GeoRealityMatch
Aerial skyline of Seoul from forested hillsides, featuring distant mountains.A scenic view of Seoul cityscape blending traditional Hanoks and modern skyscrapers under a clear sky.

South Korea

Asia · Eastern Asia

High safetyModerate cost of livingVery high development

Incomes are high, and people live long.

Digital NomadOffers a digital nomad visa and home internet at 253 Mbps.ExpatCombines very high development and high safety.
vs Japanvs Chinavs Singapore
Safety

56th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.839lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#56 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.5per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
71Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferHighNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$37,880national income per person, US dollarsVery high
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
16.1New York = 100ModerateNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
24.1years of median income to buy a median flatVery expensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 60% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 62% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$40K$80K$63,125 PPP$36,227Inflation, % a year6%0200620102015202020252006, $22,610 a person, $27,972 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2007, $25,078 a person, $30,255 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2008, $22,252 a person, $31,211 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2009, $19,937 a person, $30,740 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2010, $24,071 a person, $33,120 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2011, $26,175 a person, $33,944 at PPP, inflation 4%2012, $26,601 a person, $35,062 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2013, $28,449 a person, $35,844 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2014, $30,667 a person, $37,032 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2015, $30,172 a person, $39,794 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2016, $30,832 a person, $41,673 at PPP, inflation 1%2017, $33,297 a person, $43,156 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2018, $35,364 a person, $45,511 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2019, $33,827 a person, $46,511 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2020, $33,646 a person, $47,881 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2021, $37,518 a person, $51,718 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2022, $34,822 a person, $55,509 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2023, $35,674 a person, $57,430 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2024, $36,239 a person, $61,051 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2025, $36,227 a person, $63,125 at PPP, inflation 2.1%$0$40K$80KInflation, % a year6%0200620102015202020252006, $22,610 a person, $27,972 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2007, $25,078 a person, $30,255 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2008, $22,252 a person, $31,211 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2009, $19,937 a person, $30,740 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2010, $24,071 a person, $33,120 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2011, $26,175 a person, $33,944 at PPP, inflation 4%2012, $26,601 a person, $35,062 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2013, $28,449 a person, $35,844 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2014, $30,667 a person, $37,032 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2015, $30,172 a person, $39,794 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2016, $30,832 a person, $41,673 at PPP, inflation 1%2017, $33,297 a person, $43,156 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2018, $35,364 a person, $45,511 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2019, $33,827 a person, $46,511 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2020, $33,646 a person, $47,881 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2021, $37,518 a person, $51,718 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2022, $34,822 a person, $55,509 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2023, $35,674 a person, $57,430 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2024, $36,239 a person, $61,051 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2025, $36,227 a person, $63,125 at PPP, inflation 2.1%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
83.6years, at birthVery high
#11 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
88WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
19.2PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
2.7%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
253 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
522EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet253 MbpsVery fast
Mobile257 MbpsVery fast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaMedium

Minimum income
$5,483 a month
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Yes
Application fee
€81about $89
  • Tax treatmentLocal rates apply
  • Processing timeAbout 30 days
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed
  • Apply onlineIn person or at a consulate
  • Path to residencyNo
  • NationalitiesOpen to all
Official page
A scenic view of Seoul cityscape blending traditional Hanoks and modern skyscrapers under a clear sky.
How it changed

South Korea's Human Development Index

0.937Very high human development

20th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 3rd of 43 in Asia.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #17New Zealand0.938
  2. #17United States0.938
  3. #20South Korea0.937
  4. #21Slovenia0.931
  5. #22Austria0.930
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.738 in 1990 to 0.937 in 2023.

0.700.851.000.93719902000201020231990: 0.7381991: 0.7491992: 0.7591993: 0.7701994: 0.7791995: 0.7891996: 0.8011997: 0.8121998: 0.8091999: 0.8212000: 0.8302001: 0.8382002: 0.8462003: 0.8522004: 0.8592005: 0.8662006: 0.8712007: 0.8762008: 0.8782009: 0.8812010: 0.8942011: 0.8992012: 0.9012013: 0.9052014: 0.9102015: 0.9142016: 0.9182017: 0.9222018: 0.9242019: 0.9272020: 0.9282021: 0.9332022: 0.9282023: 0.9370.700.851.0019902000201020231990: 0.7381991: 0.7491992: 0.7591993: 0.7701994: 0.7791995: 0.7891996: 0.8011997: 0.8121998: 0.8091999: 0.8212000: 0.8302001: 0.8382002: 0.8462003: 0.8522004: 0.8592005: 0.8662006: 0.8712007: 0.8762008: 0.8782009: 0.8812010: 0.8942011: 0.8992012: 0.9012013: 0.9052014: 0.9102015: 0.9142016: 0.9182017: 0.9222018: 0.9242019: 0.9272020: 0.9282021: 0.9332022: 0.9282023: 0.937

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
83.6 years2024at birthUp 5.5 years from 78.2 years in 2005
Internet users
98%2024of people onlineUp 20 points from 78% in 2006
Urban population
81%2025of people in towns and citiesLevel with 2006
Births per woman
0.752024births per womanDown 0.34 from 1.09 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
4%2021of energy usedUp 3 points from 1% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
22024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 2 from 4 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
11.4 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.6 t from 10.7 t in 2005
Forest area
64%2023of land under forestDown 2 points from 67% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Tech-forward with blazing internet and excellent food and transit; work culture is intense. The case for living here is high incomes, long lives and wide access to essential health services.

About South Korea

South Korea is an East Asian country that has built one of the world's most dynamic modern cultures on a foundation of Confucian philosophy, Buddhist heritage, and extraordinarily rapid development. Seoul is a city of remarkable energy, design, and food, while the temple stays, coastal islands, and mountain national parks of the wider country offer a quieter counterbalance. Those who love cities, food, and the particular intensity of Korean creative culture will find it endlessly stimulating.

Practical facts

  • CapitalSeoul
  • LanguagesKorean
  • CurrencySouth Korean won (KRW)
  • Area97,600 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is South Korea's Human Development Index?

South Korea's Human Development Index is 0.937 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #20 of 193 by UNDP.

Is South Korea safe?

South Korea scores 1.84 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #56 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is South Korea?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts South Korea at 61.6 (New York = 100); that is #120 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in South Korea?

Life expectancy at birth in South Korea is 83.6 yrs (World Bank), ranked #11 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in South Korea?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores South Korea at 150.4, ranked #41 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.