Gross domestic product (GDP) in South Korea
South Korea: Gross domestic product (GDP) was 2.14 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
2.14 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
13th
of 166 countries
All-time high
2.14 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices
in 2022
All-time low
7.66 billion international-$ in 2011 prices
in 1820
Years of data
112
1820–2022
Gross domestic product (GDP) in South Korea, 1820–2022
Source: Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2011 prices.
Analysis
In 2022, gross domestic product (gdp) in South Korea stood at 2.14 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices. That is the highest value across all 112 years on record.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 29.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross domestic product (gdp) in South Korea peaked at 2.14 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices in 2022 and was at its lowest, 7.66 billion international-$ in 2011 prices, in 1820.
That places South Korea 13th out of 166 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross domestic product (GDP) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2011 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 7.66 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | — |
| 1870 | 8.00 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.4% |
| 1911 | 11.36 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +42.0% |
| 1912 | 11.36 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 12.40 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +9.1% |
| 1914 | 13.50 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +8.9% |
| 1915 | 13.76 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.9% |
| 1916 | 14.58 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.9% |
| 1917 | 15.39 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.5% |
| 1918 | 16.33 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.1% |
| 1919 | 15.85 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -2.9% |
| 1920 | 16.87 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.4% |
| 1921 | 17.75 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.2% |
| 1922 | 18.34 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.3% |
| 1923 | 18.86 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.9% |
| 1924 | 18.17 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -3.6% |
| 1925 | 19.12 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.2% |
| 1926 | 20.16 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.5% |
| 1927 | 21.53 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.8% |
| 1928 | 20.21 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -6.1% |
| 1929 | 20.52 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.5% |
| 1930 | 22.76 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +10.9% |
| 1931 | 22.88 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.5% |
| 1932 | 23.24 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.6% |
| 1933 | 24.10 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.7% |
| 1934 | 24.75 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.7% |
| 1935 | 26.43 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.8% |
| 1936 | 25.63 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -3.0% |
| 1937 | 30.61 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +19.4% |
| 1938 | 29.76 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -2.8% |
| 1939 | 24.97 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -16.1% |
| 1940 | 30.87 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +23.6% |
| 1941 | 33.42 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +8.3% |
| 1942 | 26.49 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -20.7% |
| 1943 | 27.53 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.0% |
| 1946 | 17.74 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -35.6% |
| 1947 | 18.64 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.1% |
| 1948 | 22.01 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +18.1% |
| 1949 | 24.03 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +9.2% |
| 1950 | 20.81 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -13.4% |
| 1951 | 20.68 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -0.6% |
| 1952 | 21.74 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.1% |
| 1953 | 27.73 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +27.5% |
| 1954 | 29.18 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.2% |
| 1955 | 30.42 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.2% |
| 1956 | 30.45 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.1% |
| 1957 | 33.17 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +8.9% |
| 1958 | 35.30 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.4% |
| 1959 | 37.31 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.7% |
| 1960 | 38.36 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.8% |
| 1961 | 41.13 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.2% |
| 1962 | 42.81 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.1% |
| 1963 | 46.83 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +9.4% |
| 1964 | 51.35 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +9.7% |
| 1965 | 55.04 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.2% |
| 1966 | 61.64 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +12.0% |
| 1967 | 67.25 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +9.1% |
| 1968 | 76.12 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +13.2% |
| 1969 | 87.19 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +14.5% |
| 1970 | 95.91 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +10.0% |
| 1971 | 105.94 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +10.5% |
| 1972 | 113.51 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.1% |
| 1973 | 130.23 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +14.7% |
| 1974 | 142.67 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +9.6% |
| 1975 | 153.90 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.9% |
| 1976 | 174.13 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +13.2% |
| 1977 | 195.58 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +12.3% |
| 1978 | 216.80 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +10.9% |
| 1979 | 235.18 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +8.5% |
| 1980 | 231.19 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -1.7% |
| 1981 | 247.78 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.2% |
| 1982 | 268.26 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +8.3% |
| 1983 | 303.78 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +13.2% |
| 1984 | 335.51 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +10.4% |
| 1985 | 361.51 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.8% |
| 1986 | 402.09 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +11.2% |
| 1987 | 452.22 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +12.5% |
| 1988 | 506.05 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +11.9% |
| 1989 | 541.63 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +7.0% |
| 1990 | 594.76 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +9.8% |
| 1991 | 651.87 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +9.6% |
| 1992 | 687.37 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.4% |
| 1993 | 729.37 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 791.07 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +8.5% |
| 1995 | 860.79 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +8.8% |
| 1996 | 919.81 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.9% |
| 1997 | 967.61 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 908.37 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -6.1% |
| 1999 | 1.00 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +10.5% |
| 2000 | 1.09 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +8.2% |
| 2001 | 1.13 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.8% |
| 2002 | 1.20 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 1.23 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 1.28 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 1.32 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 1.38 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 1.45 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 1.48 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 1.48 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.56 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.8% |
| 2011 | 1.61 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 1.65 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 1.70 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 1.75 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 1.80 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 1.86 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 1.92 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 1.97 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 2.02 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 2.00 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 2.08 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 2.14 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2.14 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices is above the median for high income countries, which is 308.39 billion international-$ in 2011 prices, 6.9× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2.14 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 833.80 billion international-$ in 2011 prices, 2.6× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross domestic product (GDP) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | -35.6% | 27.53 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 17.74 billion international-$ in 2011 prices |
| 1911 | +42.0% | 8.00 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 11.36 billion international-$ in 2011 prices |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 7.66 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 7.66 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 7.66 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1 |
| 1870s | 8.00 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 8.00 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 8.00 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1 |
| 1910s | 13.84 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 11.36 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 16.33 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 9 |
| 1920s | 19.15 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 16.87 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 21.53 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 1930s | 25.51 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 22.76 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 30.61 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 1940s | 25.09 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 17.74 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 33.42 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 8 |
| 1950s | 28.68 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 20.68 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 37.31 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 1960s | 56.77 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 38.36 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 87.19 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 1970s | 156.39 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 95.91 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 235.18 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 1980s | 365.00 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 231.19 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 541.63 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 1990s | 811.52 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 594.76 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1.00 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.30 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1.09 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1.48 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.78 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1.56 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | 2.02 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.07 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | 2.00 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | 2.14 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 10 France 2.67 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 11 United Kingdom 2.62 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 12 Turkey 2.39 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 14 Italy 2.14 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 15 Mexico 2.03 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 16 Saudi Arabia 1.82 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
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 gross domestic product (gdp) in South Korea?
- Gross domestic product (gdp) in South Korea was 2.14 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices in 2022, according to Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 2.14 trillion international-$ in 2011 prices in 2022.
- What is the lowest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.66 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 1820.
- How does South Korea rank for gross domestic product (gdp)?
- South Korea ranks 13th out of 166 countries with data for 2022.
- Is gross domestic product (gdp) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 112 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total economic output of a country or region per year. This data is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.