China, Taiwan Province of China vs Republic of Korea: population pyramids in 1978
China, Taiwan Province of 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, Taiwan Province of China and Republic of Korea compared
In 1978, China, Taiwan Province of China has a population of 17.2 million and the Republic of Korea 37.1 million; the Republic of Korea is about 2.2 times the size of China, Taiwan Province of China.
The share aged 65 and over is 3.4% in China, Taiwan Province of China and 3.7% in the Republic of Korea, almost the same. The median age is 21.5 years in China, Taiwan Province of China and 20.8 years in the Republic of Korea.
The total fertility rate is 2.68 in China, Taiwan Province of China and 2.70 in the Republic of Korea, both above the replacement level of about 2.1. Life expectancy at birth is 71.7 years in China, Taiwan Province of China and 65.0 years in the Republic of Korea.
By 2050, the population of China, Taiwan Province of China is projected to grow by 13.5% and that of the Republic of Korea to grow by 22.2% compared with 1978.
Key figures (1978)
| China, Taiwan Province of China | Republic of Korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 17.2 million | 37.1 million |
| Aged 0–14 | 34.5% | 36.0% |
| Aged 15–64 | 62.0% | 60.3% |
| Aged 65+ | 3.4% | 3.7% |
| Median age | 21.5 yrs | 20.8 yrs |
| Old-age dependency | 5.6 | 6.1 |
| Total fertility rate | 2.68 | 2.70 |
| Life expectancy | 71.7 yrs | 65.0 yrs |
| Population growth | +2.06% | +1.14% |
| Net migration (per year) | +17,523 | -85,721 |
| GDP | — | $1.87T (2025) |
| GDP per person | — | $36K (2025) |
| Unemployment | — | 2.7% (2025) |
Economic figures are the latest year published for each country.