Republic of Korea vs China, Taiwan Province of China: population pyramids in 1989
Republic of KoreaChina, Taiwan Province of China
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, Taiwan Province of China compared
In 1989, the Republic of Korea has a population of 43.2 million and China, Taiwan Province of China 20.3 million; the Republic of Korea is about 2.1 times the size of China, Taiwan Province of China.
The share aged 65 and over is 4.7% in the Republic of Korea and 5.6% in China, Taiwan Province of China, 0.9 points higher in China, Taiwan Province of China. The median age is 26.0 years in the Republic of Korea and 26.3 years in China, Taiwan Province of China.
The total fertility rate is 1.56 in the Republic of Korea and 1.74 in China, Taiwan Province of China, both below the replacement level of about 2.1. Life expectancy at birth is 70.7 years in the Republic of Korea and 73.7 years in China, Taiwan Province of China.
By 2050, the population of the Republic of Korea is projected to grow by 4.8% and that of China, Taiwan Province of China to shrink by 4.0% compared with 1989.
Key figures (1989)
| Republic of Korea | China, Taiwan Province of China | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 43.2 million | 20.3 million |
| Aged 0–14 | 26.9% | 28.0% |
| Aged 15–64 | 68.4% | 66.3% |
| Aged 65+ | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| Median age | 26.0 yrs | 26.3 yrs |
| Old-age dependency | 6.9 | 8.4 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.56 | 1.74 |
| Life expectancy | 70.7 yrs | 73.7 yrs |
| Population growth | +1.38% | +0.88% |
| Net migration (per year) | +186,120 | -49,726 |
| GDP | $1.87T (2025) | — |
| GDP per person | $36K (2025) | — |
| Unemployment | 2.7% (2025) | — |
Economic figures are the latest year published for each country.