External balance on goods and services in South Korea
South Korea: External balance on goods and services was 96.70 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 96.70 billion current US$ for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
That represents a change of up 26.6% on the previous year and down 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in South Korea peaked at 100.79 billion current US$ in 2015 and was at its lowest, -20.90 billion current US$, in 1996.
That places South Korea 6th out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -441.77 million current US$ | -909.22 million current US$ | -224.47 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.59 billion current US$ | -4.94 billion current US$ | -530.23 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.35 billion current US$ | -5.84 billion current US$ | 12.20 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.80 billion current US$ | -20.90 billion current US$ | 40.30 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.13 billion current US$ | -4.25 billion current US$ | 38.31 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.97 billion current US$ | 11.53 billion current US$ | 100.79 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.67 billion current US$ | 82.31 million current US$ | 96.70 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 3 Singapore 213.75 billion current US$ compare
- 4 Netherlands 149.52 billion current US$ compare
- 5 Germany 119.04 billion current US$ compare
- 7 Switzerland 93.33 billion current US$ compare
- 8 Qatar 87.17 billion current US$ compare
- 9 United Arab Emirates 76.55 billion current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for South Korea
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP 5.2% (2025)
- Inflation of consumer prices 2.1% (2025)
- GDP per capita 37,470 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) 27.4% (2025)
- Gross domestic product (GDP) 1.94 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- GDP per capita in international and market dollars 37,470 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- DEC alternative conversion factor 1,422 LCU per US$ (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) -6.93 trillion current LCU (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) -4.87 billion current US$ (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products 185.85 trillion current LCU (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in South Korea?
- External balance on goods and services in South Korea was 96.70 billion current US$ in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 100.79 billion current US$ in 2015.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -20.90 billion current US$ in 1996.
- How does South Korea rank for external balance on goods and services?
- South Korea ranks 6th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.1%. 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 Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.