Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 1.5 years less

In South Korea, the average life expectancy is 83 years (80 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022. In Portugal, that number is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.4 times more likely to be obese

In South Korea, 4.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Portugal, that number is 20.8% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 17.6% less money

South Korea has a GDP per capita of $50,600 as of 2023, while in Portugal, the GDP per capita is $41,700 as of 2023.

be 2.5 times more likely to be unemployed

In South Korea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Portugal, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.

be 13.9% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Korea, 14.4% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Portugal, however, that number is 16.4% as of 2021.

pay a 48.7% higher top tax rate

South Korea has a top tax rate of 38.0% as of 2016. In Portugal, the top tax rate is 56.5% as of 2016.

Life

be 12.9% less 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 Portugal, on the other hand, 2.5 children do as of 2022.

have 17.1% more children

In South Korea, there are approximately 6.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Portugal, there are 8.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2020.

be 50.0% more likely to die during childbirth

In South Korea, approximately 8.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Portugal, 12.0 women do as of 2020.

Basic Needs

be 16.3% less likely to have internet access

In South Korea, approximately 98.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Portugal, about 82.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 26.2% more on healthcare

South Korea spends 8.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Portugal, that number is 10.6% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 25.7% less coastline

South Korea has a total of 2,413 km of coastline. In Portugal, that number is 1,793 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, National Tax Service, South Korea, Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira.

Portugal: At a glance

Portugal is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 91,470 sq km. Following its heyday as a global maritime power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of Brazil, its wealthiest colony, in 1822. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.
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How big is Portugal compared to South Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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