https://www.humantruth.info/south_korea.html
By Vexen Crabtree 2013
South Korea Republic of Korea | ![]() |
---|---|
Status | Independent State |
Social and Moral Index | 28th best |
Capital | Seoul |
Land Area | 97 100km21 |
Location | Asia |
Population | 51.2m2 |
Life Expectancy | 83.70yrs (2017)3 |
GNI | $44 501 (2017)4 |
ISO3166-1 Codes | KR, KOR, 4105 |
Internet Domain | .kr6 |
Currency | Won (KRW)7 |
Telephone | +828 |
“An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. In 1910, Tokyo formally annexed the entire Peninsula. Korea regained its independence following Japan's surrender to the United States in 1945. After World War II, a democratic-based government (Republic of Korea, ROK) was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in the north (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), U.S. troops and UN forces fought alongside ROK soldiers to defend South Korea from a DPRK invasion supported by China and the Soviet Union. A 1953 armistice split the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. PARK Chung-hee took over leadership of the country in a 1961 coup. During his regime, from 1961 to 1979, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income rising to roughly 17 times the level of North Korea. South Korea held its first free presidential election under a revised democratic constitution in 1987, with former ROK Army general ROH Tae-woo winning a close race. In 1993, KIM Young-sam (1993-98) became South Korea's first civilian president. South Korea today is a fully functioning modern democracy. LEE Myung-bak (2008-2013) pursued a policy of global engagement , highlighted by Seoul's hosting of the G-20 summit in November 2010 and the Nuclear Security Summit in March 2012. South Korea also secured a non-permanent seat (2013-14) on the UN Security Council and will host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. President PARK Geun-hye took office in February 2013 and is South Korea's first female leader. Serious tensions with North Korea have punctuated inter-Korean relations in recent years, including the North's sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan in March 2010 and its artillery attack on South Korean soldiers and citizens in November 2010. In January 2013, assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2013-14 term.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9
“The Republic of Korea offers the traveller a dazzling range of experiences, beguiling landscapes and 5000 years of culture and history. The blue and red circle at the heart of the South Korean flag neatly symbolises the fluid mix of ancient and modern aspects of the country officially called the Republic of Korea (ROK). South Korea is a dream destination for the traveller, an engaging, welcoming place where the benefits of a fully industrialised, high-tech nation are balanced alongside a reverence for tradition and the ways of old Asia.
South Korea´s compact size and superb transport infrastructure mean that tranquillity is achievable within an hour of the urban sprawl. Hike to the peaks of craggy mountains enclosed by densely forested national parks. Sail to remote islands, where farming and fishing folk welcome you into their homes. Sample the serenity of a Buddhist temple retreat. But rest assured - the ROK knows how to rock. There´s almost always a festival or event on, and friendly Koreans are happy to share their culture. If nothing else, your tastebuds will be tingling at the discovery of one of Asia´s most delicious cuisines.”
#economics #human_development #wealth
UN HDI (2021)11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better Value11 | |
1 | Switzerland | 0.962 |
2 | Norway | 0.961 |
3 | Iceland | 0.959 |
... | ||
16 | Liechtenstein | 0.935 |
17 | Luxembourg | 0.930 |
18 | UK | 0.929 |
19= | S. Korea | 0.925 |
19= | Japan | 0.925 |
21 | USA | 0.921 |
22 | Israel | 0.919 |
23= | Slovenia | 0.918 |
Asia Avg | 0.75 | |
World Avg | 0.72 | |
q=191. |
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better PPP $11 | |
1 | Liechtenstein | $146 830 |
2 | Singapore | $90 919 |
3 | Qatar | $87 134 |
... | ||
25 | Saudi Arabia | $46 112 |
26 | France | $45 937 |
27 | UK | $45 225 |
28 | S. Korea | $44 501 |
29 | New Zealand | $44 057 |
30 | Italy | $42 840 |
31 | Japan | $42 274 |
32 | Israel | $41 524 |
Asia Avg | $22 215 | |
World Avg | $20 136 | |
q=193. |
Social & Moral Development Index12 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank12 | |
1 | Denmark | 27.0 |
2 | Norway | 29.9 |
3 | Sweden | 31.8 |
... | ||
25 | Uruguay | 52.4 |
26 | Estonia | 52.4 |
27 | Czechia | 52.6 |
28 | S. Korea | 53.8 |
29 | Cyprus | 53.9 |
30 | Costa Rica | 54.7 |
31 | Hungary | 54.7 |
32 | Malta | 55.8 |
Asia Avg | 92.0 | |
World Avg | 88.6 | |
q=199. |
The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..
The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.
#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen
Population:
South Korea's population is predicted to fall to 50 335 000 by 2030. Developed countries with falling populations face a pension's crises, whereby an increasingly ageing population must be cared for by fewer and fewer workers. Economic stability can be maintained by increasing foreign workers from younger countries. This country has a fertility rate of 0.78. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.13Population2 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2018 Population2 | |
1 | China | 1.4b |
2 | India | 1.4b |
3 | USA | 327.1m |
... | ||
25 | Tanzania | 56.3m |
26 | Myanmar (Burma) | 53.7m |
27 | Kenya | 51.4m |
28 | S. Korea | 51.2m |
29 | Colombia | 49.7m |
30 | Spain | 46.7m |
31 | Argentina | 44.4m |
32 | Ukraine | 44.2m |
World Avg | 39.0m | |
q=195. |
Life Expectancy Higher is better11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years11 | |
1 | Monaco | 85.9 |
2 | Hong Kong | 85.5 |
3 | Japan | 84.8 |
4 | Australia | 84.5 |
5 | Switzerland | 84.0 |
6 | Malta | 83.8 |
7 | S. Korea | 83.7 |
8 | Liechtenstein | 83.3 |
9 | Norway | 83.2 |
10 | Spain | 83.0 |
11 | Sweden | 83.0 |
12 | Italy | 82.9 |
World Avg | 71.28 | |
q=195. |
Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202214 | |
1 | US Virgin Islands | 2.00 |
2 | Ecuador | 2.00 |
3 | Nepal | 2.01 |
... | ||
153 | Tuvalu | 3.14 |
154 | Papua New Guinea | 3.17 |
155 | Tonga | 3.19 |
156 | S. Korea | 0.78 |
157 | Namibia | 3.25 |
158 | Kiribati | 3.27 |
159 | Kenya | 3.30 |
160 | Hong Kong | 0.70 |
World Avg | 2.47 | |
q=208. |
Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 Per 10015 | |
1 | Uganda | 04.3 |
2 | Mali | 04.5 |
3= | Chad | 04.7 |
... | ||
164 | Bulgaria | 37.0 |
165 | Denmark | 37.1 |
166 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 37.3 |
167 | S. Korea | 37.6 |
168 | Estonia | 37.9 |
169 | Belgium | 38.1 |
170 | Switzerland | 38.3 |
171 | Canada | 38.5 |
World Avg | 18.3 | |
q=185. |
Migration:
Immigrants16 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 %16 | |
1 | UAE | 88.4% |
2 | Kuwait | 75.5% |
3 | Qatar | 65.2% |
... | ||
119 | Uruguay | 2.3% |
120 | Mauritius | 2.3% |
121 | Benin | 2.3% |
122 | S. Korea | 2.3% |
123 | Cameroon | 2.2% |
124 | Bulgaria | 2.2% |
125 | Kenya | 2.2% |
126 | Angola | 2.1% |
World Avg | 9.4% | |
q=195. |
Emigrants17 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2010 %17 | |
1 | Dominica | 104.8% |
2 | Palestine | 68.4% |
3 | Samoa | 67.3% |
... | ||
119 | Philippines | 4.6% |
120 | Egypt | 4.4% |
121 | Germany | 4.3% |
122 | S. Korea | 4.3% |
123 | Belgium | 4.2% |
124 | Syria | 4.2% |
125 | Burundi | 4.2% |
126 | Panama | 4.0% |
World Avg | 11.5% | |
q=192. |
#equality #freedom #gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #south_korea #tolerance #women
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank18 | |
1 | Sweden | 6.1 |
2 | Denmark | 8.6 |
3 | Norway | 9.0 |
... | ||
31 | Lithuania | 44.7 |
32 | Chile | 47.9 |
33 | Poland | 48.0 |
34 | S. Korea | 48.5 |
35 | Latvia | 49.4 |
36 | Puerto Rico | 50.8 |
Asia Avg | 103.00 | |
World Avg | 86.55 | |
q=199. |
For tables, charts and commentary, see:
#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #hong_kong #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #south_korea #suicide #vaccines
Compared to Asia (2025)30 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank30 | |
1= | Japan | 44.1 |
2 | Hong Kong | 48.2 |
3 | Singapore | 49.5 |
4 | N. Korea | 52.9 |
5 | Sri Lanka | 54.3 |
6 | S. Korea | 55.4 |
7 | Malaysia | 58.6 |
8 | Brunei | 61.4 |
9 | Cyprus | 63.1 |
10= | Kuwait | 66.8 |
10= | China | 66.8 |
12 | Bahrain | 69.3 |
13 | Israel | 70.2 |
Asia Avg | 80.90 | |
q=50. |
Health (2025)30 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank30 | |
1 | Monaco | 14.3 |
2 | Liechtenstein | 30.1 |
3 | Isle of Man | 32.1 |
... | ||
26 | UK | 54.0 |
27 | Sri Lanka | 54.3 |
28 | Luxembourg | 54.6 |
29 | S. Korea | 55.4 |
30 | Bermuda | 55.9 |
31 | Andorra | 55.9 |
32 | Italy | 56.2 |
33 | New Caledonia | 57.9 |
World Avg | 96.74 | |
q=212. |
The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man31. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria31.
21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans31, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia31.
For more, see:
Health:
South Korea does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. S. Korea comes in the best 20 for its adolescent birth rate32 (amongst the lowest in Asia), its average life expectancy11 (one of the best in Asia), its immunizations take-up33 and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance34. But, there's bad news too. S. Korea does worse than average for its alcohol consumption rate35 (one of the highest in Asia) and in its fertility rate14. It sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to its smoking rate36. And finally, it is second-from-the-bottom in its suicide rate37. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in South Korea in 2017 was the seventh-best in the world, at 83.3yrs. It improved by +11.7yrs in the 30 years from 1990, much better than the global average of +7.9yrs. South Korea had the 2nd-lowest average fertility rate in the world throughout the 2000s (after Hong Kong) and the 2010s. Its peak fertility rate was 5.95 in 1960.Life Expectancy Higher is better11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years11 | |
1 | Monaco | 85.9 |
2 | Hong Kong | 85.5 |
3 | Japan | 84.8 |
4 | Australia | 84.5 |
5 | Switzerland | 84.0 |
6 | Malta | 83.8 |
7 | S. Korea | 83.7 |
8 | Liechtenstein | 83.3 |
9 | Norway | 83.2 |
10 | Spain | 83.0 |
11 | Sweden | 83.0 |
12 | Italy | 82.9 |
Asia Avg | 73.48 | |
World Avg | 71.28 | |
q=195. |
Alcohol Consumption Lower is better35 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 Per Capita35 | |
1 | Bangladesh | 0.0 |
2 | Kuwait | 0.0 |
3 | Libya | 0.0 |
... | ||
149= | St Lucia | 9.9 |
149= | Swaziland | 9.9 |
151 | Spain | 10.0 |
152 | S. Korea | 10.2 |
153= | Laos | 10.4 |
153= | Greece | 10.4 |
153= | Denmark | 10.4 |
156 | Cook Islands | 10.6 |
Asia Avg | 3.9 | |
World Avg | 6.2 | |
q=189. |
Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202214 | |
1 | US Virgin Islands | 2.00 |
2 | Ecuador | 2.00 |
3 | Nepal | 2.01 |
... | ||
153 | Tuvalu | 3.14 |
154 | Papua New Guinea | 3.17 |
155 | Tonga | 3.19 |
156 | S. Korea | 0.78 |
157 | Namibia | 3.25 |
158 | Kiribati | 3.27 |
159 | Kenya | 3.30 |
160 | Hong Kong | 0.70 |
Asia Avg | 2.17 | |
World Avg | 2.47 | |
q=208. |
Smoking Rates Lower is better36 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201436 | |
1 | Guinea | 15 |
2 | Solomon Islands | 26 |
3 | Kiribati | 28 |
... | ||
165 | Ukraine | 1 854 |
166 | Jordan | 1 855 |
167 | Austria | 1 988 |
168 | S. Korea | 2 073 |
169 | Greece | 2 086 |
170 | Azerbaijan | 2 114 |
171 | Kazakhstan | 2 157 |
172 | Czechia | 2 194 |
Asia Avg | 1 035 | |
World Avg | 819 | |
q=182. |
Suicide Rate37 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2013 Per 100k37 | |
1 | Haiti | 0 |
2 | Grenada | 0 |
3 | Egypt | 0.1 |
... | ||
84 | Japan | 49.4 |
85 | Hungary | 50.6 |
86= | Kazakhstan | 52.4 |
86= | Guyana | 52.4 |
88 | Belarus | 57.5 |
89 | S. Korea | 62 |
90 | Russia | 63.4 |
91 | Lithuania | 71.7 |
Asia Avg | 19.50 | |
World Avg | 20.93 | |
q=91. |
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank34 | |
1 | Sweden | 1 |
2 | Ireland | 2 |
3 | Denmark | 3 |
... | ||
16 | Belgium | 16 |
17 | New Zealand | 17 |
18 | Jordan | 18 |
19 | S. Korea | 19 |
20 | Kuwait | 20 |
21 | Japan | 21 |
22 | Spain | 22 |
23 | France | 23 |
Asia Avg | 64.4 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Overweight Adults Lower is better38 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 %38 | |
1 | Vietnam | 18.3 |
2 | India | 19.7 |
3 | Bangladesh | 20.0 |
... | ||
42= | Nigeria | 28.9 |
43 | Benin | 29.5 |
44 | Guinea-Bissau | 29.9 |
45 | S. Korea | 30.3 |
46 | Maldives | 30.6 |
47= | Congo, (Brazzaville) | 30.9 |
47= | Liberia | 30.9 |
49 | Ivory Coast | 31.6 |
Asia Avg | 44.3 | |
World Avg | 49.0 | |
q=191. |
Children's Health:
Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better32 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Per 100032 | |
1 | Hong Kong | 1.6 |
2 | Denmark | 1.8 |
3 | S. Korea | 2.1 |
4 | Norway | 2.2 |
5 | Switzerland | 2.2 |
6 | N. Korea | 2.4 |
7 | Singapore | 2.5 |
8 | Netherlands | 2.7 |
9 | Japan | 2.8 |
10 | UAE | 2.8 |
11 | Liechtenstein | 3.0 |
12 | Sweden | 3.3 |
Asia Avg | 25.9 | |
World Avg | 43.8 | |
q=195. |
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better33 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2015 Avg %33 | |
1= | Hungary | 99.0 |
1= | China | 99.0 |
3 | Uzbekistan | 98.9 |
4 | Niue | 98.8 |
5 | Mongolia | 98.7 |
6 | Czechia | 98.7 |
7 | Seychelles | 98.6 |
8 | S. Korea | 98.6 |
9 | Sri Lanka | 98.4 |
10 | St Lucia | 98.2 |
11 | Bahrain | 98.2 |
12 | Iran | 98.1 |
Asia Avg | 90.5 | |
World Avg | 88.3 | |
q=194. |
In the 1990s, South Korea had the lowest adolescent birth rate in the world by a clear margin, at 2.7 children per 1000 girls aged 15-19, indicating a well-ordered and sensible culture. In the 2010s, it maintained the 2nd-lowest average rate throughout the decade.
#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #environmentalism #food #germany #iceland #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #singapore #south_korea #sustainability #taiwan #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism
Compared to Asia (2025)39 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank39 | |
1 | Sri Lanka | 34.9 |
2 | Nepal | 47.9 |
3 | India | 49.5 |
... | ||
21 | UAE | 81.8 |
22 | Singapore | 83.3 |
23 | Georgia | 83.6 |
24 | S. Korea | 84.0 |
25 | Cambodia | 84.0 |
26 | Taiwan | 86.1 |
27 | Malaysia | 89.5 |
28 | Palestine | 92.7 |
29 | Qatar | 94.1 |
Asia Avg | 86.44 | |
q=51. |
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)39 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank39 | |
1 | Sri Lanka | 34.9 |
2 | Uruguay | 43.2 |
3 | Switzerland | 45.0 |
... | ||
101 | Sierra Leone | 83.6 |
102 | Guinea-Bissau | 83.7 |
103 | Namibia | 83.9 |
104 | S. Korea | 84.0 |
105 | Cambodia | 84.0 |
106 | Central African Rep. | 84.2 |
107 | Djibouti | 84.5 |
108 | Honduras | 84.6 |
World Avg | 84.93 | |
q=199. |
All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.
The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.
For more, see:
S. Korea is positioned 104th in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 7 data sets. S. Korea comes in the best 20 in its score on the Green Future Index40 (the best in Asia) and in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population41 (amongst the highest in Asia). It does better than average in its environmental performance42. But, there's bad news too. S. Korea does worse than average in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, energy to GDP efficiency43, reducing annual meat consumption per person44 and in its forested percent change 2000-202045.Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better45 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total45 | |
1 | Guernsey | 82.6% |
2 | Bahrain | 75.2% |
3 | Iceland | 64.7% |
... | ||
158 | Sri Lanka | -2.5% |
159 | Central African Rep. | -2.6% |
160 | Malaysia | -2.9% |
161 | S. Korea | -2.9% |
162 | Timor-Leste (E. Timor) | -3.0% |
163 | American Samoa | -3.4% |
164 | Rwanda | -3.5% |
165 | Trinidad & Tobago | -3.6% |
Asia Avg | 3.2% | |
World Avg | -0.1% | |
q=234. |
Environmental Performance Higher is better42 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201842 | |
1 | Switzerland | 87.4 |
2 | France | 84.0 |
3 | Denmark | 81.6 |
... | ||
57 | Tonga | 62.5 |
58 | Tunisia | 62.4 |
59 | Azerbaijan | 62.3 |
60 | S. Korea | 62.3 |
61 | Kuwait | 62.3 |
62 | Jordan | 62.2 |
63 | Armenia | 62.1 |
64 | Peru | 61.9 |
Asia Avg | 54.5 | |
World Avg | 56.4 | |
q=180. |
Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better43 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Avg43 | |
1 | Rwanda | 0.25 |
2 | Chad | 0.26 |
3 | Tanzania | 0.31 |
... | ||
130 | Seychelles | 1.63 |
131 | Belarus | 1.64 |
132 | St Lucia | 1.65 |
133 | S. Korea | 1.67 |
134 | Tajikistan | 1.67 |
135 | Mongolia | 1.68 |
136 | China | 1.68 |
137 | UAE | 1.73 |
Asia Avg | 1.50 | |
World Avg | 1.23 | |
q=165. |
International Accords on the Environment Higher is better | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total Avg Rate | |
1 | Sweden | 83% |
2 | Canada | 82% |
3 | Norway | 81% |
... | ||
107 | Slovakia | 57% |
108 | St Lucia | 56% |
109 | Slovenia | 56% |
110 | S. Korea | 56% |
111 | Sudan | 56% |
112 | Cuba | 55% |
113 | Israel | 55% |
114 | Vietnam | 55% |
Asia Avg | 55.4% | |
World Avg | 57.5% | |
q=197. |
Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better41 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2011 %41 | |
1 | Argentina | 78.3% |
2 | Greece | 77.6% |
3 | Brazil | 77.1% |
4 | Trinidad & Tobago | 74.5% |
5 | Costa Rica | 74.2% |
6 | Cyprus | 71.0% |
7 | Guatemala | 70.9% |
8 | Philippines | 70.8% |
9 | S. Korea | 70.7% |
10 | Colombia | 70.3% |
11 | Bolivia | 69.3% |
12 | Paraguay | 68.9% |
Asia Avg | 37.9% | |
World Avg | 39.9% | |
q=145. |
Meat Consumption Lower is better44 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 kg44 | |
1 | Congo, DR | 03.0 |
2 | Burundi | 03.5 |
3 | Bangladesh | 04.3 |
... | ||
144 | Ireland | 80.2 |
145 | Kuwait | 81.3 |
146 | New Zealand | 81.4 |
147 | S. Korea | 81.5 |
148 | Dominica | 81.6 |
149 | Hungary | 82.1 |
150 | UK | 82.3 |
151 | Czechia | 82.4 |
Asia Avg | 46.7 | |
World Avg | 52.5 | |
q=185. |
In the 2010s, South Korea increased its meat consumption by over 20kgs per person per year, one of only 11 countries to do so, and putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment.44
Green Future Index Higher is better40 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 Score40 | |
1 | Iceland | 6.7 |
2 | Finland | 6.7 |
3 | Norway | 6.4 |
4= | Sweden | 6.3 |
4= | Denmark | 6.3 |
6 | Netherlands | 6.2 |
7 | UK | 6.1 |
8 | S. Korea | 6.0 |
9 | France | 6.0 |
10= | Spain | 5.9 |
10= | Germany | 5.9 |
12 | Belgium | 5.8 |
Asia Avg | 4.3 | |
World Avg | 4.8 | |
q=76. |
The 2023 edition of the Green Futures Index lists South Korea among five countries who are doing the best at recycling, alongside Germany, Iceland, Singapore and Taiwan).46
#capitalism #charity #corruption #economics #education #english #extremism #finland #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #intelligence #it_security #life_expectancy #maths #modernity #morals #norway #peace #politics #religion #religiosity #religious_violence #research #science #secularisation #singapore #social_development #south_korea #sweden #technology #terrorism #the_internet #USA
Compared to Asia (2020)47 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank47 | |
1 | S. Korea | 22.2 |
2 | Japan | 24.7 |
3 | Israel | 29.5 |
4 | Hong Kong | 31.2 |
5 | Singapore | 34.1 |
6 | Russia | 44.3 |
7 | Cyprus | 55.6 |
8 | Turkey | 55.9 |
9 | Malaysia | 59.4 |
10 | Kazakhstan | 59.8 |
11= | Saudi Arabia | 62.0 |
12 | UAE | 64.3 |
13 | Georgia | 65.6 |
Asia Avg | 78.26 | |
q=49. |
Modernity & Learning (2020)47 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank47 | |
1 | Finland | 7.1 |
2 | Belgium | 12.9 |
3 | Denmark | 13.6 |
... | ||
15 | Austria | 19.9 |
16= | Czechia | 21.8 |
16= | Canada | 21.8 |
18 | S. Korea | 22.2 |
19 | Slovenia | 22.5 |
20 | Japan | 24.7 |
21 | USA | 26.4 |
22 | France | 26.8 |
World Avg | 86.31 | |
q=190. |
The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark48. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone48. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots49.
“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)50
15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe48, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia48.
For more, see:
Modernity and Education:
Research & Development Higher is better | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 % RDP PPP | |
1 | S. Korea | 4.2951 |
2 | Israel | 4.1151 |
3 | Japan | 3.5851 |
4 | Finland | 3.1751 |
5 | Sweden | 3.1651 |
6 | Denmark | 3.0551 |
7 | Taiwan | 3.0151 |
8 | Austria | 3.0052 |
9 | Switzerland | 2.9653 |
10 | Germany | 2.8451 |
11 | USA | 2.7454 |
12 | Belgium | 2.4651 |
Asia Avg | 0.75 | |
World Avg | 0.84 | |
q=126. |
Secondary Education Higher is better55 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201855 | |
1= | Luxembourg | 100.0% |
1= | Estonia | 100.0% |
1= | Austria | 100.0% |
... | ||
24 | Azerbaijan | 95.6% |
25 | USA | 95.6% |
26 | Norway | 95.4% |
27 | S. Korea | 95.2% |
28 | Bulgaria | 95.1% |
29 | Lithuania | 94.9% |
30 | Ukraine | 94.6% |
31 | Tonga | 93.7% |
Asia Avg | 66.0% | |
World Avg | 63.0% | |
q=169. |
Length of Schooling Higher is better56 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years56 | |
1 | Australia | 21.1 |
2 | New Zealand | 20.3 |
3 | Greece | 20.0 |
... | ||
23 | Chile | 16.7 |
24 | Costa Rica | 16.5 |
25 | Singapore | 16.5 |
26 | S. Korea | 16.5 |
27 | Switzerland | 16.5 |
28 | Canada | 16.4 |
29 | Bahrain | 16.3 |
30 | Lithuania | 16.3 |
Asia Avg | 13.5 | |
World Avg | 13.5 | |
q=193. |
Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank34 | |
1 | Ukraine | 1 |
2 | Czechia | 2 |
3 | Hungary | 3 |
... | ||
41 | Italy | 41 |
42 | Slovakia | 42 |
43 | Marshall Islands | 43 |
44 | S. Korea | 44 |
45 | Morocco | 45 |
46 | Belarus | 46 |
47 | Moldova | 47 |
48 | Montenegro | 48 |
Asia Avg | 97.1 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better57 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2015 Score57 | |
1 | Singapore | 1655 |
2 | Hong Kong | 1598 |
3 | Japan | 1586 |
4 | Macau | 1582 |
5 | Estonia | 1573 |
6= | Taiwan | 1571 |
6= | Canada | 1571 |
8 | Finland | 1568 |
9 | S. Korea | 1557 |
10 | China | 154358 |
11= | Ireland | 1528 |
11= | Slovenia | 1528 |
Asia Avg | 1398 | |
World Avg | 1389 | |
q=70. |
Religiosity Lower is better59 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2018 %59 | |
1 | China | 3 |
2 | Estonia | 6 |
3 | Czechia | 7 |
... | ||
15 | Hungary | 14 |
16 | Albania | 15 |
17= | Lithuania | 16 |
17= | S. Korea | 16 |
17= | Russia | 16 |
20 | Australia | 18 |
21= | Vietnam | 18 |
22 | Bulgaria | 19 |
Asia Avg | 55.8 | |
World Avg | 54.3 | |
q=106. |
IQ Higher is better60 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 200660 | |
1= | Hong Kong | 108 |
1= | Singapore | 108 |
3 | S. Korea | 106 |
4= | Japan | 105 |
4= | Taiwan | 105 |
4= | China | 105 |
7 | Italy | 102 |
8= | Iceland | 101 |
8= | Switzerland | 101 |
8= | Mongolia | 101 |
11 | Netherlands | 100 |
12= | Norway | 100 |
Asia Avg | 90.4 | |
World Avg | 85.6 | |
q=138. |
Technology and Information:
Internet Users Higher is better61 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201661 | |
1 | Iceland | 100% |
2 | Faroe Islands | 99% |
3 | Norway | 98% |
... | ||
25 | Aruba | 88% |
26 | Switzerland | 87% |
27 | France | 86% |
28 | S. Korea | 86% |
29 | Australia | 85% |
30 | Bahamas | 85% |
31 | Puerto Rico | 83% |
32= | Singapore | 83% |
Asia Avg | 48.7% | |
World Avg | 48.1% | |
q=201. |
Freedom On The Internet Lower is better62 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201262 | |
1 | Estonia | 10 |
2 | USA | 12 |
3 | Germany | 15 |
... | ||
13 | Kenya | 29 |
14 | Georgia | 30 |
15 | Nigeria | 33 |
16= | S. Korea | 34 |
16= | Uganda | 34 |
18 | Kyrgyzstan | 35 |
19 | Mexico | 37 |
20 | India | 39 |
Asia Avg | 56.6 | |
World Avg | 46.7 | |
q=47. |
IT Security Lower is better63 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201363 | |
1= | Ireland | 0.11 |
1= | Luxembourg | 0.11 |
1= | Belize | 0.11 |
... | ||
20 | Turkey | 0.52 |
21 | Poland | 0.55 |
22 | Switzerland | 0.55 |
23 | S. Korea | 0.56 |
24 | Australia | 0.63 |
25 | Libya | 0.63 |
26 | Qatar | 0.65 |
27 | Chile | 0.66 |
Asia Avg | 1.08 | |
World Avg | 0.98 | |
IPv6 Uptake Higher is better64 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Ratio64 | |
1 | Belgium | 55.4 |
2 | Germany | 41.8 |
3 | Switzerland | 35.1 |
... | ||
46 | Faroe Islands | 1.4 |
47 | Russia | 1.3 |
48 | Bulgaria | 1.3 |
49 | S. Korea | 1.2 |
50 | Dominican Rep. | 1.1 |
51 | Slovakia | 0.8 |
52 | Hong Kong | 0.7 |
53 | Spain | 0.6 |
Asia Avg | 2.11 | |
World Avg | 3.82 | |
q=176. |
Digital Quality of Life Higher is better65 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202465 | |
1 | Germany | 77.9% |
2 | Finland | 76.9% |
3 | France | 73.9% |
... | ||
18 | Bulgaria | 66.3% |
19 | Belgium | 66.1% |
20= | Poland | 66.0% |
20= | S. Korea | 66.0% |
22 | Ireland | 65.9% |
23 | Israel | 65.4% |
24 | Norway | 64.5% |
25 | Canada | 63.4% |
Asia Avg | 46.4% | |
World Avg | 48.4% | |
q=121. |
South Korea has the 3rd-best level of online government services, after only Singapore and the USA, making citizens' lives easier66.
#capitalism #charitability #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #finland #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #morals #norway #peace #politics #religious_violence #social_development #south_korea #sweden #terrorism
Compared to Asia (2020)67 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank67 | |
1 | Singapore | 20.2 |
2 | Taiwan | 37.2 |
3 | Hong Kong | 40.5 |
4 | UAE | 41.1 |
5 | Qatar | 44.8 |
6 | Japan | 45.5 |
7 | Cyprus | 47.4 |
8 | Bhutan | 49.2 |
9 | S. Korea | 49.5 |
10 | Malaysia | 55.4 |
11 | Oman | 61.8 |
12 | Mongolia | 62.1 |
13 | Jordan | 65.4 |
Asia Avg | 79.59 | |
q=49. |
Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)67 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank67 | |
1 | Denmark | 11.2 |
2 | Norway | 13.9 |
3 | Netherlands | 14.4 |
... | ||
36 | Italy | 48.6 |
37 | Slovakia | 48.8 |
38 | Bhutan | 49.2 |
39 | S. Korea | 49.5 |
40 | Uruguay | 52.6 |
41 | Croatia | 52.9 |
42 | USA | 54.1 |
43 | Romania | 54.4 |
World Avg | 78.12 | |
q=180. |
This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.
For more, see:
National Culture:
World Giving Index Higher is better68 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 %68 | |
1 | Indonesia | 68.0 |
2 | Kenya | 61.0 |
3 | USA | 59.0 |
... | ||
118 | Portugal | 26.0 |
119 | Lebanon | 24.0 |
120 | Egypt | 23.0 |
121 | S. Korea | 22.0 |
122= | Afghanistan | 21.0 |
122= | Belgium | 21.0 |
124 | Japan | 20.0 |
125 | Cambodia | 19.0 |
Asia Avg | 37.9 | |
World Avg | 39.6 | |
q=125. |
The World Giving Index is produced annually by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). It produces statistical counts of individual charitable acts in three categories: the helping of strangers, donations to charity and volunteer work. The system is biased towards grassroots-charitability and because of this, it is not wise to draw moral conclusions from the data. Some countries have a top-down approach to social aid. For example, in highly socialist countries such as Finland, Norway and Sweden, including South Korea, the government itself is paid by citizens (through very high taxes) to engage in a lot of social work. Therefore, there is a culture in which individuals feel they already contribute to charity through a centralized and well-funded charitable social safety net: but this kind of contribution isn't reflected in the WGI. Some of those countries do score highest in measurements of how much aid is given to developing countries. Conversely, some of the lowest-ranking countries are clearly suffering from extreme poverty, and may lack the infrastructure that lets people volunteer time or give to charity.
For more, see:
Corruption Higher is better69 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Points69 | |
1 | Denmark | 90.0 |
2= | Finland | 87.0 |
2= | New Zealand | 87.0 |
... | ||
28 | Chile | 67.0 |
29 | Barbados | 65.0 |
30 | Bahamas | 64.0 |
31= | S. Korea | 63.0 |
31= | Israel | 63.0 |
33 | Lithuania | 62.0 |
34= | Portugal | 62.0 |
35 | Cape Verde | 60.0 |
Asia Avg | 39.98 | |
World Avg | 42.98 | |
q=180. |
South Korea was already scoring well on the Corruption Perception Index, but of all countries thoughout the 2000s, South Korea improved its rating better than all countries except four, rising to 39th-best in 2009.70
Happiness Higher is better71 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2024 Score71 | |
1 | Finland | 7.7 |
2 | Denmark | 7.5 |
3 | Iceland | 7.5 |
... | ||
55 | Japan | 6.1 |
56 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 6.1 |
57 | Philippines | 6.1 |
58 | S. Korea | 6.0 |
59 | Bahrain | 6.0 |
60 | Portugal | 6.0 |
61 | Colombia | 6.0 |
62 | Ecuador | 6.0 |
Asia Avg | 5.41 | |
World Avg | 5.58 | |
q=147. |
Creativity & Culture Lower is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank34 | |
1 | Belgium | 1 |
2 | Netherlands | 2 |
3 | Estonia | 3 |
... | ||
31 | Romania | 31 |
32 | Costa Rica | 32 |
33 | Serbia | 33 |
34 | S. Korea | 34 |
35 | New Zealand | 35 |
36 | Belize | 36 |
37 | Iceland | 37 |
38 | Croatia | 38 |
Asia Avg | 99.0 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank34 | |
1 | Ireland | 1 |
2 | Denmark | 2 |
3 | Sweden | 3 |
... | ||
62 | USA | 62 |
63 | Congo, DR | 63 |
64 | Honduras | 64 |
65 | S. Korea | 65 |
66 | Benin | 66 |
67 | Lesotho | 67 |
68 | Panama | 68 |
69 | New Zealand | 69 |
Asia Avg | 86.3 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Peace Versus Instability:
Global Peace Index Lower is better72 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 Score72 | |
1 | Iceland | 1.12 |
2 | Denmark | 1.31 |
3 | Ireland | 1.31 |
... | ||
40= | Vietnam | 1.75 |
40= | Albania | 1.75 |
42 | Botswana | 1.76 |
43 | S. Korea | 1.76 |
44 | Mongolia | 1.77 |
45 | Montenegro | 1.77 |
46 | Laos | 1.78 |
47 | Sierra Leone | 1.79 |
Asia Avg | 2.17 | |
World Avg | 2.07 | |
q=163. |
Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank34 | |
1 | Samoa | 1 |
2 | S. Africa | 2 |
3 | Tunisia | 3 |
... | ||
32 | India | 32 |
33 | New Zealand | 33 |
34 | Malaysia | 34 |
35 | S. Korea | 35 |
36 | Qatar | 36 |
37 | Germany | 37 |
38 | Togo | 38 |
39 | Argentina | 39 |
Asia Avg | 76.0 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank34 | |
1 | Austria | 1 |
2 | Germany | 2 |
3 | Netherlands | 3 |
... | ||
30 | Singapore | 30 |
31 | Greece | 31 |
32 | Bulgaria | 32 |
33 | S. Korea | 33 |
34 | Mauritius | 34 |
35 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 35 |
36 | Romania | 36 |
37 | Uruguay | 37 |
Asia Avg | 92.2 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Impact of Terrorism Lower is better73 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2019 Score73 | |
1 | Togo | 0.00 |
2 | Mongolia | 0.00 |
3 | Swaziland | 0.00 |
... | ||
32 | Hungary | 0.18 |
33 | Switzerland | 0.19 |
34 | Latvia | 0.23 |
35 | S. Korea | 0.30 |
36 | Macedonia | 0.30 |
37 | Zambia | 0.31 |
38 | Djibouti | 0.32 |
39 | Bulgaria | 0.37 |
Asia Avg | 3.60 | |
World Avg | 2.78 | |
q=150. |
Economic Inequality and Poverty:
Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better74 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201974 | |
1 | Iceland | 2.40 |
2= | Singapore | 2.50 |
2= | Hong Kong | 2.50 |
... | ||
7 | Finland | 3.00 |
8= | Czechia | 3.00 |
8= | Norway | 3.00 |
8= | S. Korea | 3.00 |
8= | Spain | 3.00 |
12 | Netherlands | 3.10 |
13= | Italy | 3.10 |
14 | Israel | 3.30 |
Asia Avg | 11.80 | |
World Avg | 14.59 | |
q=184. |
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better75 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 %75 | |
1 | Slovakia | 24.1%76 |
2 | Slovenia | 24.3%76 |
3 | Belarus | 24.4%77 |
... | ||
57= | Greece | 32.9%76 |
57= | Niger | 32.9%76 |
57= | Japan | 32.9%78 |
57= | S. Korea | 32.9%76 |
61 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 33.0%79 |
62 | Serbia | 33.1%76 |
63= | Guinea-Bissau | 33.4%76 |
63= | Bangladesh | 33.4%80 |
Asia Avg | 33.0% | |
World Avg | 36.5% | |
q=167. |
#afterlife #belief #buddhism #christianity #god #heaven #hell #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation #universalism
Religiosity (2018)59 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better %59 | |
1 | China | 3 |
2 | Estonia | 6 |
3 | Czechia | 7 |
... | ||
15 | Hungary | 14 |
16 | Albania | 15 |
17= | Lithuania | 16 |
17= | S. Korea | 16 |
17= | Russia | 16 |
20 | Australia | 18 |
21= | Vietnam | 18 |
22 | Bulgaria | 19 |
23= | Norway | 19 |
24 | Netherlands | 20 |
25= | Italy | 21 |
25= | Belarus | 21 |
27 | Ireland | 22 |
28= | Kazakhstan | 22 |
28= | Spain | 22 |
30 | Slovakia | 23 |
World Avg | 54.3 | |
q=106. |
Disbelief In God (2007)81 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better %81 | |
1 | Vietnam | 81 |
2 | Japan | 65 |
3 | Sweden | 64 |
... | ||
14 | Bulgaria | 34 |
15 | Hungary | 32 |
16 | Norway | 31 |
17 | S. Korea | 30 |
18 | Finland | 28 |
19 | Russia | 27 |
20 | Australia | 25 |
21 | Taiwan | 24 |
22= | New Zealand | 22 |
22= | Canada | 22 |
24 | Latvia | 20 |
25= | Ukraine | 20 |
25= | Mongolia | 20 |
27 | Austria | 18 |
28= | Slovakia | 17 |
28= | Switzerland | 17 |
World Avg | 9.9 | |
q=137. |
Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below82:
Christian | 29.4% |
Muslim | 0.2% |
Hindu | 0.1% |
Buddhist | 22.9% |
Folk Religion | 0.8% |
Jewish | 0.1% |
Unaffiliated | 46.4% |
It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 53.5% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 16% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".
For more on this phenomenon, see:
"Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)
The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Christian 31.6% (Protestant 24%, Roman Catholic 7.6%), Buddhist 24.2%, other or unknown 0.9%, none 43.3% (2010 survey)83.
The Afterlife: Ipsos-NA in 2011 gathered some statistics on South Korea84. Belief in heaven and hell is at just 22%. Some people don't know what to believe (21%). Even more people believe that upon death, you simply cease to exist (40%). Also, 1% specifically believe in heaven but not in hell (which is nice - making them possible "universalists"). 6% believe in reincarnation.
Links: