⌛ Then vs now
How has South Korea changed since 1990?
1990 then 2025 latest dataPeople in South Korea now live 12 years longer than in 1990.
People
Population
42.9 million in 1990, 51.7 million in 2025.
Fertility rate
1.57 children per woman in 1990, 0.75 children per woman in 2024.
Median age
25.8 years in 1990, 44.5 years in 2023.
Aged 65 and over
4.9% in 1990, 20.3% in 2025.
Money
GDP per person (PPP)
Int$8,570 in 1990, Int$63,100 in 2025.
Economy size (GDP)
$292 billion in 1990, $1.87 trillion in 2025.
Unemployment
2.4% in 1991, 2.7% in 2025.
Military spending
4% in 1990, 2.6% in 2024.
Health
Life expectancy
71.6 years in 1990, 83.6 years in 2024.
Infant mortality
12 per 1,000 in 1990, 2.3 per 1,000 in 2024.
Adult obesity
1.4% in 1990, 7.5% in 2024.
Everyday life
Meat supply
24.6 kg in 1990, 84 kg in 2023.
Daily calories
2,880 kcal in 1990, 3,430 kcal in 2023.
Years of schooling
9.3 years in 1990, 12.7 years in 2023.
Working hours
2,670 hours in 1990, 1,910 hours in 2023.
Connected
Urban population
74% in 1990, 81% in 2025.
Internet users
0% in 1990, 98% in 2024.
Access to electricity
99.9% in 1990, 100% in 2024.
Mobile subscriptions
0 in 1990, 173 in 2024.
Planet
CO₂ per person
5.7 t in 1990, 11.3 t in 2024.
Forest cover
67.9% in 1990, 64.1% in 2023.
Renewable electricity
4% in 1990, 10.4% in 2025.
Safety
Homicide rate
0.5 per 100k in 1990, 0.5 per 100k in 2023.