GDP per capita in South Korea
South Korea: GDP per capita was 36,227 current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
36,227 current US$
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
47th
of 214 countries
All-time high
37,518 current US$
in 2021
All-time low
94.2 current US$
in 1961
Years of data
66
1960–2025
GDP per capita in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 36,227 current US$ for gdp per capita in 2025.
That represents a change of up 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in South Korea peaked at 37,518 current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 94.2 current US$, in 1961.
That places South Korea 47th out of 214 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP per capita in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 158.84 current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 94.2 current US$ | -40.7% |
| 1962 | 106.62 current US$ | +13.2% |
| 1963 | 147.01 current US$ | +37.9% |
| 1964 | 124.24 current US$ | -15.5% |
| 1965 | 109.43 current US$ | -11.9% |
| 1966 | 134.43 current US$ | +22.8% |
| 1967 | 162.46 current US$ | +20.9% |
| 1968 | 199.98 current US$ | +23.1% |
| 1969 | 245.49 current US$ | +22.8% |
| 1970 | 281.79 current US$ | +14.8% |
| 1971 | 304.27 current US$ | +8.0% |
| 1972 | 328.02 current US$ | +7.8% |
| 1973 | 412.5 current US$ | +25.8% |
| 1974 | 572.49 current US$ | +38.8% |
| 1975 | 627.14 current US$ | +9.5% |
| 1976 | 847.21 current US$ | +35.1% |
| 1977 | 1,073 current US$ | +26.6% |
| 1978 | 1,429 current US$ | +33.2% |
| 1979 | 1,814 current US$ | +26.9% |
| 1980 | 1,746 current US$ | -3.8% |
| 1981 | 1,918 current US$ | +9.9% |
| 1982 | 2,032 current US$ | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 2,246 current US$ | +10.5% |
| 1984 | 2,469 current US$ | +9.9% |
| 1985 | 2,543 current US$ | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 2,911 current US$ | +14.5% |
| 1987 | 3,658 current US$ | +25.7% |
| 1988 | 4,889 current US$ | +33.7% |
| 1989 | 5,989 current US$ | +22.5% |
| 1990 | 6,813 current US$ | +13.8% |
| 1991 | 7,873 current US$ | +15.6% |
| 1992 | 8,387 current US$ | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 9,180 current US$ | +9.5% |
| 1994 | 10,734 current US$ | +16.9% |
| 1995 | 13,002 current US$ | +21.1% |
| 1996 | 13,865 current US$ | +6.6% |
| 1997 | 12,822 current US$ | -7.5% |
| 1998 | 8,583 current US$ | -33.1% |
| 1999 | 11,062 current US$ | +28.9% |
| 2000 | 12,710 current US$ | +14.9% |
| 2001 | 11,982 current US$ | -5.7% |
| 2002 | 13,643 current US$ | +13.9% |
| 2003 | 15,212 current US$ | +11.5% |
| 2004 | 17,122 current US$ | +12.6% |
| 2005 | 20,167 current US$ | +17.8% |
| 2006 | 22,610 current US$ | +12.1% |
| 2007 | 25,078 current US$ | +10.9% |
| 2008 | 22,252 current US$ | -11.3% |
| 2009 | 19,937 current US$ | -10.4% |
| 2010 | 24,071 current US$ | +20.7% |
| 2011 | 26,175 current US$ | +8.7% |
| 2012 | 26,600 current US$ | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 28,449 current US$ | +7.0% |
| 2014 | 30,667 current US$ | +7.8% |
| 2015 | 30,172 current US$ | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 30,832 current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 33,297 current US$ | +8.0% |
| 2018 | 35,364 current US$ | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 33,827 current US$ | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 33,646 current US$ | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 37,518 current US$ | +11.5% |
| 2022 | 34,822 current US$ | -7.2% |
| 2023 | 35,674 current US$ | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 36,239 current US$ | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 36,227 current US$ | -0.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 36,227 current US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 39,041 current US$, 93% of the median. (82 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 36,227 current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8,273 current US$, 4.4× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 148.27 current US$ | 94.2 current US$ | 245.49 current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 768.91 current US$ | 281.79 current US$ | 1,814 current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 3,040 current US$ | 1,746 current US$ | 5,989 current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 10,232 current US$ | 6,813 current US$ | 13,865 current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 18,071 current US$ | 11,982 current US$ | 25,078 current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 29,946 current US$ | 24,071 current US$ | 35,364 current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 35,688 current US$ | 33,646 current US$ | 37,518 current US$ | 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 36,227 current US$ 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 37,518 current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 94.2 current US$ in 1961.
- How does South Korea rank for gdp per capita?
- South Korea ranks 47th 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 20.1%. 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 GDP per capita (current US$). 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 indicator is expressed in United States dollars.