International rankings of South Korea

The following are international rankings of South Korea.

Outline NameClassificationReferenceFTSEDeveloped marketEmerging marketFrontier market

NameClassificationReferenceS&PDeveloped marketEmerging marketFrontier market

NameClassificationReferenceIMFAdvanced economyEmerging and Developing Economies

NameClassificationReferenceDACMemberNon-member

NameClassificationReferenceParis ClubMember Non-member

NameClassificationReferenceWorld BankHigh incomeMiddle incomeLow income

Economy

+Economic RankingsNameYearPlaceOut of #ReferenceOECD – Net take-home pay, single with no child2013&3&34OECD – Net take-home pay, married with 2 children2013&8&34ILO – Average monthly earnings2009&10&72 Gallup – Median household income2013&8&131Gallup – Median per-capita income2013&15&131World Bank – Ease of Doing Business Index2016&4&183The World Factbook – Exports2014&5194The World Factbook – Imports2014&7194IMF – GDP (Nominal)2016&11179IMF – GDP (PPP)2016&13180IMF – GDP per capita (Nominal)2014&29180IMF – GDP per capita (PPP)2014&30181IMF – Foreign exchange reserves2015&6&98World Economic Forum – Financial Development Index2012&1562World Economic Forum – Global Competitiveness Report2019&13141World Economic Forum – Global Enabling Trade Report2014&30138IMD – World Competitiveness Yearbook2015&2560 Wall Street Journal / The Heritage Foundation – Index of Economic Freedom2023&14&184OECD – Job security2012&434MIT – Economic Complexity Index2012&5&124Connectivity Scorecard2012&18&52World Bank – Logistics Performance Index2023&17&139World Bank – Paying Taxes2014&25&189Grant Thornton – Global Dynamism Index2013&14&60FedEx Opportunity Index – Business Rank2008&2&109Milken Institute – Capital Access Index2009&12&122DHL – Global Connectedness Index2014&13&140McKinsey – Connectedness Index2012&20&131

Education

+Education RankingsNameYearPlaceOut of #ReferenceOECD – Attained a tertiary education degree, 25- to 34-year-olds %2011&435OECD Programme for International Student Assessment – Maths2012&834OECD Programme for International Student Assessment – Reading2012&234OECD Programme for International Student Assessment – Science2012&434Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study – 4th Grade Math2011&252Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study – 8th Grade Math2011&952Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study – 4th Grade Science2011&2352Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study – 8th Grade Science2011&352Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation – Women's average years in school2010&3206

Environment

+Environmental RankingsNameYearPlaceOut of #ReferenceYale University / Columbia University – Environmental Performance Index South Korea ranked 58th in the 2024 Environmental Performance Index.202458178United Nations University for Environment and Human Security – World Risk Index2013&62172

Health & Safety

Note: In the case of statistics with potentially conflicting meanings, the rankings have been converted to reflect the same direction – Positive statistics rank higher, while negative statistics rank lower. +Health RankingsNameYearPlaceOut of #ReferenceWHO – Risk of death from non-communicable disease2008&9194OECD – Life expectancy2013&1134WHO – Infant mortality2005–2010&19193WHO – Health expenditure covered by government2012&3134OECD – Obesity rate2009&534OECD – Hospital beds2011&234OECD – Alcohol consumption2011&1334OECD – Smoking rate2010&2641OECD – Cancer rate2012&2734OECD – Colorectal cancer 5-year survival rate2006–2011&923OECD – Hemorrhagic stroke 30 day in-hospital mortality2011&332OECD – Ischemic stroke 30 day in-hospital mortality2011&233Intentional homicide rate2011&6192

Industry

+Industrial RankingsNameYearPlaceOut of #ReferenceOICA – Automobile production2023549IAEA – Nuclear energy production2012&5World Steel Association – Steel production2017&640The World Factbook – Electricity production2017&9211Stockholm International Peace Research Institute – Arms exports2013&13154

Innovation

+Innovation RankingsNameYearPlaceOut of #ReferenceWorld Intellectual Property Indicators – Patent applications per GDP2012&8206World Intellectual Property Indicators – Patent applications per million population2012&6206World Intellectual Property Indicators – Application design counts per million population2012&8206World Intellectual Property Indicators – Patent grants2012&4206World Intellectual Property Indicators – Industrial design registrations in force2012&3206Bloomberg Innovation Index2016&750Bloomberg Innovation IndexThe Boston Consulting Group – International Innovation Index2009&2110 WIPO – Global Innovation Index South Korea ranked 4th out of 139 economies in the 2025 Global Innovation Index.20244139Research and development spending - % of GDP2012&972 Research and development spending – Total2011&572

Politics, Law and Military

+Political, Law and Military RankingsNameYearPlaceOut of #ReferenceTransparency International – Global Corruption Barometer2013&695OECD – Government transparency2008&634Composite Index of National Capability2007&8193Stockholm International Peace Research Institute – Defense budget2013&&10154World Justice Project – Rule of Law Index2015&11102Nation brand power2013&1240Transparency International – Bribe Payers Index2013&1328The Economist Intelligence Unit – Democracy Index The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index 2024 lists South Korea at rank 32 with a score of 7.75.202432167Fund for Peace – Fragile State Index2013&&23178Nation Brand Index2023&&2449Property Rights Alliance – International Property Rights Index2013&&37130Transparency International – Corruption Perception Index2015&&37177 Institute for Economics and Peace – Global Peace Index2015&&42162Reporters Without Borders – Press Freedom Index RSF lists South Korea at 47/180 in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index and 61/180 in 2025.202647180

Science & Technology

+Science & Technology RankingsNameYearPlaceOut of #ReferenceGoogle – Smartphone penetration2018&448 ClinicalTrials.gov – Stem cell research trials2014&311Space Competitiveness Index2024&715World Wide Web Foundation – Web index2014&881World Economic Forum – Networked Readiness Index2014&10145United Nations – E-Government Development Index20223193United Nations – E-Participation Index20229193United Nations – Online Service Index20223193

Society & Quality of Life

+Social and Quality of Life RankingsNameYearPlaceOut of #ReferenceScreen Digest – Average number of movies watched2013&1 Fragile States Index2013&18178United Nations – Human Development Index South Korea ranked 20th in UNDP’s 2025 Human Development Report statistical table, with HDI 0.937.201220187Newsweek – "World's best countries"2010&15100Official Development Assistance aid sent to developing countries2012&1623The Economist – Where-to-be-born Index2013&1980Walk Free Foundation – Global Slavery Index2013&23&160World Economic Forum – Human Capital Report2013&23&122OECD – Time devoted to leisure and personal care2009&25&34Legatum Prosperity Index2014&25&104Center for Global Development – Commitment to Development Index2013&26&166Social Progress Index2014&28&132Save the Children State of the World's Mothers report2014&30&178Average annual hours worked per worker2012–2013&32&35OECD – Social expenditure as % of GDP2014&32&34United Nations – World Happiness Report2013&41&166Charities Aid Foundation – World Giving Index2012&45&145

Tourism

+Tourism RankingsNameYearPlaceOut of #ReferenceWorld Tourism Organization – World Tourism rankings2013&23193World Economic Forum – Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report201315140UNESCO – World Heritage Site20232234

Transportation

+Transportation RankingsNameYearPlaceOut of #ReferenceThe World Factbook – Number of Heliports2013&2192The World Factbook – Expressway density2009&8192

Culture

+Culture rankingsNameYearPlaceOut of #ReferenceBrand Finance – Global Soft Power Index202315 -

See also

International rankings of North Korea International rankings of China International rankings of Japan

References