Indonesia vs South Korea

South Korea scores 84.5 in the NationsTree Index (1st in the world) and Indonesia scores 56.1 (65th), a gap of 28.4 points. Their trees are 43 m and 40 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.

Indonesia has 5.5 times the population of South Korea. Indonesia is 19 times larger than South Korea by land area. The economy of Indonesia is 55% larger than that of South Korea (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Indonesia 285.7 million and South Korea 51.7 million (2025).

GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $63,125 in South Korea and $17,660 in Indonesia (2025, international dollars). People in South Korea live on average 12.3 years longer (83.6 vs 71.3 years).

Of 37 indicators reported by both countries, Indonesia ranks higher in the world on 9 and South Korea on 28. Indonesia is clearly stronger in natural resources and land & people. South Korea is clearly stronger in society & health, infrastructure & digital and institutions & safety.

As a nation, South Korea is the older of the two (statehood since 57 BC, 2,082 years), compared with Indonesia (since 1945). Over the last five years Indonesia improved faster (direction score 82 vs 75 out of 100).