Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
South Korea: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
South Korea is placed 5th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 84.33 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 2.796 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
5th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 84.33Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 2.796Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 0.852Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- 1.3Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place South Korea on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
84.33
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
South Korea: 84.33. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 85.51 Hong Kong
- Land neighbours
- North Korea 73.64
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
2.796
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
South Korea: 2.796. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 2.434 Japan
- Land neighbours
- North Korea 16.67
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · South Korea’s is from 2020 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
0.852
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
South Korea: 0.852. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 0.852 South Korea
- Land neighbours
- North Korea 19.1
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
1.3
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
South Korea: 1.3. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 0.6 Mongolia
02Over time
Which way South Korea is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
South KoreaWorld median
South Korea rose from 76.24 in 2000 to 84.33 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year South Korea World median 2023 84.329 74.630 2022 82.727 74.313 2021 83.852 72.433 2020 83.675 73.063 2019 83.685 74.196 2018 83.340 74.081 2017 83.278 74.029 2016 82.920 74.013 2015 82.540 73.783 2014 82.364 73.330 2013 81.836 73.386 2012 81.308 73.210 2011 81.169 73.003 2010 80.717 72.827 2009 80.550 72.426 2008 79.996 72.264 2007 79.432 72.113 2006 79.035 72.027 2005 78.449 71.876 2004 77.957 71.477 2003 77.497 71.409 2002 77.230 71.173 2001 76.920 70.926 2000 76.235 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
South KoreaWorld median
South Korea fell from 7.553 in 2000 to 2.796 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year South Korea World median 2024 2.80 14.5 2023 2.85 15.2 2022 2.91 14.7 2021 2.97 15.1 2020 3.05 15.3 2019 3.14 15.7 2018 3.23 16.3 2017 3.32 16.8 2016 3.41 17.5 2015 3.51 17.9 2014 3.62 18.3 2013 3.73 18.7 2012 3.85 18.8 2011 3.98 19.0 2010 4.12 19.2 2009 4.31 20.8 2008 4.54 20.7 2007 4.83 21.8 2006 5.18 22.8 2005 5.57 24.0 2004 5.98 25.9 2003 6.38 26.9 2002 6.77 28.0 2001 7.16 29.1 2000 7.55 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
South KoreaWorld median
South Korea rose from 0.6 in 2019 to 1.3 in 2024; the world median went from 4.95 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year South Korea World median 2024 1.3 4.9 2023 1.1 4.7 2022 0.9 5.4 2021 0.8 5.7 2020 0.7 5.6 2019 0.6 5.0 2018 — 4.2 2017 — 4.0 2016 — 3.4 2015 — 3.4
03In context
South Korea beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
South Korea and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 5th | 84.33 | 2.796 | 0.852 | 1.3 |
 North Koreacompare | 115th | 73.64 | 16.67 | 19.1 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below South Korea in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where South Korea is ahead of the world, and behind
43 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median30
Statistics on which South Korea does better than the middle country measured.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.460.53727.46No real change since 2013
South Korea: 0.537 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 220th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.732.67133.7▲ Improved since 2013
South Korea: 32.67 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 220th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5460.23.546No earlier reading
South Korea: 0.2 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 161st of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1631.6888.163No real change since 2013
South Korea: 1.688 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 198th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.7990.564No real change since 2010
South Korea: 0.799 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 4th of 172 · derived.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.910096.9No earlier reading
South Korea: 100 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1341.1668.134▲ Improved since 2014
South Korea: 1.166 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 193rd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3921.3216.39▲ Improved since 2013
South Korea: 21.32 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 15th of 222 · derived.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.0380.351No real change since 2013
South Korea: 0.038 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 12th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8196.881No earlier reading
South Korea: 96.8 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 12th of 153 · derived.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.262.32812.26No real change since 2014
South Korea: 2.328 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 184th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.653.7946.65▲ Improved since 2013
South Korea: 3.79 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 178th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.69214.62102.69▼ Worsened since 2013
South Korea: 214.62 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.9370.762No real change since 2013
South Korea: 0.937 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 20th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.95.820.9▼ Worsened since 2015
South Korea: 5.8 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 120th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8580.8782.858▼ Worsened since 2014
South Korea: 0.878 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 174th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Malaria Incidence (P. vivax)MAP · 2025 · world median 1.3820.0141.382▼ Worsened since 2015
South Korea: 0.014 · world median 1.382 · New P. vivax malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.001 to 184.62; lower is better.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909790No real change since 2015
South Korea: 97 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.22.55.2▼ Worsened since 2013
South Korea: 2.5 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 104th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919791No real change since 2015
South Korea: 97 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9823,4192,982No real change since 2014
South Korea: 3,419 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 155 · derived.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.45.326.4▲ Improved since 2017
South Korea: 5.3 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 114th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2581.171.25▲ Improved since 2013
South Korea: 81.1 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 42nd of 196 · derived.
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.35164.9272.35No earlier reading
South Korea: 164.9 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 413341▲ Improved since 2012
South Korea: 33 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.217.46310.21▼ Worsened since 2010
South Korea: 7.463 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 111th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.220.25No real change since 2014
South Korea: 0.22 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.56865.5▼ Worsened since 2018
South Korea: 68 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.55.4955.5▲ Improved since 2014
South Korea: 5.495 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 83rd of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.483.443.48▼ Worsened since 2015
South Korea: 3.44 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Behind the world median4
Statistics on which South Korea does worse than the middle country measured.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4525.914.45No real change since 2013
South Korea: 25.9 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 52nd of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8348.0684.83▼ Worsened since 2013
South Korea: 48.06 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Fatal Occupational InjuriesILO · 2023 · world median 2.0053.932.005▲ Improved since 2013
South Korea: 3.93 · world median 2.005 · Fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.12 to 8.409; lower is better.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6548.6577.65No earlier reading
South Korea: 48.65 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 133rd of 144 · derived.
No better end9
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.557.374.55No real change since 2017
South Korea: 7.37 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1752.8216.17No real change since 2013
South Korea: 52.82 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.7313.031.73Moved since 2014
South Korea: 13.03 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 24th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.838457.83Moved since 2013
South Korea: 84 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.653220.65No earlier reading
South Korea: 32 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2550.841.25Moved since 2013
South Korea: 50.8 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.444.535.4Moved since 2013
South Korea: 44.5 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8937.2938.89Moved since 2015
South Korea: 37.29 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 114th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.0511.8320.05No earlier reading
South Korea: 11.83 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
No current reading for South Korea
Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff (last 2021), Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of Pneumonia, Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health Spending, Children with Functional Difficulties, Early Initiation of Breastfeeding, Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum) (last 2012), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum) (last 2012), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months and Violent Discipline of Children. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among South Korea’s 15 topics
Health & Wellbeing is South Korea’s 3rd best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Digital & Technologyjoint 1st of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labour3rd of 1824/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing5th of 2004/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge8th of 1983/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade8th of 1774/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation15th of 1764/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 19th of 1944/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital24th of 1963/3 keys
- Gender & Equality24th of 1834/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture32nd of 1843/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 35th of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality29th of 1593/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 38th of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Security63rd of 1774/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability170th of 1864/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders South Korea can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about South Korea and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
South Korea on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does South Korea rank on health & wellbeing?
South Korea is placed 5th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for South Korea?
84.33 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for South Korea?
2.796 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does South Korea compare with North Korea on health & wellbeing?
North Korea is placed 115th of 200, and South Korea 5th. Life Expectancy at Birth: North Korea 73.64, South Korea 84.33; Under-Five Mortality Rate: North Korea 16.67, South Korea 2.796; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: North Korea 19.1, South Korea 0.852.
How have South Korea’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 76.24 in 2000 to 84.33 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 7.553 in 2000 to 2.796 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity rose from 0.6 in 2019 to 1.3 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for South Korea?
No current reading is published for South Korea on Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of Pneumonia, Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health Spending, Children with Functional Difficulties, Early Initiation of Breastfeeding, Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months and Violent Discipline of Children. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 43 statistics on this page come from 16 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
South Korea’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- South Korea (banner) — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). South Korea: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/south-korea/health