Singapore vs South Korea
Singapore comes out ahead of South Korea on 292 of 553 statistics where one end is better, to 229 with 32 ties. Singapore leads on Population, Environment and Crime & Safety and 4 more categories. South Korea leads on Politics & Government, Tech & Business and Law and 1 more category.
553 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 32 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 292
- Avg. percentile
- 64
- Categories led
- 7
- Wins
- 229
- Avg. percentile
- 62
- Categories led
- 4
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all countries.
| Statistic | Singapore | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,905,748 115th of 235 | 51,600,388 31st of 235 |
| Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)Health Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 83.3 15th of 215 | 83.6 14th of 215 |
| GDP per Person at PPP (International $)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank) | $163,354 1st of 184 | $63,125 29th of 184 |
| Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 2.82% 33rd of 181 | 2.68% 29th of 181 |
| Access to Electricity (% of People)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 100.0% tied 1st of 214 | 100.0% tied 1st of 214 |
| Infant Deaths per 1,000 BirthsHealth Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 2.2 tied 13th of 195 | 2.3 tied 16th of 195 |
| GDP per Person (US$)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank) | $98,814 4th of 185 | $36,227 32nd of 185 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- PopulationSingapore · 19 statistics
- Politics & GovernmentSouth Korea · 40 statistics
- EnvironmentSingapore · 36 statistics
- Tech & BusinessSouth Korea · 20 statistics
- Crime & SafetySingapore · 42 statistics
- Manufacturing & MiningSingapore · 3 statistics
- LawSouth Korea · 8 statistics
- HealthSingapore · 198 statistics
- Infrastructure & EnergySingapore · 31 statistics
- TravelSouth Korea · 9 statistics
- EconomicsSingapore · 73 statistics
- EducationEven · 9 statistics
- CultureEven · 65 statistics
Biggest differences
The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 118 countries.
| Statistic | Singapore | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Colon Cancer Rates 1990-2017Colon Cancer Rate by Country | 2.4% 29th of 191 | 127.3% 186th of 191 |
| Mortality, Female - ASRCancer Rates by Country | 92.9 per 100k 149th of 183 | 51.0 per 100k 6th of 183 |
| World Risk IndexNatural Disaster Risk by Country | 0.67 6th of 193 | 11.01 145th of 193 |
| Purchasing Power ParityPurchasing Power Parity by Country | $1 LCU/INT 145th of 182 | $816 LCU/INT 17th of 182 |
| ExposureNatural Disaster Risk by Country | 0.15 tied 29th of 193 | 9.96 164th of 193 |
| V-Dem PCI ScoreV Dem Democracy Index by Country | 0.14 tied 161st of 175 | 0.61 tied 42nd of 175 |
| Central Government DebtDebt to GDP Ratio by Country | 177.0% 145th of 149 | 44.8% 46th of 149 |
| Alcoholism % MaleAlcoholism by Country | 1.44% 56th of 204 | 5.43% 190th of 204 |
| Alcoholism Rate MaleAlcoholism by Country | 1,355 per 100k 56th of 204 | 5,180 per 100k 190th of 204 |
| CO₂ Emissions per $1K GDPCO₂ Emissions by Country | 0.07 tonnes/$1kGDP tied 21st of 198 | 0.22 tonnes/$1kGDP tied 154th of 198 |
| Alcoholism RateAlcoholism by Country | 938 per 100k 63rd of 204 | 3,205 per 100k 190th of 204 |
| GDP Growth (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank) | 5.03% 44th of 185 | 1.01% 158th of 185 |
| Nurses and MidwivesNurse Vacancies by Country | 2.04 per 10k 190th of 193 | 50.13 per 10k 72nd of 193 |
| Personal Income TaxHighest Taxed Countries | 24.0% tied 39th of 142 | 45.0% tied 123rd of 142 |
| Alcoholism %Alcoholism by Country | 0.99% 66th of 204 | 3.32% 190th of 204 |
| Male Obesity Rates (GOO)Obesity Rates by Country | 13.1% 56th of 170 | 36.3% 156th of 170 |
| Gini Coefficient - IncomeGini Coefficient by Country | 45.8 tied 157th of 172 | 32.9 tied 57th of 172 |
| Debt to GDP RatioDebt to GDP Ratio by Country | 173.0% 156th of 158 | 46.8% 66th of 158 |
| Forest Cover PercentageForest Cover by Country | 20.9% 131st of 207 | 64.1% 21st of 207 |
| Forest AreaTrees by Country | 20.9% 132nd of 209 | 64.1% 21st of 209 |
| GGGI Education ScoreGlobal Gender Gap by Country | 1 tied 1st of 147 | 0.98 tied 97th of 147 |
| Mortality, All - Crude RateCancer Rates by Country | 110.8 per 100k 149th of 182 | 77.0 per 100k 55th of 182 |
| LP Social CapitalLegatum Prosperity Index | 21st 21st of 167 | 107th 107th of 167 |
| Male Suicide RateSuicide Rate by Country | 12.74 per 100k 98th of 204 | 39.93 per 100k 199th of 204 |
| Broadband Cost per Month (Adjusted)Internet Cost by Country | $75.81 160th of 189 | $37.15 67th of 189 |
| Planet and Climate Rank GCI v1.6Good Country Index by Country | 66th 66th of 171 | 152nd 149th of 171 |
| Debt as % of GNICountries Without Debt | 383.3% 199th of 206 | 36.1% 99th of 206 |
| Female Obesity Rate (GOO)Obesity Rates by Country | 10.2% tied 34th of 199 | 27.6% 130th of 199 |
| Corporate Tax RateCorporate Tax Rates by Country | 17.0% tied 32nd of 202 | 26.4% 129th of 202 |
| EIU Political Participation ScoreDemocracy Index by Country | 4.44 tied 103rd of 165 | 7.22 tied 24th of 165 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Singapore or South Korea?
- Singapore comes out ahead of South Korea on 292 of 553 statistics where one end is better, to 229 with 32 ties. Singapore leads on Population, Environment and Crime & Safety and 4 more categories. South Korea leads on Politics & Government, Tech & Business and Law and 1 more category. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Singapore or South Korea?
- Singapore has a population of 5,905,748 (115th of 235 countries) and South Korea has 51,600,388 (31st of 235).
- How do Singapore and South Korea compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?
- Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): Singapore 83.3 (15th of 215), South Korea 83.6 (14th of 215) among countries. South Korea ranks better.
- How do Singapore and South Korea compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?
- GDP per Person at PPP (International $): Singapore $163,354 (1st of 184), South Korea $63,125 (29th of 184) among countries. Singapore ranks better.
- Where does Singapore beat South Korea most clearly?
- Singapore ranks far ahead on Change in Colon Cancer Rates 1990-2017 (Colon Cancer Rate by Country): 2.4% vs 127.3%; World Risk Index (Natural Disaster Risk by Country): 0.67 vs 11.01; Exposure (Natural Disaster Risk by Country): 0.15 vs 9.96.
- Where does South Korea beat Singapore most clearly?
- South Korea ranks far ahead on Mortality, Female - ASR (Cancer Rates by Country): 51.0 per 100k vs 92.9 per 100k; Purchasing Power Parity (Purchasing Power Parity by Country): $816 LCU/INT vs $1 LCU/INT; V-Dem PCI Score (V Dem Democracy Index by Country): 0.61 vs 0.14.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Singapore or South Korea.