Republic of Korea vs China: population pyramids in 1985
Republic of KoreaChina
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.
Republic of Korea and China compared
In 1985, the Republic of Korea has a population of 40.9 million and China 1.05 billion; China is about 26 times the size of the Republic of Korea.
The share aged 65 and over is 4.2% in the Republic of Korea and 4.8% in China, 0.6 points higher in China. The median age is 24.0 years in the Republic of Korea and 22.5 years in China.
The total fertility rate is 1.71 in the Republic of Korea and 2.63 in China, so only the Republic of Korea is below the replacement level of about 2.1. Life expectancy at birth is 68.4 years in the Republic of Korea and 66.5 years in China.
By 2050, the population of the Republic of Korea is projected to grow by 10.8% and that of China to grow by 20.3% compared with 1985.
GDP per person is $36K in the Republic of Korea (2025) and $14K in China (2025).
Key figures (1985)
| Republic of Korea | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 40.9 million | 1.05 billion |
| Aged 0–14 | 30.7% | 31.7% |
| Aged 15–64 | 65.1% | 63.5% |
| Aged 65+ | 4.2% | 4.8% |
| Median age | 24.0 yrs | 22.5 yrs |
| Old-age dependency | 6.4 | 7.6 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.71 | 2.63 |
| Life expectancy | 68.4 yrs | 66.5 yrs |
| Population growth | +1.29% | +1.56% |
| Net migration (per year) | +97,949 | -60,929 |
| GDP | $1.87T (2025) | $19.5T (2025) |
| GDP per person | $36K (2025) | $14K (2025) |
| Unemployment | 2.7% (2025) | 4.6% (2025) |
Economic figures are the latest year published for each country.