France
Quick context before you compare the numbers.
Identity
Formal name: French Republic.
CIA 2026
Identity
Name origin: derives from the Latin name Francia, meaning "Land of the Franks".
CIA 2026
Matchup file
France vs South Korea
177 shared metrics.
Turn the comparison into a round
Think you can spot the next winner?
France leads by 31 metrics. Use the same instinct in a quick real-data brawl.
Country briefing
Grounded context for both sides
Short real-world notes so the comparison reads like more than a stat strip.
South Korea
Quick context before you compare the numbers.
Identity
Formal name: Republic of Korea.
CIA 2026
Identity
Name origin: derived from the Chinese name for Goryeo, which was the Korean dynasty that united the peninsula in the 10th century A.D.
CIA 2026
Analysis
France leads in 104 of 177 shared metrics, while South Korea leads in 73.
France's Long-Term Unemployment is 88.9x that of South Korea (1.7% of workforce vs 0.02% of workforce).
France's Firms Asked for Bribes is 88.5x that of South Korea (1.6% of firms vs 0.02% of firms).
France's Tourist Arrivals is 45.5x that of South Korea (117.11M vs 2.52M).
France's Land Border Length is 15.7x that of South Korea (4.0K km vs 237 km).
France's Nobel Laureates Born per Million People is 13.8x that of South Korea (0.86 per 1M people vs 0.06 per 1M people).
Key Comparisons
Long-Term UnemploymentFrance leads
France
1.7% of workforce
South Korea
0.02% of workforce
Firms Asked for BribesFrance leads
France
1.6% of firms
South Korea
0.02% of firms
Tourist ArrivalsFrance leads
France
117.11M
South Korea
2.52M
Land Border LengthFrance leads
France
4.0K km
South Korea
237 km
Nobel Laureates Born per Million PeopleFrance leads
France
0.86 per 1M people
South Korea
0.06 per 1M people
Wind Electricity ShareFrance leads
France
8.2%
South Korea
0.58%
All Metrics
Long-Term Unemployment
FranceFrance
1.7% of workforce
South Korea
0.02% of workforce
8890% higher
Firms Asked for Bribes
FranceFrance
1.6% of firms
South Korea
0.02% of firms
8848% higher
Tourist Arrivals
FranceFrance
117.11M
South Korea
2.52M
4549% higher
Land Border Length
FranceFrance
4.0K km
South Korea
237 km
1569% higher
Nobel Laureates Born per Million People
FranceFrance
0.86 per 1M people
South Korea
0.06 per 1M people
1384% higher
Wind Electricity Share
FranceFrance
8.2%
South Korea
0.58%
1307% higher
EV Chargers per 100,000 People
FranceFrance
29.75 per 100k people
South Korea
2.2 per 100k people
1268% higher
Airports
FranceFrance
1.2K
South Korea
92
1195% higher
Spirits Consumption
FranceFrance
2.2 L/person/yr
South Korea
0.17 L/person/yr
1174% higher
Border Neighbors
FranceFrance
10
South Korea
1.0
900% higher
Milk Consumption per Person
FranceFrance
241.31 kg/person/yr
South Korea
29.05 kg/person/yr
731% higher
Firms Making Informal Payments
FranceFrance
11.61% of firms
South Korea
1.4% of firms
705% higher
Railway Length
FranceFrance
27.9K km
South Korea
4.0K km
600% higher
Teen Birth Rate
FranceFrance
3.5 per 1k
South Korea
0.54 per 1k
553% higher
Railway Network
FranceFrance
27.7K km
South Korea
4.3K km
543% higher
Firms Hit by Power Outages
FranceFrance
29.49% of firms
South Korea
4.7% of firms
531% higher
Land Area
FranceFrance
539.0K km²
South Korea
97.6K km²
452% higher
Renewable Energy (%)
FranceFrance
16.2%
South Korea
3.6%
350% higher
McDonald's Outlets per Million People
FranceFrance
23.88 per 1M people
South Korea
5.4 per 1M people
344% higher
Renewable Energy (%)
FranceFrance
16.47%
South Korea
4.7%
247% higher
Agricultural Land (%)
FranceFrance
52.5%
South Korea
16.07%
227% higher
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
FranceFrance
55 sites
South Korea
17 sites
224% higher
Tourism Revenue
FranceFrance
$35,958,000,000
South Korea
$11,776,000,000
205% higher
Unemployment Rate
FranceFrance
7.4%
South Korea
2.6%
183% higher
Youth Unemployment Rate
FranceFrance
18.89% of youth labor force
South Korea
6.7% of youth labor force
182% higher
Forest Area
FranceFrance
175.0K km²
South Korea
62.6K km²
180% higher
Homicide Rate
FranceFrance
1.3 per 100k
South Korea
0.48 per 100k
180% higher
Fertility Rate
FranceFrance
1.9 children/woman
South Korea
0.68 children/woman
179% higher
Birth Rate
FranceFrance
10.88 per 1k
South Korea
4.3 per 1k
154% higher
Highest Elevation
FranceFrance
4.8K m
South Korea
1.9K m
147% higher
Low Reading Skills
FranceFrance
16.8% of students
South Korea
7.3% of students
130% higher
Low Math Skills
FranceFrance
16.8% of students
South Korea
7.3% of students
130% higher
Low Science Skills
FranceFrance
16.8% of students
South Korea
7.3% of students
130% higher
Nuclear Electricity Share
FranceFrance
64.8%
South Korea
30.7%
111% higher
Low Adult Literacy
FranceFrance
3.4% of adults
South Korea
1.7% of adults
105% higher
FDI Inflows (% GDP)
FranceFrance
1.6% of GDP
South Korea
0.81% of GDP
103% higher
Coastline Length
FranceFrance
4.9K km
South Korea
2.4K km
101% higher
Coal Electricity Share
South KoreaFrance
0.31%
South Korea
31.14%
99% lower
Foreign Patents
South KoreaFrance
1.4K
South Korea
51.8K
97% lower
Domestic Patents
South KoreaFrance
13.4K
South Korea
186.2K
93% lower
Electricity Carbon Intensity
South KoreaFrance
41.44 gCO2/kWh
South Korea
417.06 gCO2/kWh
90% lower
Government Debt (% GDP)
FranceFrance
98.5% of GDP
South Korea
52.3% of GDP
88% higher
Overcrowded Housing
FranceFrance
7.4% of households
South Korea
4.0% of households
87% higher
Informal Employment Share
South KoreaFrance
3.8% of employed people
South Korea
29.12% of employed people
87% lower
Irrigated Land
FranceFrance
14.2K km²
South Korea
7.8K km²
83% higher
Women in Parliament (%)
FranceFrance
36.05%
South Korea
20%
80% higher
Gender Pay Gap (%)
South KoreaFrance
6.2% of male wages
South Korea
28.95% of male wages
79% lower
Tobacco Use Prevalence
FranceFrance
33.6% of adults
South Korea
19% of adults
77% higher
Shipping Traffic
South KoreaFrance
6.47M
South Korea
28.50M
77% lower
Population Density
South KoreaFrance
126.86 /km²
South Korea
529.84 /km²
76% lower
Merchant Fleet Size
South KoreaFrance
553
South Korea
2.1K
74% lower
Smoking Rate
FranceFrance
34.6%
South Korea
20%
73% higher
Water Stress (%)
South KoreaFrance
12.21%
South Korea
45.02%
73% lower
GDP (Nominal)
FranceFrance
$3,160,442,622,465.08
South Korea
$1,875,388,209,406.8
69% higher
Time Zones Count
South KoreaFrance
1.0 time zones
South Korea
3.0 time zones
67% lower
Minimum Paid Vacation Days
FranceFrance
25 days/yr
South Korea
15 days/yr
67% higher
ATMs per 100,000 Adults
South KoreaFrance
84.58 per 100k
South Korea
257.12 per 100k
67% lower
CO2 Per Capita
South KoreaFrance
4.0 t/person/yr
South Korea
11.29 t/person/yr
65% lower
Political Corruption Index
South KoreaFrance
0.06
South Korea
0.16
64% lower
Protected Land (%)
FranceFrance
28.6%
South Korea
17.4%
64% higher
Air Pollution (PM2.5)
South KoreaFrance
9.6 µg/m³
South Korea
25.94 µg/m³
63% lower
Low-Wage Workers
South KoreaFrance
6.2% of workers
South Korea
16.08% of workers
62% lower
Obesity Rate
FranceFrance
10.92%
South Korea
6.7%
62% higher
Tax Revenue (% GDP)
FranceFrance
23.08% of GDP
South Korea
14.6% of GDP
58% higher
R&D Spending (% GDP)
South KoreaFrance
2.2% of GDP
South Korea
5.2% of GDP
57% lower
Beer Consumption
FranceFrance
2.4 L/person/yr
South Korea
1.5 L/person/yr
56% higher
Youth Population (%)
FranceFrance
16.51%
South Korea
10.57%
56% higher
Firms with Female Top Manager
South KoreaFrance
19.89% of firms
South Korea
44.39% of firms
55% lower
Child Mortality
FranceFrance
4.3 per 1k births
South Korea
2.8 per 1k births
54% higher
Hospital Beds (per 1,000)
South KoreaFrance
6.0 per 1k
South Korea
12.8 per 1k
53% lower
Total CO2 Emissions
South KoreaFrance
274.45 Mt CO2e
South Korea
588.01 Mt CO2e
53% lower
Official Languages Count
South KoreaFrance
1.0
South Korea
2.0
50% lower
Forest Coverage (%)
South KoreaFrance
32.48%
South Korea
64.11%
49% lower
Health Spending Per Capita
FranceFrance
$4,865.18
South Korea
$3,269.7
49% higher
Dependency Ratio
FranceFrance
63% of working-age pop.
South Korea
42.53% of working-age pop.
48% higher
Infant Mortality
FranceFrance
3.4 per 1k births
South Korea
2.3 per 1k births
48% higher
Armed Forces Personnel
South KoreaFrance
304.0K
South Korea
569.0K
47% lower
Insufficient Physical Activity
South KoreaFrance
29.74% of adults
South Korea
56.48% of adults
47% lower
Researchers
South KoreaFrance
5.2K per 1M
South Korea
9.4K per 1M
45% lower
Poverty Rate
South KoreaFrance
8.3% of population
South Korea
14.88% of population
44% lower
Electricity Use (Per Capita)
South KoreaFrance
6.4K kWh/person
South Korea
11.4K kWh/person
44% lower
Death Rate
FranceFrance
9.9 per 1k
South Korea
6.9 per 1k
43% higher
Credit Card Ownership
South KoreaFrance
39.76% of adults
South Korea
68.44% of adults
42% lower
Energy Use (Per Capita)
South KoreaFrance
3.1K kg oil eq/person
South Korea
5.3K kg oil eq/person
41% lower
GDP Growth Rate
South KoreaFrance
1.2%
South Korea
2.0%
41% lower
Suicide Rate
South KoreaFrance
16.58 per 100k
South Korea
27.53 per 100k
40% lower
Lack of Support
South KoreaFrance
12.69% of adults 15+
South Korea
20.64% of adults 15+
39% lower
Seafood Consumption per Person
South KoreaFrance
33.64 kg/person/yr
South Korea
54.66 kg/person/yr
38% lower
High-Tech Exports (%)
South KoreaFrance
23.14%
South Korea
36.26%
36% lower
University Enrollment Rate
South KoreaFrance
70.45%
South Korea
106.71%
34% lower
Disposable Income (Per Capita)
FranceFrance
$43,435
South Korea
$32,644
33% higher
Job Strain
South KoreaFrance
25.79% of employees
South Korea
38.69% of employees
33% lower
Homicide Rate
FranceFrance
0.80 per 100k
South Korea
0.60 per 100k
33% higher
Population
FranceFrance
68.51M
South Korea
51.49M
33% higher
Political Voice
South KoreaFrance
26.27% who feel heard by government
South Korea
38.65% who feel heard by government
32% lower
Mobile Subscriptions (%)
South KoreaFrance
117 per 100 people
South Korea
173 per 100 people
32% lower
Alcohol Consumption
FranceFrance
10.32 L/adult/yr
South Korea
7.8 L/adult/yr
32% higher
Road Traffic Death Rate
South KoreaFrance
4.7 per 100k
South Korea
6.9 per 100k
32% lower
Median Wealth
South KoreaFrance
$177,350
South Korea
$247,318
28% lower
Deaths (Suicide/Alcohol/Drugs)
South KoreaFrance
20.02 per 100k
South Korea
27.97 per 100k
28% lower
Housing Cost Burden
FranceFrance
11.25% of households
South Korea
8.8% of households
27% higher
Vehicles per 1,000 People
FranceFrance
636.58 per 1k people
South Korea
501.41 per 1k people
27% higher
Social Time
FranceFrance
6.2 hrs/week
South Korea
4.9 hrs/week
26% higher
Doctors (per 1,000)
FranceFrance
3.3 per 1k
South Korea
2.6 per 1k
26% higher
Capital Elevation
FranceFrance
48 m
South Korea
38 m
26% higher
Self-Rated Health
FranceFrance
66.2% reporting good health
South Korea
53.1% reporting good health
25% higher
Exports (% GDP)
South KoreaFrance
33.89% of GDP
South Korea
44.36% of GDP
24% lower
Gender Gap in Work
FranceFrance
26.99 min/day
South Korea
21.92 min/day
23% higher
GNI Per Capita
FranceFrance
$45,160
South Korea
$36,750
23% higher
Income Gap (Rich vs Poor)
South KoreaFrance
4.5 vs bottom 20%
South Korea
5.8 vs bottom 20%
22% lower
Chronic Pain
FranceFrance
34.5% of adults 15+
South Korea
28.5% of adults 15+
21% higher
Earnings Inequality
South KoreaFrance
2.9 vs bottom 10%
South Korea
3.6 vs bottom 10%
20% lower
Military Spending
South KoreaFrance
2.1% of GDP
South Korea
2.6% of GDP
20% lower
Health Spending (% GDP)
FranceFrance
11.88% of GDP
South Korea
9.9% of GDP
20% higher
Average Earnings
FranceFrance
$60,608.01
South Korea
$50,946.72
19% higher
Meat Consumption per Person
FranceFrance
83.05 kg/person/yr
South Korea
70.71 kg/person/yr
17% higher
Water Withdrawal
South KoreaFrance
24.43 B m³
South Korea
29.2 B m³
16% lower
Numeracy Gap
FranceFrance
1.8 vs bottom 10%
South Korea
1.6 vs bottom 10%
15% higher
Air Passengers
South KoreaFrance
64.64M
South Korea
76.27M
15% lower
Imports (% GDP)
South KoreaFrance
34.22% of GDP
South Korea
40.28% of GDP
15% lower
Elderly Population (%)
FranceFrance
22.15%
South Korea
19.27%
15% higher
Poor Health
South KoreaFrance
9.7% reporting poor health
South Korea
11.3% reporting poor health
14% lower
Scientific Publications
South KoreaFrance
65.9K
South Korea
76.9K
14% lower
Happiness Inequality
FranceFrance
2.1 vs bottom 20%
South Korea
1.8 vs bottom 20%
13% higher
Inflation Rate
South KoreaFrance
2.0%
South Korea
2.3%
13% lower
Home Internet Access
South KoreaFrance
88.11% of households
South Korea
99.97% of households
12% lower
Math Skills
South KoreaFrance
473.94 pts
South Korea
527.3 pts
10% lower
Social Support
FranceFrance
87.13% of adults 15+
South Korea
79.05% of adults 15+
10% higher
Life Satisfaction
FranceFrance
7.1 pts
South Korea
6.5 pts
10% higher
Literacy Gap
FranceFrance
1.6 vs bottom 10%
South Korea
1.5 vs bottom 10%
10% higher
Electricity Generation
South KoreaFrance
557.73 TWh
South Korea
622.03 TWh
10% lower
Leisure Time
FranceFrance
16.2 hrs/day
South Korea
14.83 hrs/day
9% higher
Reading Score Gap
FranceFrance
1.8 vs bottom 10%
South Korea
1.7 vs bottom 10%
9% higher
Internet Users (%)
South KoreaFrance
88.65%
South Korea
97.9%
9% lower
Life Evaluation Score
FranceFrance
6.6 pts
South Korea
6.0 pts
9% higher
Reading Skills
South KoreaFrance
473.85 pts
South Korea
515.42 pts
8% lower
Science Skills
South KoreaFrance
487.23 pts
South Korea
527.82 pts
8% lower
Liberal Democracy Index
FranceFrance
0.80
South Korea
0.74
8% higher
Average Weekly Work Hours
South KoreaFrance
35.3 hrs/week
South Korea
38.49 hrs/week
8% lower
Solar Electricity Share
South KoreaFrance
5.6%
South Korea
6.0%
8% lower
Education Spending (% GDP)
South KoreaFrance
5.3% of GDP
South Korea
5.8% of GDP
8% lower
Voter Turnout
South KoreaFrance
73.69% of votes
South Korea
79.38% of votes
7% lower
Hypertension Prevalence
FranceFrance
29.6% of adults
South Korea
27.7% of adults
7% higher
Housing Affordability
South KoreaFrance
79.68% of income
South Korea
84.83% of income
6% lower
Safety at Night
South KoreaFrance
73% feeling safe at night
South Korea
78% feeling safe at night
6% lower
Road Deaths
South KoreaFrance
4.6 per 100k
South Korea
4.9 per 100k
6% lower
Women's Political Empowerment
FranceFrance
0.93
South Korea
0.88
6% higher
Median Age
South KoreaFrance
41.8 years
South Korea
44.5 years
6% lower
Electoral Democracy Index
FranceFrance
0.86
South Korea
0.82
6% higher
Corruption Perceptions Index
FranceFrance
66 pts
South Korea
63 pts
5% higher
Nurses & Midwives
FranceFrance
9.4 per 1k
South Korea
8.9 per 1k
5% higher
Job Insecurity
FranceFrance
3.1% of earnings at risk
South Korea
2.9% of earnings at risk
4% higher
Science Score Gap
FranceFrance
1.8 vs bottom 10%
South Korea
1.7 vs bottom 10%
4% higher
Low Adult Numeracy
FranceFrance
22.63% of adults
South Korea
21.85% of adults
4% higher
Broadband Access (%)
FranceFrance
49 per 100 people
South Korea
47 per 100 people
4% higher
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
FranceFrance
$61,290.42
South Korea
$58,895
4% higher
Food Waste per Person
FranceFrance
139 kg/person/yr
South Korea
133.42 kg/person/yr
4% higher
Low Life Satisfaction
FranceFrance
6.9% of adults 16+
South Korea
6.7% of adults 16+
3% higher
Inequality (Gini)
South KoreaFrance
31.8
South Korea
32.9
3% lower
Urban Population (%)
South KoreaFrance
78.8%
South Korea
81.17%
3% lower
Freedom of Expression Index
FranceFrance
0.96
South Korea
0.93
3% higher
Adult Numeracy
FranceFrance
257.22 pts
South Korea
253.35 pts
2% higher
Adult Literacy
FranceFrance
255.4 pts
South Korea
249.61 pts
2% higher
Human Development Index
South KoreaFrance
0.92
South Korea
0.94
2% lower
Employment Rate (%)
FranceFrance
77.16% of adults 25-64
South Korea
76.07% of adults 25-64
1% higher
Air Pollution Exposure
FranceFrance
99.7% of population
South Korea
99.08% of population
1% higher
Math Score Gap
South KoreaFrance
1.7 vs bottom 10%
South Korea
1.7 vs bottom 10%
1% lower
Sanitation Access (%)
South KoreaFrance
98.64%
South Korea
99.73%
1% lower
Life Expectancy
South KoreaFrance
82.9 years
South Korea
83.4 years
1% lower
Digital Payments Used
FranceFrance
98.45% of adults
South Korea
97.94% of adults
1% higher
Extreme Temperature Exposure
FranceFrance
1.1% of population
South Korea
0% of population
ranked higher
Electricity Access (%)
FranceFrance
100%
South Korea
100%
equal
Safe Drinking Water (%)
FranceFrance
99.71%
South Korea
99.28%
equal
Lowest Elevation
South KoreaFrance
-2 m
South Korea
0 m
ranked lower
Can Raise Emergency Money
FranceFrance
92.06% of adults
South Korea
91.83% of adults
equal
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)
South KoreaFrance
-0.4% of GDP
South Korea
6.6% of GDP
ranked lower
Electric Generating Capacity
FranceFrance
151.46M kW
South Korea
151.14M kW
equal
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