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Introduction
BACKGROUNDRepublic of Korea is a sovereign nation in Eastern Asia, Asia. The capital is Seoul. The government is a presidential republic. Official/primary language(s): Korean. UN member since 1991.
CIA World Factbook (archived) · World Bank · Government Sources
51.8M
Population
$1.88T
GDP (Nominal)
100,210 km²
Area
Seoul
Capital
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Geography
CORE100,210 km²
Total Area
Seoul
Capital
Asia
Continent
+9 UTC
Timezone
Location
Region
Asia — Eastern Asia
Continent
Asia
Land Use
Forest Area
64.1%
World Bank (2023)
Arable Land
14.9%
World Bank (2023)
Total Area
100,210 km²
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People & Society
DEMOGRAPHICS51.8M
Population
83.4 yr
Life Expectancy
0.7
Fertility Rate
81.2%
Urban Pop.
Population & Language
Population
51.8M
World Bank (2024)
Languages
Korean
Urbanization
81.2%
World Bank (2024)
Vital Rates
Birth Rate /1000
4.5
Death Rate /1000
6.0
Fertility Rate
0.7
Life Expectancy
83.4 years
Health Indicators
Infant Mortality /1000
2.3
World Bank (2023)
Under-5 Mortality /1000
2.8
World Bank (2023)
Maternal Mortality /100K
4
World Bank (2023)
Literacy Rate
N/A
World Bank ()
Education
Literacy Rate
N/A
World Bank
Education Expenditure (% GDP)
5.8%
World Bank (2022)
Internet Users
97.9%
World Bank (2024)
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Environment
CLIMATE & ECOLOGYEnvironmental Indicators
Forest Area (% of land)
64.1%
World Bank (2023)
Arable Land (%)
14.9%
World Bank (2023)
Renewable Energy (% total)
3.6%
World Bank (2021)
Access to Electricity
100.0%
World Bank (2023)
Water & Sanitation
Access to Safe Water
100.0%
World Bank (2024)
Access to Sanitation
99.7%
World Bank (2024)
Electricity Access
100.0%
World Bank (2023)
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Government
POLITICAL STRUCTUREOverview
Type
Presidential Republic
Capital
Seoul
Official Name
Republic of Korea
UN Member Since
1991
Executive
Head of State
Han Duck-soo (Acting)
Head of Government
Han Duck-soo
National Information
Currency
South Korean Won (KRW)
Calling Code
+82
ISO Codes
KR / KOR
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Economy & Growth
ECONOMIC DATA$1.88T
GDP Nominal
$36,239
GDP Per Capita
2.0%
GDP Growth
2.8%
Unemployment
GDP
GDP (Current USD)
$1.88T
World Bank (2024)
GDP Per Capita (USD)
$36,239
World Bank (2024)
Real GDP Growth
2.0%
World Bank (2024)
GNI Per Capita
$36,750
World Bank (2024)
Labor & Prices
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
World Bank (2024)
Inflation (CPI)
2.3%
World Bank (2024)
Poverty Rate (<$2.15/day)
0.2%
World Bank (2021)
GINI Index
32.9
World Bank (2021)
Trade
Exports (USD)
$831.9B
World Bank (2024)
Imports (USD)
$755.5B
World Bank (2024)
FDI Net Inflows (USD)
$15.2B
World Bank (2024)
Trade (% of GDP)
84.6%
World Bank (2024)
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Energy & Resources
ENERGYEnergy Access & Mix
Access to Electricity
100.0%
World Bank (2023)
Renewable Energy (% total)
3.6%
World Bank (2021)
Resource Indicators
Military Expenditure (% GDP)
2.6%
World Bank (2024)
Health Expenditure (% GDP)
8.7%
World Bank (2024)
Education Expenditure (% GDP)
5.8%
World Bank (2022)
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Communications
TELECOMInternet Users (% of pop.)
97.9%
World Bank (2024)
Mobile Subscriptions /100 people
162.1
World Bank (2023)
Calling Code
+82
Languages
Korean
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Transportation
LOGISTICSTransportation data for South Korea is available through national government sources, ICAO (aviation), IMO (maritime), and the CIA World Factbook (archived). Key indicators include airports, roadways, railways, merchant marine fleet, and major ports.
CIA World Factbook (archived) · ICAO · IMO
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Military & Security
DEFENSEDefense Spending
Military Expenditure (% GDP)
2.6%
World Bank (2024)
Government Type
Presidential Republic
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Terrorism
GTI1.95/10
GTI Score
LOW
Threat Level
Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Travel Advisory
Institute for Economics & Peace — Global Terrorism Index 2024 · US State Department Travel Advisories
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Transnational Issues
CROSS-BORDERTrafficking in Persons
Tier 1
US State Dept TIP Report 2024
Freedom Status
Free (83/100)
Freedom House 2024
Travel Advisory
Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
US Department of State
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Agriculture & Food Security
WORLD BANKArable Land (% of area)
14.9%
World Bank (2023)
Forest Area (%)
64.1%
World Bank (2023)
World Bank WDI (AG.LND.ARBL.ZS, AG.LND.FRST.ZS)
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Financial Sector
WORLD BANKGovernment Debt (% GDP)
48.6%
World Bank (2023)
FDI Net Inflows (USD)
$15.2B
World Bank (2024)
Currency
South Korean Won (KRW)
World Bank WDI (GC.DOD.TOTL.GD.ZS, BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD)
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Gender Equality
WORLD BANKMaternal Mortality /100K
4.0
World Bank (2023)
Fertility Rate
0.7
World Bank (2023)
Life Expectancy at Birth
83.4
World Bank (2023)
World Bank WDI (SH.STA.MMRT, SP.DYN.TFRT.IN, SP.DYN.LE00.IN)
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Poverty & Inequality
WORLD BANKPoverty Rate (<$2.15/day)
0.2%
World Bank (2021)
GINI Index
32.9
World Bank (2021)
GNI Per Capita (USD)
$36,750
World Bank (2024)
World Bank WDI (SI.POV.DDAY, SI.POV.GINI, NY.GNP.PCAP.CD)
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Science & Technology
WORLD BANKInternet Users (% of pop.)
97.9%
World Bank (2024)
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions /100
162.1
World Bank (2023)
World Bank WDI (IT.NET.USER.ZS, IT.CEL.SETS.P2, GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS)
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Urban Development
WORLD BANKUrban Population (%)
81.2%
World Bank (2024)
Access to Electricity
100.0%
World Bank (2023)
Access to Safe Water
100.0%
World Bank (2024)
Access to Sanitation
99.7%
World Bank (2024)
World Bank WDI (SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS, EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS, SH.H2O.BASW.ZS, SH.STA.BASS.ZS)
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Health (Expanded)
WORLD BANK + GOVLife Expectancy
83.4
World Bank (2023)
Infant Mortality /1000
2.3
World Bank (2023)
Under-5 Mortality /1000
2.8
World Bank (2023)
Maternal Mortality /100K
4.0
World Bank (2023)
Health Expenditure (% GDP)
8.7%
World Bank (2024)
Safe Water Access
100.0%
World Bank (2024)
Sanitation Access
99.7%
World Bank (2024)
World Bank WDI (SH.DYN.MORT, SH.STA.MMRT, SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS)
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Governance & Rule of Law
EXTENDED INTELLIGENCE63/100
CPI Score
8.09/10
Democracy Index
#62
Press Freedom Rank
Free
Freedom Status
Corruption & Transparency
CPI Score
63/100 (Rank: #32)
Transparency International CPI 2024
Basel AML Index
4.02/10
Basel Institute on Governance 2024
FATF Status
Regular Follow-Up
FATF Mutual Evaluations
Democracy & Freedom
Democracy Index
8.09/10
Economist Intelligence Unit 2023
Freedom Status
Free (83/100)
Freedom House FIW 2024
Press Freedom
Rank: #62/180
Reporters Without Borders 2024
State Fragility
Fragile States Index
25.7/120
Fund for Peace FSI 2024
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Trade & Sanctions
EXTENDEDExports (USD)
$831.9B
World Bank (2024)
Imports (USD)
$755.5B
World Bank (2024)
Trade (% of GDP)
84.6%
World Bank (2024)
FDI Net Inflows
$15.2B
World Bank (2024)
World Bank WDI · Global Affairs · OFAC · EU Sanctions Map
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All Data Sources
35+ SOURCESCIA Factbook (Archived)
CIA World Factbook — DISCONTINUED Feb 4, 2026. All 258 country pages removed from cia.gov. This platform preserves and extends South Korea's data using 35+ alternative open sources.
World Bank Open Data
| Category | Key Indicators |
|---|---|
| Economy & Growth | NY.GDP.MKTP.CD, NY.GDP.PCAP.CD, FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG, SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS |
| Health | SH.DYN.MORT, SH.STA.MMRT, SP.DYN.LE00.IN, SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS |
| Education | SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS, SE.ADT.LITR.ZS |
| Environment | AG.LND.FRST.ZS, AG.LND.ARBL.ZS, EG.FEC.RNEW.ZS |
| Infrastructure | IT.NET.USER.ZS, IT.CEL.SETS.P2, EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS |
| Poverty | SI.POV.DDAY, SI.POV.GINI, NY.GNP.PCAP.CD |
| Trade | NE.EXP.GNFS.CD, NE.IMP.GNFS.CD, BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD |
| Demographics | SP.POP.TOTL, SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS, SP.DYN.TFRT.IN |
International Risk & Governance Sources
| Source | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Transparency International | CPI — Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 |
| Freedom House | Freedom in the World 2024 |
| US State Department | TIP Report 2024 · Travel Advisories |
| Institute for Economics & Peace | Global Terrorism Index 2024 |
| Basel Institute on Governance | Basel AML Index 2024 |
| Fund for Peace | Fragile States Index 2024 |
| Economist Intelligence Unit | Democracy Index 2023 |
| Reporters Without Borders | Press Freedom Index 2024 |
| FATF / FSRBs | AML/CFT Mutual Evaluations |
| UNDP | Human Development Index |
| IMF | World Economic Outlook, Article IV |
| OECD | Comparative indicators |
| SIPRI | Military expenditure, arms transfers |
| UNHCR | Refugee data |
| IEA | Energy statistics |
Categories Coverage
This platform covers 25+ categories with 100+ data fields from 35+ validated sources. World Bank data is fetched via API v2 from the most recent available year (2018-2024). All risk indices use the latest published edition.
Social Protection & Labor
WORLD BANK