Mexico vs South Korea
A data-driven side-by-side: investment score, economy, business climate, political stability, and tax — to help you decide where to invest, incorporate, or relocate.
Overall: South Korea ranks higher
South Korea scores 80/100 on our composite investment index, ahead of Mexico at 57/100. This blends economic strength, political stability, business climate, financial maturity, and growth outlook. Read the breakdown below to see where each country actually leads.
Category breakdown
58
Economic strength
South Korea leads
82
42
Political stability
South Korea leads
78
58
Business climate
South Korea leads
82
60
Financial maturity
South Korea leads
80
62
Growth outlook
South Korea leads
70
Macro snapshot
1,320
GDP (USD bn)
-390.0 bn
1,710
3.2%
GDP growth (%)
+1.0 pp
2.2%
$10,000
GDP per capita (USD)
-23000.0
$33,000
4.6%
Inflation (%)
+2.1 pp
2.5%
2.5%
FDI (% of GDP)
+1.3 pp
1.2%
54%
Public debt (% of GDP)
0.0 pp
54%
132
Population (M)
+80.0M
52
Mexico — strong sectors
- Manufacturing (Nearshoring)22.0% of GDP85
- Automotive5.0% of GDP80
- Tourism8.0% of GDP75
- Energy6.0% of GDP65
South Korea — strong sectors
- Semiconductors8.0% of GDP95
- Technology12.0% of GDP90
- Automotive5.0% of GDP82
- Manufacturing25.0% of GDP82
Frequently asked
Which is better for investment: Mexico or South Korea?
Our composite investment index gives Mexico a score of 57/100 and South Korea a score of 80/100. South Korea ranks higher overall, but the right answer depends on your sector and risk tolerance — see the category breakdown above.
Is Mexico a safer market than South Korea?
Risk classification puts Mexico as moderate (Growing economy with manageable risks - suitable for diversified portfolios) and South Korea as safe (Strong fundamentals, stable governance, favorable investment climate).
Which has higher GDP growth: Mexico or South Korea?
Mexico is currently growing at 3.2% per year, vs 2.2% for South Korea. Mexico has the faster headline growth rate today.