India vs South Korea

South Korea scores 84.5 in the NationsTree Index (1st in the world) and India scores 56.6 (64th), a gap of 28.0 points. Their trees are 80 m and 40 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.

India has 28 times the population of South Korea. India is 33 times larger than South Korea by land area. India has an economy 5.3 times the size of South Korea (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: India 1.5 billion and South Korea 51.7 million (2025).

GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $63,125 in South Korea and $11,748 in India (2025, international dollars). People in South Korea live on average 11.4 years longer (83.6 vs 72.2 years).

Of 38 indicators reported by both countries, India ranks higher in the world on 4 and South Korea on 34. India is clearly stronger in natural resources, tourism and land & people. South Korea is clearly stronger in society & health, institutions & safety and infrastructure & digital.

As a nation, India is the older of the two (statehood since 322 BC, 2,347 years), compared with South Korea (since 57 BC). Over the last five years India improved faster (direction score 97 vs 75 out of 100).