Goods imports in South Korea
South Korea: Goods imports was 580.87 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
580.87 billion BoP, current US$
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
12th
of 200 countries
All-time high
679.42 billion BoP, current US$
in 2022
All-time low
8.40 billion BoP, current US$
in 1976
Years of data
50
1976–2025
Goods imports in South Korea, 1976–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 580.87 billion BoP, current US$ for goods imports in 2025.
The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 37.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, goods imports in South Korea peaked at 679.42 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 8.40 billion BoP, current US$, in 1976.
That places South Korea 12th out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Goods imports in South Korea, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 8.40 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1977 | 10.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.2% |
| 1978 | 14.49 billion BoP, current US$ | +37.7% |
| 1979 | 19.10 billion BoP, current US$ | +31.8% |
| 1980 | 21.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.0% |
| 1981 | 24.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.2% |
| 1982 | 23.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.8% |
| 1983 | 23.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 24.63 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 23.03 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.5% |
| 1986 | 29.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.1% |
| 1987 | 37.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.0% |
| 1988 | 46.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.4% |
| 1989 | 55.45 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.1% |
| 1990 | 63.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.6% |
| 1991 | 74.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.3% |
| 1992 | 74.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 78.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 95.84 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.7% |
| 1995 | 126.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +32.1% |
| 1996 | 141.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.0% |
| 1997 | 139.11 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 87.93 billion BoP, current US$ | -36.8% |
| 1999 | 110.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.8% |
| 2000 | 154.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +39.4% |
| 2001 | 137.01 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.1% |
| 2002 | 146.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 172.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.9% |
| 2004 | 216.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.5% |
| 2005 | 252.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.5% |
| 2006 | 304.60 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.5% |
| 2007 | 350.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.0% |
| 2008 | 421.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.2% |
| 2009 | 315.88 billion BoP, current US$ | -25.0% |
| 2010 | 415.90 billion BoP, current US$ | +31.7% |
| 2011 | 559.20 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.5% |
| 2012 | 555.08 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 538.13 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 527.25 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 422.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.8% |
| 2016 | 395.46 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 466.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.0% |
| 2018 | 516.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.6% |
| 2019 | 476.86 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.6% |
| 2020 | 438.77 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.0% |
| 2021 | 575.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +31.3% |
| 2022 | 679.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.0% |
| 2023 | 597.49 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.1% |
| 2024 | 593.07 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 580.87 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 580.87 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 45.20 billion BoP, current US$, 12.9× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 580.87 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.66 billion BoP, current US$, 67.1× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.40 billion BoP, current US$ | 19.10 billion BoP, current US$ | 4 |
| 1980s | 30.90 billion BoP, current US$ | 21.58 billion BoP, current US$ | 55.45 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 99.30 billion BoP, current US$ | 63.55 billion BoP, current US$ | 141.77 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 247.21 billion BoP, current US$ | 137.01 billion BoP, current US$ | 421.16 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 487.36 billion BoP, current US$ | 395.46 billion BoP, current US$ | 559.20 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 577.60 billion BoP, current US$ | 438.77 billion BoP, current US$ | 679.42 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 9 Hong Kong 633.12 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 10 Netherlands 605.52 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 11 Italy 596.71 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 13 Canada 577.43 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 14 Switzerland 508.08 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 15 Spain 498.72 billion BoP, current US$ compare
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 goods imports in South Korea?
- Goods imports in South Korea was 580.87 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest goods imports recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 679.42 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest goods imports recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.40 billion BoP, current US$ in 1976.
- How does South Korea rank for goods imports?
- South Korea ranks 12th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is goods imports rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Goods imports (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Imports of goods occur when there are changes in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. 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.