Changes in inventories in South Korea
South Korea: Changes in inventories was 21.34 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
21.34 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 1,603.1%
World rank
4th
of 186 countries
All-time high
38.84 trillion current LCU
in 2011
All-time low
-16.68 trillion current LCU
in 2009
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Changes in inventories in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, changes in inventories in South Korea stood at 21.34 trillion current LCU.
That represents a change of up 1,603.1% on the previous year and up 827.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, changes in inventories in South Korea peaked at 38.84 trillion current LCU in 2011 and was at its lowest, -16.68 trillion current LCU, in 2009.
That places South Korea 4th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Changes in inventories in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -1.50 billion current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 3.60 billion current LCU | -340.0% |
| 1962 | 1.90 billion current LCU | -47.2% |
| 1963 | 28.90 billion current LCU | +1421.1% |
| 1964 | 31.10 billion current LCU | +7.6% |
| 1965 | -1.90 billion current LCU | -106.1% |
| 1966 | 17.00 billion current LCU | -994.7% |
| 1967 | 4.10 billion current LCU | -75.9% |
| 1968 | 23.20 billion current LCU | +465.9% |
| 1969 | 80.50 billion current LCU | +247.0% |
| 1970 | 21.70 billion current LCU | -73.0% |
| 1971 | 71.40 billion current LCU | +229.0% |
| 1972 | 26.50 billion current LCU | -62.9% |
| 1973 | 135.30 billion current LCU | +410.6% |
| 1974 | 490.40 billion current LCU | +262.5% |
| 1975 | 209.10 billion current LCU | -57.4% |
| 1976 | 269.90 billion current LCU | +29.1% |
| 1977 | 241.80 billion current LCU | -10.4% |
| 1978 | 401.90 billion current LCU | +66.2% |
| 1979 | 1.13 trillion current LCU | +182.0% |
| 1980 | 774.50 billion current LCU | -31.7% |
| 1981 | 2.11 trillion current LCU | +172.1% |
| 1982 | 1.98 trillion current LCU | -6.2% |
| 1983 | 2.33 trillion current LCU | +17.8% |
| 1984 | 3.08 trillion current LCU | +32.1% |
| 1985 | 3.65 trillion current LCU | +18.6% |
| 1986 | 4.73 trillion current LCU | +29.6% |
| 1987 | 4.61 trillion current LCU | -2.5% |
| 1988 | 8.14 trillion current LCU | +76.5% |
| 1989 | 8.78 trillion current LCU | +7.9% |
| 1990 | 6.93 trillion current LCU | -21.1% |
| 1991 | 8.15 trillion current LCU | +17.6% |
| 1992 | 7.66 trillion current LCU | -6.0% |
| 1993 | 7.39 trillion current LCU | -3.5% |
| 1994 | 11.64 trillion current LCU | +57.6% |
| 1995 | 12.72 trillion current LCU | +9.2% |
| 1996 | 14.13 trillion current LCU | +11.1% |
| 1997 | 12.85 trillion current LCU | -9.1% |
| 1998 | -11.14 trillion current LCU | -186.7% |
| 1999 | 10.38 trillion current LCU | -193.2% |
| 2000 | 10.29 trillion current LCU | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 9.97 trillion current LCU | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 9.10 trillion current LCU | -8.8% |
| 2003 | 11.50 trillion current LCU | +26.4% |
| 2004 | 16.69 trillion current LCU | +45.1% |
| 2005 | 22.45 trillion current LCU | +34.5% |
| 2006 | 26.14 trillion current LCU | +16.4% |
| 2007 | 36.08 trillion current LCU | +38.0% |
| 2008 | 33.83 trillion current LCU | -6.2% |
| 2009 | -16.68 trillion current LCU | -149.3% |
| 2010 | 31.95 trillion current LCU | -291.5% |
| 2011 | 38.84 trillion current LCU | +21.6% |
| 2012 | 20.46 trillion current LCU | -47.3% |
| 2013 | 10.43 trillion current LCU | -49.0% |
| 2014 | 9.78 trillion current LCU | -6.3% |
| 2015 | 2.30 trillion current LCU | -76.5% |
| 2016 | 2.13 trillion current LCU | -7.4% |
| 2017 | 5.16 trillion current LCU | +142.3% |
| 2018 | 15.13 trillion current LCU | +193.1% |
| 2019 | 22.10 trillion current LCU | +46.1% |
| 2020 | 9.96 trillion current LCU | -54.9% |
| 2021 | 22.33 trillion current LCU | +124.2% |
| 2022 | 32.34 trillion current LCU | +44.8% |
| 2023 | 10.70 trillion current LCU | -66.9% |
| 2024 | -1.42 trillion current LCU | -113.3% |
| 2025 | 21.34 trillion current LCU | -1603.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 21.34 trillion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 300.00 million current LCU, 71128.0× the median. (69 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 21.34 trillion current LCU is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 43.12 million current LCU, 494824.7× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Changes in inventories in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +1603.1% | -1.42 trillion current LCU | 21.34 trillion current LCU |
| 1963 | +1421.1% | 1.90 billion current LCU | 28.90 billion current LCU |
| 1966 | +994.7% | -1.90 billion current LCU | 17.00 billion current LCU |
| 1968 | +465.9% | 4.10 billion current LCU | 23.20 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18.69 billion current LCU | -1.90 billion current LCU | 80.50 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 300.14 billion current LCU | 21.70 billion current LCU | 1.13 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.02 trillion current LCU | 774.50 billion current LCU | 8.78 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.07 trillion current LCU | -11.14 trillion current LCU | 14.13 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.94 trillion current LCU | -16.68 trillion current LCU | 36.08 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.83 trillion current LCU | 2.13 trillion current LCU | 38.84 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.88 trillion current LCU | -1.42 trillion current LCU | 32.34 trillion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More economy & growth data for South Korea
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 41.23 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.022 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 797.74 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 15.80 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 22.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0084 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 305.78 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 4.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2332 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 8,447 includes gold, current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is changes in inventories in South Korea?
- Changes in inventories in South Korea was 21.34 trillion current LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest changes in inventories recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 38.84 trillion current LCU in 2011.
- What is the lowest changes in inventories recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -16.68 trillion current LCU in 2009.
- How does South Korea rank for changes in inventories?
- South Korea ranks 4th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is changes in inventories rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 827.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Changes in inventories (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Changes in inventories is the value of entries into inventories less the value of withdrawals and less the value of any recurrent losses of goods held in inventories during the accounting period.This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.