Srovnání vybraných socio-ekonomických ukazatelů Severní a Jižní Korey

The bachelor’s thesis presents a comparative analysis of the development of selected socio-economic indicators between South and North Korea. Demographic indicators analyzed include age structure, total population, total fertility rate, mortality (including leading causes of death), life expectancy, infant mortality, and the suicide rate. Among the economic indicators, gross domestic product per capita and the unemployment rate were examined. The thesis was further extended to include the share of military expenditure in GDP and the ratio of military personnel to the total population. The most populous age group in the Republic of Korea (8.65%) and the DPRK (4.16%) is people aged 50-54. Between 1950 and 2023, the total population of South Korea increased by 161.9% but has been declining in recent years. In the DPRK, the population grew by 137.6% during the same period. In 2023, the total fertility rate in both countries remained below the replacement level. In South Korea, it dropped to a record low of 0.72, making it the lowest fertility rate in the world. Crude and standardized mortality rates have shown a decreasing trend in both countries. The leading causes of death in South Korea include cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. Cardiovascular, respiratory, and cancer diseases are prevalent in the DPRK. Infant mortality has declined in both countries during the observed period, primarily due to improvements in health infrastructure since the end of the Korean War. Life expectancy in South Korea increased from 22.2 years (1950) to 84.3 years (2023), placing the country among the global leaders in life expectancy. In the DPRK, life expectancy increased from 14.2 years to 73.6 years. In 2021, the suicide rate was 18.1 per 100,000 people in South Korea and 9.1 in the DPRK. Economically, South Korea has undergone a remarkable transformation, with its nominal GDP per capita rising by more than 12,600% between 1970 and 2023, compared to only 67.7% in the DPRK. In 2023, the unemployment rate remained relatively low in both countries (South Korea: 2.64%, DPRK: 3%). The share of military expenditure in GDP was 2.29% in South Korea and 2.15% in the DPRK in 2018. However, the ratio of military personnel to the total population was almost four times higher in the DPRK (4.69% in 2016) compared to South Korea (1.26%).