Gross capital formation in South Korea
South Korea: Gross capital formation was 527.10 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
527.10 billion constant 2015 US$
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
8th
of 163 countries
All-time high
549.11 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2023
All-time low
1.99 billion constant 2015 US$
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Gross capital formation in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in constant 2015 US$.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 527.10 billion constant 2015 US$ for gross capital formation in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and up 16.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross capital formation in South Korea peaked at 549.11 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.99 billion constant 2015 US$, in 1960.
That places South Korea 8th out of 163 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross capital formation in South Korea, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1961 | 2.54 billion constant 2015 US$ | +27.7% |
| 1962 | 2.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | -4.5% |
| 1963 | 3.79 billion constant 2015 US$ | +56.0% |
| 1964 | 3.32 billion constant 2015 US$ | -12.4% |
| 1965 | 3.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.0% |
| 1966 | 5.71 billion constant 2015 US$ | +63.9% |
| 1967 | 6.81 billion constant 2015 US$ | +19.2% |
| 1968 | 9.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | +38.9% |
| 1969 | 12.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | +28.1% |
| 1970 | 12.32 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 14.25 billion constant 2015 US$ | +15.6% |
| 1972 | 12.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | -12.6% |
| 1973 | 16.40 billion constant 2015 US$ | +31.7% |
| 1974 | 21.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | +30.5% |
| 1975 | 21.30 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 25.89 billion constant 2015 US$ | +21.6% |
| 1977 | 33.85 billion constant 2015 US$ | +30.7% |
| 1978 | 44.59 billion constant 2015 US$ | +31.7% |
| 1979 | 52.08 billion constant 2015 US$ | +16.8% |
| 1980 | 44.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | -14.6% |
| 1981 | 45.97 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 50.72 billion constant 2015 US$ | +10.3% |
| 1983 | 58.60 billion constant 2015 US$ | +15.5% |
| 1984 | 64.62 billion constant 2015 US$ | +10.3% |
| 1985 | 69.27 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.2% |
| 1986 | 79.64 billion constant 2015 US$ | +15.0% |
| 1987 | 91.49 billion constant 2015 US$ | +14.9% |
| 1988 | 109.13 billion constant 2015 US$ | +19.3% |
| 1989 | 127.25 billion constant 2015 US$ | +16.6% |
| 1990 | 147.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | +15.6% |
| 1991 | 175.71 billion constant 2015 US$ | +19.4% |
| 1992 | 177.85 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 187.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 215.60 billion constant 2015 US$ | +14.7% |
| 1995 | 236.25 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1996 | 262.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | +11.3% |
| 1997 | 261.38 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 191.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | -26.6% |
| 1999 | 241.75 billion constant 2015 US$ | +26.0% |
| 2000 | 277.37 billion constant 2015 US$ | +14.7% |
| 2001 | 281.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 304.08 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.0% |
| 2003 | 320.20 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 333.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 343.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 359.20 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 376.00 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 374.46 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 341.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | -8.7% |
| 2010 | 402.44 billion constant 2015 US$ | +17.7% |
| 2011 | 413.55 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 403.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 409.19 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 423.83 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 451.18 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 481.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.8% |
| 2017 | 531.35 billion constant 2015 US$ | +10.3% |
| 2018 | 529.79 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 522.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 526.24 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 548.07 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 548.42 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 549.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 536.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | -2.3% |
| 2025 | 527.10 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 527.10 billion constant 2015 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 50.23 billion constant 2015 US$, 10.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 527.10 billion constant 2015 US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.48 billion constant 2015 US$, 81.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.16 billion constant 2015 US$ | 1.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | 12.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | 12.32 billion constant 2015 US$ | 52.08 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 74.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | 44.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | 127.25 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 209.84 billion constant 2015 US$ | 147.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | 262.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 331.16 billion constant 2015 US$ | 277.37 billion constant 2015 US$ | 376.00 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 456.85 billion constant 2015 US$ | 402.44 billion constant 2015 US$ | 531.35 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 539.22 billion constant 2015 US$ | 526.24 billion constant 2015 US$ | 549.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 5 Germany 771.95 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 6 United Kingdom 664.58 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 7 France 589.63 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 9 Italy 459.25 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 10 Russia 432.17 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 11 Indonesia 428.53 billion constant 2015 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 gross capital formation in South Korea?
- Gross capital formation in South Korea was 527.10 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest gross capital formation recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 549.11 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest gross capital formation recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.99 billion constant 2015 US$ in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for gross capital formation?
- South Korea ranks 8th out of 163 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gross capital formation rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.8%. 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 Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$). 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
Gross capital formation includes acquisitions less disposals of produced assets for purposes of fixed capital formation, inventories or valuables. This indicator is expressed in constant prices, meaning the series has been adjusted to account for price changes over time. The reference year for this adjustment is 2015. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.