South Korea vs United States

South Korea scores 84.5 in the NationsTree Index (1st in the world) and United States scores 72.3 (30th), a gap of 12.3 points. Their trees are 40 m and 115 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.

United States has 6.6 times the population of South Korea. United States is 98 times larger than South Korea by land area. United States has an economy 9.4 times the size of South Korea (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: South Korea 51.7 million and United States 341.8 million (2025).

GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $90,027 in United States and $63,125 in South Korea (2025, international dollars). People in South Korea live on average 4.7 years longer (83.6 vs 78.9 years).

Of 38 indicators reported by both countries, South Korea ranks higher in the world on 26 and United States on 12. South Korea is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, main industries and trade. United States is clearly stronger in tourism, natural resources and land & people.

As a nation, South Korea is the older of the two (statehood since 57 BC, 2,082 years), compared with United States (since 1776). Over the last five years South Korea improved faster (direction score 75 vs 24 out of 100).