GNI per capita in South Korea
South Korea: GNI per capita was 31,840 US$ in 2020. ▲ Rising
GNI per capita in South Korea, 1990–2020
Source: World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files. Measured in US$.
Analysis
In 2020, gni per capita in South Korea stood at 31,840 US$.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and up 37.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gni per capita in South Korea peaked at 33,572 US$ in 2018 and was at its lowest, 6,603 US$, in 1990.
South Korea ranks 35th of 207 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
GNI per capita in South Korea, year by year
| Year | US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6,603 US$ | — |
| 1991 | 7,629 US$ | +15.5% |
| 1992 | 8,116 US$ | +6.4% |
| 1993 | 8,873 US$ | +9.3% |
| 1994 | 10,359 US$ | +16.7% |
| 1995 | 12,519 US$ | +20.8% |
| 1996 | 13,356 US$ | +6.7% |
| 1997 | 12,332 US$ | -7.7% |
| 1998 | 8,175 US$ | -33.7% |
| 1999 | 10,555 US$ | +29.1% |
| 2000 | 12,175 US$ | +15.4% |
| 2001 | 11,483 US$ | -5.7% |
| 2002 | 13,116 US$ | +14.2% |
| 2003 | 14,622 US$ | +11.5% |
| 2004 | 16,468 US$ | +12.6% |
| 2005 | 19,266 US$ | +17.0% |
| 2006 | 21,680 US$ | +12.5% |
| 2007 | 24,025 US$ | +10.8% |
| 2008 | 21,356 US$ | -11.1% |
| 2009 | 19,114 US$ | -10.5% |
| 2010 | 23,122 US$ | +21.0% |
| 2011 | 25,252 US$ | +9.2% |
| 2012 | 25,733 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 27,356 US$ | +6.3% |
| 2014 | 29,391 US$ | +7.4% |
| 2015 | 28,822 US$ | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 29,396 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 31,746 US$ | +8.0% |
| 2018 | 33,572 US$ | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 32,178 US$ | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 31,840 US$ | -1.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 31,840 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 26,430 US$, 1.2× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 31,840 US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5,038 US$, 6.3× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9,852 US$ | 6,603 US$ | 13,356 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 17,330 US$ | 11,483 US$ | 24,025 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 28,657 US$ | 23,122 US$ | 33,572 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 31,840 US$ | 31,840 US$ | 31,840 US$ | 1 |
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 gni per capita in South Korea?
- Gni per capita in South Korea was 31,840 US$ in 2020, according to World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files.
- What is the highest gni per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 33,572 US$ in 2018.
- What is the lowest gni per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,603 US$ in 1990.
- How does South Korea rank for gni per capita?
- South Korea ranks 35th out of 207 countries with data for 2020.
- Is gni per capita rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files, published as part of GNI per capita (US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
GNI per capita is gross national income divided by midyear population. GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad. Data are in current U.S. dollars.