South Africa vs South Korea

South Korea scores 84.5 in the NationsTree Index (1st in the world) and South Africa scores 41.9 (122nd), a gap of 42.7 points. Their trees are 18 m and 40 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.

South Africa has 25% more people than South Korea. South Africa is 12 times larger than South Korea by land area. South Korea has an economy 3.2 times the size of South Africa (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: South Africa 64.7 million and South Korea 51.7 million (2025).

GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $63,125 in South Korea and $15,906 in South Africa (2025, international dollars). People in South Korea live on average 17.3 years longer (83.6 vs 66.3 years).

Of 38 indicators reported by both countries, South Africa ranks higher in the world on 4 and South Korea on 34. South Africa is clearly stronger in natural resources. South Korea is clearly stronger in military, society & health and institutions & safety.

As a nation, South Korea is the older of the two (statehood since 57 BC, 2,082 years), compared with South Africa (since 1910). Over the last five years South Korea improved faster (direction score 75 vs 7 out of 100).