Gross capital formation in South Korea
South Korea: Gross capital formation was 649.99 trillion constant LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
649.99 trillion constant LCU
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
4th
of 170 countries
All-time high
677.13 trillion constant LCU
in 2023
All-time low
2.46 trillion constant LCU
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 LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, gross capital formation in South Korea stood at 649.99 trillion constant LCU.
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 677.13 trillion constant LCU in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.46 trillion constant LCU, in 1960.
South Korea ranks 4th of 170 countries on this measure, 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 LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.46 trillion constant LCU | — |
| 1961 | 3.14 trillion constant LCU | +27.7% |
| 1962 | 3.00 trillion constant LCU | -4.5% |
| 1963 | 4.67 trillion constant LCU | +56.0% |
| 1964 | 4.09 trillion constant LCU | -12.4% |
| 1965 | 4.30 trillion constant LCU | +5.0% |
| 1966 | 7.04 trillion constant LCU | +63.9% |
| 1967 | 8.39 trillion constant LCU | +19.2% |
| 1968 | 11.66 trillion constant LCU | +38.9% |
| 1969 | 14.93 trillion constant LCU | +28.1% |
| 1970 | 15.19 trillion constant LCU | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 17.57 trillion constant LCU | +15.6% |
| 1972 | 15.35 trillion constant LCU | -12.6% |
| 1973 | 20.23 trillion constant LCU | +31.7% |
| 1974 | 26.40 trillion constant LCU | +30.5% |
| 1975 | 26.27 trillion constant LCU | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 31.93 trillion constant LCU | +21.6% |
| 1977 | 41.74 trillion constant LCU | +30.7% |
| 1978 | 54.98 trillion constant LCU | +31.7% |
| 1979 | 64.22 trillion constant LCU | +16.8% |
| 1980 | 54.82 trillion constant LCU | -14.6% |
| 1981 | 56.69 trillion constant LCU | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 62.54 trillion constant LCU | +10.3% |
| 1983 | 72.26 trillion constant LCU | +15.5% |
| 1984 | 79.69 trillion constant LCU | +10.3% |
| 1985 | 85.42 trillion constant LCU | +7.2% |
| 1986 | 98.21 trillion constant LCU | +15.0% |
| 1987 | 112.83 trillion constant LCU | +14.9% |
| 1988 | 134.57 trillion constant LCU | +19.3% |
| 1989 | 156.91 trillion constant LCU | +16.6% |
| 1990 | 181.41 trillion constant LCU | +15.6% |
| 1991 | 216.68 trillion constant LCU | +19.4% |
| 1992 | 219.32 trillion constant LCU | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 231.77 trillion constant LCU | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 265.87 trillion constant LCU | +14.7% |
| 1995 | 291.33 trillion constant LCU | +9.6% |
| 1996 | 324.20 trillion constant LCU | +11.3% |
| 1997 | 322.32 trillion constant LCU | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 236.61 trillion constant LCU | -26.6% |
| 1999 | 298.11 trillion constant LCU | +26.0% |
| 2000 | 342.03 trillion constant LCU | +14.7% |
| 2001 | 347.04 trillion constant LCU | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 374.98 trillion constant LCU | +8.0% |
| 2003 | 394.86 trillion constant LCU | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 410.70 trillion constant LCU | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 423.99 trillion constant LCU | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 442.94 trillion constant LCU | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 463.66 trillion constant LCU | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 461.76 trillion constant LCU | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 421.73 trillion constant LCU | -8.7% |
| 2010 | 496.26 trillion constant LCU | +17.7% |
| 2011 | 509.96 trillion constant LCU | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 497.09 trillion constant LCU | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 504.59 trillion constant LCU | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 522.64 trillion constant LCU | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 556.37 trillion constant LCU | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 594.31 trillion constant LCU | +6.8% |
| 2017 | 655.23 trillion constant LCU | +10.3% |
| 2018 | 653.31 trillion constant LCU | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 643.84 trillion constant LCU | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 648.93 trillion constant LCU | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 675.85 trillion constant LCU | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 676.28 trillion constant LCU | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 677.13 trillion constant LCU | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 661.47 trillion constant LCU | -2.3% |
| 2025 | 649.99 trillion constant LCU | -1.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 649.99 trillion constant LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 120.45 billion constant LCU, 5396.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 649.99 trillion constant LCU is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 80.47 billion constant LCU, 8077.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.37 trillion constant LCU | 2.46 trillion constant LCU | 14.93 trillion constant LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 31.39 trillion constant LCU | 15.19 trillion constant LCU | 64.22 trillion constant LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 91.39 trillion constant LCU | 54.82 trillion constant LCU | 156.91 trillion constant LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 258.76 trillion constant LCU | 181.41 trillion constant LCU | 324.20 trillion constant LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 408.37 trillion constant LCU | 342.03 trillion constant LCU | 463.66 trillion constant LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 563.36 trillion constant LCU | 496.26 trillion constant LCU | 655.23 trillion constant LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 664.94 trillion constant LCU | 648.93 trillion constant LCU | 677.13 trillion constant LCU | 6 |
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 gross capital formation in South Korea?
- Gross capital formation in South Korea was 649.99 trillion constant LCU 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 677.13 trillion constant LCU in 2023.
- What is the lowest gross capital formation recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.46 trillion constant LCU in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for gross capital formation?
- South Korea ranks 4th out of 170 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 LCU). 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 varies by country. This series is expressed in local currency units.