Language
Korean
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	48.3 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	48.8 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	48.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	47.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	47.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	47.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	47.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	47.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	46.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
44.1 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Koreans constitute an homogenous ethnic group; there are no significant minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism and Chondokio are the principal religions and belief systems.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	81.3 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	81.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	80.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	80.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	80.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	80.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	79.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	79.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1948
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2006)

Percentage of population under 15

2005	18.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	19.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	19.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	20.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	20.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	20.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
GMT +9

Climate description
Temperate, cold winters with occasional rain or snow and hot, humid summers

Currency
Won

Telephone dialling code
(+) 82

Driving (left/right)
Right

Average life expectancy

2005	77.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	77.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	77.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	75.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	75.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	74.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	74.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	73.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	73.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	71.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	71.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	71.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	81.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	80.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	80.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	79.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	79.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	78.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	4 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	5 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	5 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	6 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	14 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	20 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	26	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	26	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	28	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	28	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	30	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	27	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	No data available percent
2000-2006	No data available percent
1996-2005	23 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	No data available percent
1995-2003	No data available percent
1995-2002	No data available percent
1995-2000	No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	<5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	<2.5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	<2.5 percent	FAO 2006
1999-2001average	No data available percent
1998-2000average	No data available percent

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	No data available percent
2004	92 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	92 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	92 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	No data available percent
2004	No data available percent
2002	No data available percent
2000	63 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	98.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	97.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	97.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	97.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	97.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	96.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	96.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	96.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	443 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	467 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	470 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	503 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	498 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	533 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	548 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	552 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	557 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	947 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	907 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	842 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	806 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	772 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	712 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	689 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	622 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	578 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	775 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	763 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	748 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	728 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	702 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	655 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	594 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	518 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	407 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	40	Transparency International 2008
2007	43 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	42 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	40 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	47	Transparency International
2003	50 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	40 (joint)	Transparency International
2001	42 (joint)	Transparency International
2000	48	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	No data available percent
1990-2004	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	<2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	<2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	<2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	19730 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	17780 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	15930 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	14040 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	12060 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	11280 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	10580 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	9800 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	969.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	888.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	791.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	680.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	608.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	546.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	481.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	511.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	5.0  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	4.2  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	4.7  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	3.1  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	7.0  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	3.8  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	8.5  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	1.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	-0.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	-0.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	2.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	2.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	2.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	3.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	0.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.9 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
22.5 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	157 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	157 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	180 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	173 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	<0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	<0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	<0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	<0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	<0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Limited risk of malaria exclusively due to P.vivax mainly in the northern areas of Kyunggi Do and Gangwon Do Provinces.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	90 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	87 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	85 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	83 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	80 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	83 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	74 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	72 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Number of refugees originating here

2008	1104	UNHCR
2007	1188	UNHCR
2006	1335	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	268	UNHCR
2004	272	UNHCR
2003	237	UNHCR
2002	245	UNHCR
2001	83	UNHCR
2000	73	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	172	UNHCR
2007	118	UNHCR
2006	96	UNHCR
2005	69	UNHCR
2004	44	UNHCR
2003	25	UNHCR
2002	17	UNHCR
2001	7	UNHCR
2000	6	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2007	1	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2006	1	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	5	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
No
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	2.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	2.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	2.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	4.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	4.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	4.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	3.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	3.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	2.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003