General government final consumption expenditure in South Korea
South Korea: General government final consumption expenditure was 470.02 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
General government final consumption expenditure 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 general government final consumption expenditure in South Korea is 470.02 trillion current LCU, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 5.1% on the previous year and up 88.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, general government final consumption expenditure in South Korea peaked at 470.02 trillion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 35.60 billion current LCU, in 1960.
South Korea ranks 4th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
General government final consumption expenditure in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 35.60 billion current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 40.10 billion current LCU | +12.6% |
| 1962 | 49.60 billion current LCU | +23.7% |
| 1963 | 54.60 billion current LCU | +10.1% |
| 1964 | 60.70 billion current LCU | +11.2% |
| 1965 | 74.40 billion current LCU | +22.6% |
| 1966 | 103.20 billion current LCU | +38.7% |
| 1967 | 129.70 billion current LCU | +25.7% |
| 1968 | 171.90 billion current LCU | +32.5% |
| 1969 | 219.50 billion current LCU | +27.7% |
| 1970 | 276.70 billion current LCU | +26.1% |
| 1971 | 350.00 billion current LCU | +26.5% |
| 1972 | 446.80 billion current LCU | +27.7% |
| 1973 | 491.00 billion current LCU | +9.9% |
| 1974 | 759.30 billion current LCU | +54.6% |
| 1975 | 1.17 trillion current LCU | +54.0% |
| 1976 | 1.56 trillion current LCU | +33.8% |
| 1977 | 1.99 trillion current LCU | +27.4% |
| 1978 | 2.49 trillion current LCU | +25.0% |
| 1979 | 3.17 trillion current LCU | +27.3% |
| 1980 | 4.70 trillion current LCU | +48.1% |
| 1981 | 5.94 trillion current LCU | +26.3% |
| 1982 | 6.70 trillion current LCU | +12.8% |
| 1983 | 7.52 trillion current LCU | +12.2% |
| 1984 | 8.23 trillion current LCU | +9.4% |
| 1985 | 9.27 trillion current LCU | +12.7% |
| 1986 | 10.49 trillion current LCU | +13.2% |
| 1987 | 12.09 trillion current LCU | +15.2% |
| 1988 | 14.42 trillion current LCU | +19.3% |
| 1989 | 17.75 trillion current LCU | +23.1% |
| 1990 | 21.93 trillion current LCU | +23.6% |
| 1991 | 25.93 trillion current LCU | +18.3% |
| 1992 | 30.60 trillion current LCU | +18.0% |
| 1993 | 33.85 trillion current LCU | +10.6% |
| 1994 | 38.30 trillion current LCU | +13.1% |
| 1995 | 44.06 trillion current LCU | +15.0% |
| 1996 | 51.34 trillion current LCU | +16.5% |
| 1997 | 55.83 trillion current LCU | +8.8% |
| 1998 | 61.88 trillion current LCU | +10.8% |
| 1999 | 66.06 trillion current LCU | +6.8% |
| 2000 | 71.40 trillion current LCU | +8.1% |
| 2001 | 83.17 trillion current LCU | +16.5% |
| 2002 | 92.04 trillion current LCU | +10.7% |
| 2003 | 101.50 trillion current LCU | +10.3% |
| 2004 | 112.07 trillion current LCU | +10.4% |
| 2005 | 122.75 trillion current LCU | +9.5% |
| 2006 | 133.91 trillion current LCU | +9.1% |
| 2007 | 145.51 trillion current LCU | +8.7% |
| 2008 | 160.81 trillion current LCU | +10.5% |
| 2009 | 175.18 trillion current LCU | +8.9% |
| 2010 | 186.28 trillion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 198.58 trillion current LCU | +6.6% |
| 2012 | 210.69 trillion current LCU | +6.1% |
| 2013 | 224.01 trillion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 2014 | 237.37 trillion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2015 | 249.74 trillion current LCU | +5.2% |
| 2016 | 264.72 trillion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2017 | 281.90 trillion current LCU | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 303.86 trillion current LCU | +7.8% |
| 2019 | 327.78 trillion current LCU | +7.9% |
| 2020 | 349.59 trillion current LCU | +6.7% |
| 2021 | 378.27 trillion current LCU | +8.2% |
| 2022 | 409.87 trillion current LCU | +8.4% |
| 2023 | 428.15 trillion current LCU | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 447.06 trillion current LCU | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 470.02 trillion current LCU | +5.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 470.02 trillion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 90.99 billion current LCU, 5165.7× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 470.02 trillion current LCU is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 223.30 billion current LCU, 2104.9× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where General government final consumption expenditure 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +54.6% | 491.00 billion current LCU | 759.30 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 93.93 billion current LCU | 35.60 billion current LCU | 219.50 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.27 trillion current LCU | 276.70 billion current LCU | 3.17 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.71 trillion current LCU | 4.70 trillion current LCU | 17.75 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 42.98 trillion current LCU | 21.93 trillion current LCU | 66.06 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 119.83 trillion current LCU | 71.40 trillion current LCU | 175.18 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 248.49 trillion current LCU | 186.28 trillion current LCU | 327.78 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 413.82 trillion current LCU | 349.59 trillion current LCU | 470.02 trillion 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 general government final consumption expenditure in South Korea?
- General government final consumption expenditure in South Korea was 470.02 trillion current LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest general government final consumption expenditure recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 470.02 trillion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest general government final consumption expenditure recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.60 billion current LCU in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for general government final consumption expenditure?
- South Korea ranks 4th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is general government final consumption expenditure rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 88.2%. 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 General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Final consumption expenditure is expenditure on goods and services by resident institutional units for the direct satisfaction of human needs or wants, whether individual or collective. General government FCE includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees), and most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. 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.