Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Lebanon instead of South Korea, you would:

Health

live 4.2 years less

In South Korea, the average life expectancy is 83 years (80 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022. In Lebanon, that number is 79 years (77 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2022.

be 6.8 times more likely to be obese

In South Korea, 4.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Lebanon, that number is 32.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

pay a 47.4% lower top tax rate

South Korea has a top tax rate of 38.0% as of 2016. In Lebanon, the top tax rate is 20.0% as of 2016.

make 75.7% less money

South Korea has a GDP per capita of $50,600 as of 2023, while in Lebanon, the GDP per capita is $12,300 as of 2023.

be 4.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In South Korea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Lebanon, that number is 11.6% as of 2023.

be 90.3% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Korea, 14.4% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Lebanon, however, that number is 27.4% as of 2011.

Life

have 82.1% more children

In South Korea, there are approximately 6.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Lebanon, there are 12.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 2.6 times more likely to die during childbirth

In South Korea, approximately 8.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Lebanon, 21.0 women do as of 2020.

be 2.5 times more likely to die during infancy

In South Korea, approximately 2.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Lebanon, on the other hand, 7.0 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 11.2% less likely to have internet access

In South Korea, approximately 98.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Lebanon, about 87.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 63.8% less on education

South Korea spends 4.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Lebanon spends 1.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

Geography

see 90.7% less coastline

South Korea has a total of 2,413 km of coastline. In Lebanon, that number is 225 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, National Tax Service, South Korea, Ministry of Finance, Lebanon.

Lebanon: At a glance

Lebanon is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 10,230 sq km. Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French demarcated the region of Lebanon in 1920 and granted this area independence in 1943. Since independence the country has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. The country's 1975-90 civil war that resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities, was followed by years of social and political instability. Sectarianism is a key element of Lebanese political life. Neighboring Syria has long influenced Lebanon's foreign policy and internal policies, and its military occupied Lebanon from 1976 until 2005. The Lebanon-based Hizballah militia and Israel continued attacks and counterattacks against each other after Syria's withdrawal, and fought a brief war in 2006. Lebanon's borders with Syria and Israel remain unresolved.
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How big is Lebanon compared to South Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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