STATISTICS: KOREA, SOUTH

Korea, South Official name: Taehan Min'guk (Republic of Korea). Form of government: unitary multiparty republic with one legislative house (National Assembly ). Head of state and government: President, assisted by Prime Minister. Capital: Seoul. Official language: Korean. Official religion: none. Monetary unit: 1 won (W) = 100 chon; valuation (Sept. 25, 1998) 1 U.S.$ = W 1,386; 1 = W 2,360. Demography Population (1998): 46,451,000. Density (1998): persons per sq mi 1,212, persons per sq km 467.9. Urban-rural (1995): urban 81.0%; rural 19.0%. Sex distribution (1996): male 50.34%; female 49.66%. Age breakdown (1996): under 15, 22.6%; 15-29, 28.0%; 30-44, 25.5%; 45-59, 14.6%; 60-74, 7.5%; 75 and over, 1.8%. Population projection: (2000) 47,386,000; (2010) 50,317,000. Doubling time: 78 years. Ethnic composition (1990): Korean 99.9%; other 0.1%. Religious affiliation (1995): religious{1} 51.1%, of which Buddhist 23.3%, Protestant 19.8%, Roman Catholic 6.7%, Confucian 0.4%, Wonbulgyo 0.2%, Ch'ondogyo 0.1%, other 0.6%; nonreligious 48.9%. Major cities (1995): Seoul 10,229,262; Pusan 3,813,814; Taegu 2,449,139; Inch'on 2,307,618; Taejon 1,272,143. Vital statistics Birth rate per 1,000 population (1997): 15.1 (world avg. 25.0). Death rate per 1,000 population (1997): 6.4 (world avg. 9.3). Natural increase rate per 1,000 population (1997): 8.7 (world avg. 15.7). Total fertility rate (avg. births per childbearing woman; 1997): 1.7. Marriage rate per 1,000 population (1994): 6.8. Divorce rate per 1,000 population (1994): 1.1 Life expectancy at birth (1997): male 69.0 years; female 76.0 years. Major causes of death per 100,000 population (1994): diseases of the circulatory system 155.0; malignant neoplasms (cancers) 111.3; accidents, poisoning, and violence 72.0; diseases of the digestive system 39.6. National economy Budget (1996). Revenue: W 81,581,000,000,000 (taxes on goods and services 32.8%, income taxes 29.1%, nontax revenue 11.9%, social security contributions 7.7%, taxes on international trade 6.2%). Expenditures: W 73,582,000,000,000 (education 21.1%, defense 16.8%, social security and welfare 10.5%, agriculture 8.9%, transportation and communications 9.0%, agriculture 8.2%, public order 5.9%, general public services 4.5%). Public debt (external, outstanding; 1995): U.S.$24,095,000,000. Production (metric tons except as noted). Agriculture, forestry, fishing (1996): rice 6,284,000, cabbages 3,200,000, apples 630,000, tangerines 600,000, dry onions 570,000; livestock (number of live animals) 6,950,000 pigs, 3,463,000 cattle, 88,000,000 chickens; roundwood (1995) 6,485,000 cu m; fish catch (1993) 2,648,977. Mining and quarrying (1995): copper ore 233,000; iron ore 184,443: zinc concentrate 15,494. Manufacturing (1995): cement 56,101,000; pig iron 22,344,000; newsprint 956,864; polyvinyl chloride resin 914,201; woolen fabrics 17,773,134 sq m; colour television receivers 18,555,000 units; passenger cars 1,999,000 units. Construction (permits authorized; 1996): residential 71,404,000 sq m; nonresidential 73,226,000 sq m. Energy production (consumption): electricity (kW-hr; 1995) 163,270,000,000 (163,270,000,000); coal (metric tons; 1994) 7,438,000 (42,660,000); crude petroleum (barrels; 1994) none (544,639,000); petroleum products (metric tons; 1994) 103,580,000 (84,788,000); natural gas (cu m; 1994) none (3,864,000,000). Household income and expenditure (1995){2}. Average household size 3.7; income per household W 39,390,000 (U.S.$51,070); sources of income: wages 50.0%, other 50.0%; expenditure: food and beverages 25.5%, education and recreation 13.4%, transportation and communications 9.8%, clothing and footwear 7.0%, health care 4.4%, household durable goods 4.3%, utilities 3.7%, housing 3.4%, other 28.5%. Gross national product (1996): U.S.$483,130,000,000 (U.S.$10,610 per capita). Population economically active (1996): total 21,188,000; activity rate 46.5% (participation rates: ages 15 and over, 62.0%; female 40.1%; unemployed 2.0%). Tourism (1995): receipts from visitors U.S.$5,587,000,000; expenditures by nationals abroad U.S.$5,903,000,000. Foreign trade Imports (1996): U.S.$150,339,100,000 (machinery and transport equipment 36.3%, mineral fuels and lubricants 16.2%, manufactured goods 13.9%, chemicals 8.8%, inedible crude materials 7.3%). Major import sources: U.S. 22.2%; Japan 20.9%; Germany 4.8%; Saudi Arabia 4.4%; Australia 4.2%. Exports (1996): U.S.$129,715,100,000 (machinery and transport equipment 52.1%, manufactured goods 20.8%, chemicals 7.1%, mineral fuels 3.0%). Major export destinations: United States 16.7%; Japan 12.2%; Hong Kong 8.6%; Singapore 5.0%; Germany 3.6%. Transport Transport. Railroads (1995): length 6,554 km; passenger-km 29,292,000,000; metric ton-km cargo 13,838,000,000. Roads (1995): total length 74,235 km (paved 76%). Vehicles (1995): passenger cars 6,006,290; trucks and buses 2,462,611. Air transport (1995): passenger-km 48,504,000,000; metric ton-km cargo 5,729,328,000; airports (1996) with scheduled flights 14. Education and health Educational attainment (1995). Percentage of population age 25 and over having: no formal schooling 8.5%; primary education or less 17.7%; some secondary and secondary 53.1%; postsecondary 20.6%. Literacy (1990): total population age 15 and over literate 98.0%; males 99.3%; females 96.7%. Health (1995): physicians 57,188 (1 per 784 persons); hospital beds 196,232 (1 per 229 persons); infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births (1996) 10.0. Food (1995): daily per capita caloric intake 3,268 (vegetable products 84%, animal products 16%); 139% of FAO recommended minimum requirement. Military Total active duty personnel (1996): 660,000 (army 83.0%, navy 9.1%, air force 7.9%). Military expenditure as percentage of GNP (1994): 3.7% (world 3.0%); per capita expenditure U.S.$293. {1} Refers to persons who have received commandments, accepted baptism, or entered a faith and who participate in a religious function regularly or put the religious idea into practice. {2} Excludes farm households.