Government spending vs. GDP, per capita in South Korea
South Korea: Government spending vs. GDP, per capita was 6,429 constant 2015 US$ per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
6,429 constant 2015 US$ per person
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
32nd
of 166 countries
All-time high
6,429 constant 2015 US$ per person
in 2025
All-time low
422.2 constant 2015 US$ per person
in 1961
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Government spending vs. GDP, per capita in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2015 US$ per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government spending vs. gdp, per capita in South Korea is 6,429 constant 2015 US$ per person, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 48.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp, per capita in South Korea peaked at 6,429 constant 2015 US$ per person in 2025 and was at its lowest, 422.2 constant 2015 US$ per person, in 1961.
South Korea ranks 32nd of 166 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government spending vs. GDP, per capita in South Korea, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 432.44 constant 2015 US$ per person | — |
| 1961 | 422.2 constant 2015 US$ per person | -2.4% |
| 1962 | 426.9 constant 2015 US$ per person | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 438.5 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 427.31 constant 2015 US$ per person | -2.6% |
| 1965 | 443.6 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.8% |
| 1966 | 482.31 constant 2015 US$ per person | +8.7% |
| 1967 | 515.15 constant 2015 US$ per person | +6.8% |
| 1968 | 556.78 constant 2015 US$ per person | +8.1% |
| 1969 | 601.95 constant 2015 US$ per person | +8.1% |
| 1970 | 631.57 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.9% |
| 1971 | 672.24 constant 2015 US$ per person | +6.4% |
| 1972 | 713.21 constant 2015 US$ per person | +6.1% |
| 1973 | 716.07 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 754.68 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.4% |
| 1975 | 792.84 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 784.38 constant 2015 US$ per person | -1.1% |
| 1977 | 825.33 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.2% |
| 1978 | 857.98 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.0% |
| 1979 | 893.75 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.2% |
| 1980 | 984.95 constant 2015 US$ per person | +10.2% |
| 1981 | 1,034 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 1,040 constant 2015 US$ per person | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 1,062 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 1,099 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 1,124 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 1,171 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 1,243 constant 2015 US$ per person | +6.1% |
| 1988 | 1,335 constant 2015 US$ per person | +7.4% |
| 1989 | 1,470 constant 2015 US$ per person | +10.2% |
| 1990 | 1,607 constant 2015 US$ per person | +9.3% |
| 1991 | 1,668 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 1,753 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 1,807 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 1,848 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 1,898 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 2,010 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.9% |
| 1997 | 2,040 constant 2015 US$ per person | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 2,106 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 2,194 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.2% |
| 2000 | 2,184 constant 2015 US$ per person | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 2,297 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.2% |
| 2002 | 2,429 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 2,536 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 2,638 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 2,775 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 2,969 constant 2015 US$ per person | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 3,139 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 3,262 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 3,462 constant 2015 US$ per person | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 3,639 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 3,716 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 3,869 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 4,039 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 4,188 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 4,329 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 4,496 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 4,650 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 4,882 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 5,178 constant 2015 US$ per person | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 5,440 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 5,754 constant 2015 US$ per person | +5.8% |
| 2022 | 5,998 constant 2015 US$ per person | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 6,110 constant 2015 US$ per person | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 6,236 constant 2015 US$ per person | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 6,429 constant 2015 US$ per person | +3.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 6,429 constant 2015 US$ per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 6,505 constant 2015 US$ per person, 99% of the median. (60 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 6,429 constant 2015 US$ per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,172 constant 2015 US$ per person, 5.5× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 474.72 constant 2015 US$ per person | 422.2 constant 2015 US$ per person | 601.95 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 764.2 constant 2015 US$ per person | 631.57 constant 2015 US$ per person | 893.75 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,156 constant 2015 US$ per person | 984.95 constant 2015 US$ per person | 1,470 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,893 constant 2015 US$ per person | 1,607 constant 2015 US$ per person | 2,194 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,769 constant 2015 US$ per person | 2,184 constant 2015 US$ per person | 3,462 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,299 constant 2015 US$ per person | 3,639 constant 2015 US$ per person | 5,178 constant 2015 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,995 constant 2015 US$ per person | 5,440 constant 2015 US$ per person | 6,429 constant 2015 US$ per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 29 Brunei 6,811 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
- 30 United Arab Emirates 6,532 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
- 31 Italy 6,478 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
- 33 Malta 6,009 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
- 34 Spain 5,955 constant 2015 US$ per person compare
- 35 Saudi Arabia 5,802 constant 2015 US$ per person 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 government spending vs. gdp, per capita in South Korea?
- Government spending vs. gdp, per capita in South Korea was 6,429 constant 2015 US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp, per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 6,429 constant 2015 US$ per person in 2025.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp, per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 422.2 constant 2015 US$ per person in 1961.
- How does South Korea rank for government spending vs. gdp, per capita?
- South Korea ranks 32nd out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp, per capita rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Government spending vs. GDP, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Government spending vs. GDP divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Government spending vs. GDP ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Government spending vs. GDP National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Government spending vs. GDP divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.