Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP in South Korea
South Korea: Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP was 0.1775 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.1775 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
35th
of 166 countries
All-time high
4.48 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1961
All-time low
0.1252 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2007
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp in South Korea stood at 0.1775 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP.
That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp in South Korea peaked at 4.48 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1961 and was at its lowest, 0.1252 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, in 2007.
That places South Korea 35th out of 166 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 unit of GDP in South Korea, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.72 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1961 | 4.48 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +64.6% |
| 1962 | 4 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.7% |
| 1963 | 2.98 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -25.5% |
| 1964 | 3.44 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +15.3% |
| 1965 | 4.05 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +17.9% |
| 1966 | 3.59 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.5% |
| 1967 | 3.17 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.6% |
| 1968 | 2.78 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.2% |
| 1969 | 2.45 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.9% |
| 1970 | 2.24 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.6% |
| 1971 | 2.21 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 2.17 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.6% |
| 1973 | 1.74 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -20.2% |
| 1974 | 1.32 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -24.1% |
| 1975 | 1.26 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.1% |
| 1976 | 0.9258 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -26.8% |
| 1977 | 0.7693 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -16.9% |
| 1978 | 0.6005 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -21.9% |
| 1979 | 0.4927 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -17.9% |
| 1980 | 0.5643 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +14.5% |
| 1981 | 0.5392 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.4% |
| 1982 | 0.5119 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.1% |
| 1983 | 0.473 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.6% |
| 1984 | 0.4452 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.9% |
| 1985 | 0.4421 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 0.4024 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -9.0% |
| 1987 | 0.3399 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -15.5% |
| 1988 | 0.273 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -19.7% |
| 1989 | 0.2455 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.1% |
| 1990 | 0.2359 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.9% |
| 1991 | 0.2118 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.2% |
| 1992 | 0.2091 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 0.1968 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.9% |
| 1994 | 0.1721 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.5% |
| 1995 | 0.146 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -15.2% |
| 1996 | 0.145 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 0.1591 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.7% |
| 1998 | 0.2454 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +54.3% |
| 1999 | 0.1983 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -19.2% |
| 2000 | 0.1718 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.4% |
| 2001 | 0.1917 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +11.6% |
| 2002 | 0.178 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.1% |
| 2003 | 0.1667 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 0.1541 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.6% |
| 2005 | 0.1376 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.7% |
| 2006 | 0.1313 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.6% |
| 2007 | 0.1252 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.7% |
| 2008 | 0.1466 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +17.1% |
| 2009 | 0.1736 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +18.4% |
| 2010 | 0.1512 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.9% |
| 2011 | 0.142 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.1% |
| 2012 | 0.1454 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 0.142 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 0.1366 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 0.1435 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 0.1458 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 0.1397 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 0.1381 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1531 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.9% |
| 2020 | 0.1617 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 0.1534 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.1% |
| 2022 | 0.1723 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +12.3% |
| 2023 | 0.1713 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 0.1721 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 0.1775 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.1775 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1423 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, 1.2× the median. (60 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.1775 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.1455 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, 1.2× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government spending vs. GDP, per unit of GDP 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | +64.6% | 2.72 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 4.48 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP |
| 1998 | +54.3% | 0.1591 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2454 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.37 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 2.45 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 4.48 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.37 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.4927 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 2.24 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4236 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2455 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.5643 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.192 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.145 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2454 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1577 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1252 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1917 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1437 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1366 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1531 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.168 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1534 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1775 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 32 Canada 0.1818 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 33 Netherlands 0.1815 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 34 Cape Verde 0.1799 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 36 Belgium 0.177 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 37 Denmark 0.1768 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 38 Brazil 0.1729 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP 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 unit of gdp in South Korea?
- Government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp in South Korea was 0.1775 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 4.48 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1961.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1252 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2007.
- How does South Korea rank for government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp?
- South Korea ranks 35th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp, per unit of gdp rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. 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 unit of GDP. 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 GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Government spending vs. GDP ÷ GDP (current US$)
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
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
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 GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.