | 62.253.1–70.4 | 4641.5–52.5 | 39.5 |
| 2076 | 62.452.9–70.4 | 4641.5–52.8 | 39.6 |
| 2077 | 62.652.7–70.4 | 46.141.6–53.1 | 39.7 |
| 2078 | 62.752.5–70.4 | 46.241.6–53.3 | 39.8 |
| 2079 | 62.952.3–70.4 | 46.341.7–53.6 | 40 |
| 2080 | 6352.2–70.4 | 46.341.7–53.8 | 40.1 |
| 2081 | 6352–70.4 | 46.541.8–53.9 | 40.2 |
| 2082 | 6351.9–70.5 | 46.641.9–54.1 | 40.3 |
| 2083 | 62.951.8–70.6 | 46.742–54.2 | 40.4 |
| 2084 | 62.751.7–70.7 | 46.842.1–54.4 | 40.5 |
| 2085 | 62.551.7–70.8 | 4742.2–54.5 | 40.6 |
| 2086 | 62.251.7–70.8 | 47.242.2–54.6 | 40.7 |
| 2087 | 61.951.6–70.8 | 47.342.3–54.8 | 40.9 |
| 2088 | 61.651.5–70.9 | 47.542.4–54.9 | 41 |
| 2089 | 61.451.5–70.7 | 47.742.4–55.1 | 41.1 |
| 2090 | 61.251.5–70.2 | 47.942.5–55.3 | 41.2 |
| 2091 | 6151.4–69.6 | 4842.5–55.4 | 41.3 |
| 2092 | 60.951.3–69 | 48.242.5–55.6 | 41.4 |
| 2093 | 60.751.3–68.3 | 48.442.5–55.8 | 41.5 |
| 2094 | 60.651.3–67.6 | 48.542.5–56 | 41.6 |
| 2095 | 60.551.2–67 | 48.742.5–56.2 | 41.7 |
| 2096 | 60.451.2–66.4 | 48.842.5–56.4 | 41.8 |
| 2097 | 60.251.1–65.9 | 4942.5–56.6 | 41.9 |
| 2098 | 60.151.1–65.3 | 49.142.5–56.8 | 42 |
| 2099 | 6051.1–64.7 | 49.242.5–57.1 | 42 |
| 2100 | 59.951–64.1 | 49.342.4–57.3 | 42.1 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Half the people are older than this age and half are younger.
- 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
South Korea vs Vietnam
Health
- Life expectancySouth Korea: 84.3 years in 2023Vietnam: 74.6 years in 2023
- Child mortalitySouth Korea: 0.3 per 100 live births in 2024Vietnam: 1.7 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySouth Korea: 2.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023Vietnam: 15.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterSouth Korea: 99.3% in 2022Vietnam: 57.8% in 2022
- DepressionSouth Korea: 3.17% in 2017Vietnam: 2.88% in 2017
- Suicide rateSouth Korea: 20.8 per 100,000 people in 2017Vietnam: 7.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSouth Korea: 51.8 million people in 2023Vietnam: 100 million people in 2023
- Population growthSouth Korea: -0.04% a year in 2023Vietnam: 0.64% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateSouth Korea: 0.72 births per woman in 2023Vietnam: 1.91 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSouth Korea: 81.2% in 2025Vietnam: 38.8% in 2025
- People aged 65 and overSouth Korea: 18.3% in 2023Vietnam: 8.6% in 2023
- Net migration rateSouth Korea: 1.7 per 1,000 people in 2023Vietnam: -0.8 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSouth Korea: 2.6% of GDP in 2025Vietnam: 2.15% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsSouth Korea: $48.9B in 2025Vietnam: $10.9B in 2025
- Military spending per personSouth Korea: $924 in 2025Vietnam: $104 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingSouth Korea: 10.8% of government spending in 2025Vietnam: 9.9% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelSouth Korea: 569,000 people in 2020Vietnam: 522,000 people in 2020
- National powerSouth Korea: 2% of world capability in 2022Vietnam: 1.11% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSouth Korea: 2.01% of the labour force in 2020Vietnam: 0.95% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSouth Korea: 222 million TIV in 2025Vietnam: 177 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsSouth Korea: 2.02 billion TIV in 2025Vietnam: 10 million TIV in 2018