South Korea vs US size comparison
How Big Is South Korea Compared to the US?
The US is about 99 times the size of South Korea. South Korea is about 15 times as densely populated. Drag South Korea over the US below to see the difference at true size.
Hawaii and the territories are not drawn.
Printable South Korea vs US size comparison
Free to print or share: South Korea laid over the US at true size, with both areas, on one landscape A4 or US Letter page.
Key facts
- Area of South Korea
- 99,720 km² (38,502 sq mi)
- Area of the US
- 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi)
- Size difference
- The US is about 99 times bigger
- Closest US state in size
- Kentucky (104,651 km²)
- Population (2025)
- South Korea 51,684,564; the US 341,784,857
- South Korea's rank by area
- 107th-largest of 197
How big South Korea is compared with the US
The US is about 99 times the size of South Korea: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 99,720 km² (38,502 sq mi). Even the 48 contiguous states alone, without Alaska, could hold South Korea about 81 times. South Korea is bigger than 13 of the 50 US states and smaller than the other 37; the state closest in size is Kentucky (104,651 km²). It is the 107th-largest of the world's 197 countries, and the 29th-largest of 47 in Asia; the US is the third-largest.
South Korea has about 52 million people (2025), the 29th-most populous country in the world, against 342 million in the US. With 518 people per km² it is about 15 times as crowded as the US (35 per km²), the 16th-most densely populated country.
South Korea and the US on a world map
South Korea reaches from 33°N to 39°N; the US from 19°N to 71°N, with Hawaii in the south and Alaska in the far north. Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which enlarges places more the further they are from the Equator. It draws South Korea about 1.54 times its real size and the US about 2.3 times (Alaska far more than Florida). So on a normal world map the US looks about 147 times the size of South Korea, when it is really about 99 times. The equal-area map above shows the real difference.
Where South Korea is
South Korea's capital, Seoul, is 11,170 km (6,940 miles) from Washington, D.C. as the crow flies. South Korea borders one country: North Korea.
South Korea and US in numbers
| South Korea | US | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 99,720 km² 38,502 sq mi | 9,833,517 km² 3,796,741 sq mi | The US is 99× bigger |
| Population (2025) | 51,684,564 | 341,784,857 | The US has 6.6× more |
| Rank by area | 107th-largest | Third-largest | of 197 countries |
| People per km² | 518 | 35 | South Korea is 15× denser |
| Capital | Seoul | Washington, D.C. | 11,170 km apart |
| Neighbouring countries | 1 | 2 |
South Korea compared with US states
Frequently asked questions
Is South Korea bigger than the US?
No. The US is about 99 times the size of South Korea: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 99,720 km² (38,502 sq mi).
How many times would South Korea fit into the US?
About 99 times (98.61). Into the 48 contiguous states alone, about 81 times.
Which US state is South Korea closest in size to?
Kentucky (104,651 km²). South Korea is about the same size as Kentucky.
Is South Korea bigger than Texas?
No. Texas is about 7 times the size of South Korea.
Which has more people, South Korea or the US?
The US: about 342 million people in 2025, about 6.6 times the 52 million in South Korea.
Why does South Korea look so small on a world map?
Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches places more the further they are from the Equator. The US is further from the Equator than South Korea, so it is stretched more. On a Mercator map the US looks about 147 times the size of South Korea, not 99.
Where does South Korea rank by size?
South Korea is the 107th-largest of the world's 197 countries by total area and the 29th-largest in Asia. The US is the third-largest.
How far is South Korea from the US?
South Korea's capital, Seoul, is 11,170 km (6,940 miles) from Washington, D.C. in a straight line.
Sources
- Areas: CIA World Factbook (total area, land and water). US states: US Census Bureau.
- Populations: World Bank, World Development Indicators (2025).
- Outlines are drawn on an equal-area projection, so their sizes on the map match their real areas.