China vs Republic of Korea: population pyramids in 1988
ChinaRepublic of Korea
Each bar is the share of the total population at that single year of age (men left, women right), so countries of different sizes can be compared.
China and Republic of Korea compared
In 1988, China has a population of 1.11 billion and the Republic of Korea 42.6 million; China is about 26 times the size of the Republic of Korea.
The share aged 65 and over is 5.1% in China and 4.6% in the Republic of Korea, 0.5 points higher in China. The median age is 23.8 years in China and 25.5 years in the Republic of Korea.
The total fertility rate is 2.54 in China and 1.56 in the Republic of Korea, so only the Republic of Korea is below the replacement level of about 2.1. Life expectancy at birth is 67.6 years in China and 70.2 years in the Republic of Korea.
By 2050, the population of China is projected to grow by 14.4% and that of the Republic of Korea to grow by 6.2% compared with 1988.
GDP per person is $14K in China (2025) and $36K in the Republic of Korea (2025).
Key figures (1988)
| China | Republic of Korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1.11 billion | 42.6 million |
| Aged 0–14 | 29.6% | 27.8% |
| Aged 15–64 | 65.4% | 67.7% |
| Aged 65+ | 5.1% | 4.6% |
| Median age | 23.8 yrs | 25.5 yrs |
| Old-age dependency | 7.8 | 6.7 |
| Total fertility rate | 2.54 | 1.56 |
| Life expectancy | 67.6 yrs | 70.2 yrs |
| Population growth | +1.65% | +1.40% |
| Net migration (per year) | -282,194 | +192,534 |
| GDP | $19.5T (2025) | $1.87T (2025) |
| GDP per person | $14K (2025) | $36K (2025) |
| Unemployment | 4.6% (2025) | 2.7% (2025) |
Economic figures are the latest year published for each country.