China vs Korea, Rep.
Side-by-side economic and demographic comparison · 2026 data · Source: IMF & World Bank
China and South Korea have deep economic interdependence despite geopolitical tensions. South Korea exports heavily to China (roughly 25% of total exports), particularly semiconductors, displays, and petrochemicals. China's economy is roughly 12 times larger, but South Korea's GDP per capita is about three times higher. South Korea's technological sophistication — led by Samsung and SK Hynix in semiconductors — represents exactly the capability China is trying to build domestically, creating both commercial opportunity and strategic rivalry as the US-China tech competition intensifies.
China has a GDP of $20.65T compared to Korea, Rep.'s $1.94T, making it 10.7x larger. China's population is 1.41B vs Korea, Rep.'s 51.8M. Across 12 key indicators, both countries are evenly matched in categories. All data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.
| Indicator |  China |  Korea, Rep. |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (USD) | $20.65T✓ | $1.94T |
| GDP per Capita | $14,730 | $37,523✓ |
| GDP Growth (%) | 4.2%✓ | 1.8% |
| GDP per Capita (PPP) | $31,023 | $67,554✓ |
| Population | 1.41B✓ | 51.8M |
| Life Expectancy | 78.0 years | 83.4 years✓ |
| Inflation (%) | 0.7%✓ | 1.8% |
| Unemployment (%) | 5.1% | 3.0%✓ |
| Govt Debt (% GDP) | 102.3% | 56.7%✓ |
| Fertility Rate | 1✓ | 0.7 |
| Gini Index | 36 | 32.9✓ |
| CO₂ per Capita (t) | 9.3✓ | 11.4 |
Summary
China has a GDP of $20.65T compared to Korea, Rep.'s $1.94T, making the former economy 10.7x larger. In terms of population, China has 1.41B people while Korea, Rep. has 51.8M. Across the 12 indicators compared, China leads in 6 and Korea, Rep. leads in 6.
ChinaKorea, Rep.