GDP per capita in South Korea
South Korea: GDP per capita was 51.53 million current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
GDP per capita in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gdp per capita in South Korea is 51.53 million current LCU, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 51.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in South Korea peaked at 51.53 million current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10,027 current LCU, in 1960.
That places South Korea 6th out of 214 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.
GDP per capita in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 10,027 current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 11,756 current LCU | +17.2% |
| 1962 | 13,861 current LCU | +17.9% |
| 1963 | 19,111 current LCU | +37.9% |
| 1964 | 26,569 current LCU | +39.0% |
| 1965 | 29,152 current LCU | +9.7% |
| 1966 | 36,476 current LCU | +25.1% |
| 1967 | 43,948 current LCU | +20.5% |
| 1968 | 55,324 current LCU | +25.9% |
| 1969 | 70,742 current LCU | +27.9% |
| 1970 | 87,510 current LCU | +23.7% |
| 1971 | 105,627 current LCU | +20.7% |
| 1972 | 128,878 current LCU | +22.0% |
| 1973 | 164,307 current LCU | +27.5% |
| 1974 | 231,556 current LCU | +40.9% |
| 1975 | 303,537 current LCU | +31.1% |
| 1976 | 410,048 current LCU | +35.1% |
| 1977 | 519,260 current LCU | +26.6% |
| 1978 | 691,581 current LCU | +33.2% |
| 1979 | 877,934 current LCU | +26.9% |
| 1980 | 1.06 million current LCU | +20.8% |
| 1981 | 1.31 million current LCU | +23.2% |
| 1982 | 1.49 million current LCU | +13.7% |
| 1983 | 1.74 million current LCU | +17.2% |
| 1984 | 1.99 million current LCU | +14.2% |
| 1985 | 2.21 million current LCU | +11.2% |
| 1986 | 2.57 million current LCU | +16.0% |
| 1987 | 3.01 million current LCU | +17.3% |
| 1988 | 3.58 million current LCU | +18.9% |
| 1989 | 4.02 million current LCU | +12.5% |
| 1990 | 4.82 million current LCU | +19.9% |
| 1991 | 5.77 million current LCU | +19.7% |
| 1992 | 6.55 million current LCU | +13.4% |
| 1993 | 7.37 million current LCU | +12.5% |
| 1994 | 8.62 million current LCU | +17.0% |
| 1995 | 10.03 million current LCU | +16.3% |
| 1996 | 11.15 million current LCU | +11.2% |
| 1997 | 12.20 million current LCU | +9.4% |
| 1998 | 12.03 million current LCU | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 13.15 million current LCU | +9.3% |
| 2000 | 14.37 million current LCU | +9.3% |
| 2001 | 15.47 million current LCU | +7.6% |
| 2002 | 17.07 million current LCU | +10.3% |
| 2003 | 18.13 million current LCU | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 19.61 million current LCU | +8.2% |
| 2005 | 20.65 million current LCU | +5.3% |
| 2006 | 21.59 million current LCU | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 23.30 million current LCU | +8.0% |
| 2008 | 24.52 million current LCU | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 25.46 million current LCU | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 27.84 million current LCU | +9.3% |
| 2011 | 29.01 million current LCU | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 29.97 million current LCU | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 31.15 million current LCU | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 32.29 million current LCU | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 34.12 million current LCU | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 35.79 million current LCU | +4.9% |
| 2017 | 37.66 million current LCU | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 38.91 million current LCU | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 39.42 million current LCU | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 39.71 million current LCU | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 42.92 million current LCU | +8.1% |
| 2022 | 44.97 million current LCU | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 46.58 million current LCU | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 49.41 million current LCU | +6.1% |
| 2025 | 51.53 million current LCU | +4.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 51.53 million current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 70,749 current LCU, 728.4× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 51.53 million current LCU is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 92,070 current LCU, 559.7× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 31,697 current LCU | 10,027 current LCU | 70,742 current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 352,024 current LCU | 87,510 current LCU | 877,934 current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.30 million current LCU | 1.06 million current LCU | 4.02 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.17 million current LCU | 4.82 million current LCU | 13.15 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.02 million current LCU | 14.37 million current LCU | 25.46 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.62 million current LCU | 27.84 million current LCU | 39.42 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.85 million current LCU | 39.71 million current LCU | 51.53 million 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 gdp per capita in South Korea?
- Gdp per capita in South Korea was 51.53 million current LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 51.53 million current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,027 current LCU in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for gdp per capita?
- South Korea ranks 6th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.0%. 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 GDP per capita (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross domestic product is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period. It can be measured in three different ways: using either the expenditure approach, the income approach, or the production approach. The core indicator has been divided by the general population to achieve a per capita estimate.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.