East Asia
Living in South Korea
Photo: Geunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul · Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
A mountainous peninsula with Seoul as a fast-paced tech capital, hot humid summers, cold winters and excellent public transport. Editorial
The numbers
Main city climate-3° to 25°CColdest and warmest month averages, Seoul · 2020
Average temperature11.3°CSeoul (whole country 12.2°C) · 2020
Price level62%Of US prices for everyday goods and services · 2025
Average spending$2,343Per person per month (international $, PPP) · 2025
Income per person$63,100GDP per person a year (international $, PPP) · 2025
Unemployment2.7%Of the labour force · 2025
Homicides0.5Per 100,000 people a year · 2023
Life expectancy83.6 yearsAt birth · 2024
Clean air22 µg/m³Average fine-particle pollution (WHO guideline: 5) · 2023
Forest64%Of the land area · 2024
City dwellers81%Of people live in cities and towns · 2025
Tax revenue13.3%Of GDP · 2024
Language and getting around Editorial
- Languages: Korean. Some English, mostly in cities and business.
- Public transport: Extensive: most people can live without a car in the big cities.
- Geography: Has a coastline, with mountain areas. Capital: Seoul.
Moving to South Korea
Visa and residence rules depend on your nationality, job, studies and family, and they change often. Start with the government's own website: www.hikorea.go.kr.
- South Korea student visa guide
- South Korea tourist / visit visa guide
- Study in South Korea
- Scholarships in South Korea
Sources
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per person (PPP) | 63,124.92 international $ | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Unemployment | 2.68 % of labour force | 2025 | World Bank WDI (ILO estimate) |
| Intentional homicides | 0.48 per 100,000 people | 2023 | World Bank WDI (UNODC) |
| Political stability and absence of violence | 0.92 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Government effectiveness (public services) | 1.5 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Life expectancy at birth | 83.63 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Health spending per person | 3,136.79 US$ per person | 2024 | World Bank WDI (WHO) |
| Tax revenue | 13.29 % of GDP | 2024 | World Bank WDI (IMF) |
| People living in cities and towns | 81.17 % of population | 2025 | World Bank WDI (UN) |
| Forest area | 64.37 % of land | 2024 | World Bank WDI (FAO) |
| Fine-particle air pollution (PM2.5) | 21.89 µg/m³, annual mean | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Price level of household goods and services | 0.62 ratio, United States = 1 | 2025 | Calculated: PPP conversion factor (private consumption) / official exchange rate, World Bank WDI |
| Average household spending per person | 2,343 international $ per person per month | 2025 | Calculated: household consumption (PPP) / population / 12, World Bank WDI |
| Average temperature, whole country 1991-2020 | 12.2 °C | 2020 | World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CRU TS 4.08, 1991-2020) |
| Average temperature, main city | 11.3 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Coldest month average, main city | -3.3 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Warmest month average, main city | 24.9 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Rainfall, main city | 1,237 mm per year | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
Data checked 2 November 2026. National averages hide differences between cities and regions. Climate figures for Seoul are 2001–2020 averages.
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