GDP per capita in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: GDP per capita was 27,884 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
27,884 international-$ in 1990 prices
World rank
6th
of 162 countries
All-time high
27,884 international-$ in 1990 prices
in 2020
All-time low
658.2 international-$ in 1990 prices
in 1870
Years of data
24
1870–2020
GDP per capita in Republic of Korea, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 1990 prices.
Analysis
Republic of Korea recorded 27,884 international-$ in 1990 prices for gdp per capita in 2020. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 22.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in Republic of Korea peaked at 27,884 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020 and was at its lowest, 658.2 international-$ in 1990 prices, in 1870.
Republic of Korea ranks 6th of 162 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP per capita in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 1990 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 658.2 international-$ in 1990 prices | — |
| 1880 | 716.1 international-$ in 1990 prices | +8.8% |
| 1890 | 779.1 international-$ in 1990 prices | +8.8% |
| 1900 | 847.63 international-$ in 1990 prices | +8.8% |
| 1913 | 947.27 international-$ in 1990 prices | +11.8% |
| 1925 | 1,096 international-$ in 1990 prices | +15.7% |
| 1929 | 1,146 international-$ in 1990 prices | +4.5% |
| 1933 | 1,307 international-$ in 1990 prices | +14.0% |
| 1938 | 1,619 international-$ in 1990 prices | +23.9% |
| 1950 | 853.89 international-$ in 1990 prices | -47.2% |
| 1955 | 1,169 international-$ in 1990 prices | +36.9% |
| 1960 | 1,226 international-$ in 1990 prices | +4.9% |
| 1965 | 1,436 international-$ in 1990 prices | +17.1% |
| 1970 | 2,167 international-$ in 1990 prices | +50.9% |
| 1975 | 3,162 international-$ in 1990 prices | +45.9% |
| 1980 | 4,114 international-$ in 1990 prices | +30.1% |
| 1985 | 5,670 international-$ in 1990 prices | +37.8% |
| 1990 | 8,704 international-$ in 1990 prices | +53.5% |
| 1995 | 12,396 international-$ in 1990 prices | +42.4% |
| 2000 | 15,532 international-$ in 1990 prices | +25.3% |
| 2005 | 19,093 international-$ in 1990 prices | +22.9% |
| 2010 | 22,712 international-$ in 1990 prices | +19.0% |
| 2015 | 25,574 international-$ in 1990 prices | +12.6% |
| 2020 | 27,884 international-$ in 1990 prices | +9.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 658.2 international-$ in 1990 prices | 658.2 international-$ in 1990 prices | 658.2 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1880s | 716.1 international-$ in 1990 prices | 716.1 international-$ in 1990 prices | 716.1 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1890s | 779.1 international-$ in 1990 prices | 779.1 international-$ in 1990 prices | 779.1 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1900s | 847.63 international-$ in 1990 prices | 847.63 international-$ in 1990 prices | 847.63 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1910s | 947.27 international-$ in 1990 prices | 947.27 international-$ in 1990 prices | 947.27 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1920s | 1,121 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,096 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,146 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1930s | 1,463 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,307 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,619 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1950s | 1,011 international-$ in 1990 prices | 853.89 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,169 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1960s | 1,331 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,226 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,436 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1970s | 2,665 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2,167 international-$ in 1990 prices | 3,162 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1980s | 4,892 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,114 international-$ in 1990 prices | 5,670 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1990s | 10,550 international-$ in 1990 prices | 8,704 international-$ in 1990 prices | 12,396 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2000s | 17,312 international-$ in 1990 prices | 15,532 international-$ in 1990 prices | 19,093 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2010s | 24,143 international-$ in 1990 prices | 22,712 international-$ in 1990 prices | 25,574 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2020s | 27,884 international-$ in 1990 prices | 27,884 international-$ in 1990 prices | 27,884 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
- 3 Ireland 34,075 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 4 United States of America 33,426 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 5 Taiwan, China 32,393 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 7 Norway 27,695 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 8 Australia 27,237 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 9 Iceland 27,132 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
More economy & growth data for Republic of Korea
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 3.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.3902 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 14,137 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth 26.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth 32.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 4.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 20.83 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 754,550 current LCU per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 1.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.0147 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp per capita in Republic of Korea?
- Gdp per capita in Republic of Korea was 27,884 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 27,884 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 658.2 international-$ in 1990 prices in 1870.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for gdp per capita?
- Republic of Korea ranks 6th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
GDP per capita expressed in international-$ at 1990 prices to account for inflation and differences in the cost of living between countries.