Gross capital formation in South Korea
South Korea: Gross capital formation was 775.86 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
775.86 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
4th
of 187 countries
All-time high
775.86 trillion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
26.60 billion current 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 current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross capital formation in South Korea is 775.86 trillion current LCU, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 52.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross capital formation in South Korea peaked at 775.86 trillion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 26.60 billion current LCU, in 1960.
That places South Korea 4th out of 187 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 | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 26.60 billion current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 39.00 billion current LCU | +46.6% |
| 1962 | 52.50 billion current LCU | +34.6% |
| 1963 | 99.10 billion current LCU | +88.8% |
| 1964 | 116.70 billion current LCU | +17.8% |
| 1965 | 124.90 billion current LCU | +7.0% |
| 1966 | 234.30 billion current LCU | +87.6% |
| 1967 | 294.40 billion current LCU | +25.7% |
| 1968 | 464.20 billion current LCU | +57.7% |
| 1969 | 669.30 billion current LCU | +44.2% |
| 1970 | 744.70 billion current LCU | +11.3% |
| 1971 | 875.00 billion current LCU | +17.5% |
| 1972 | 943.30 billion current LCU | +7.8% |
| 1973 | 1.48 trillion current LCU | +57.2% |
| 1974 | 2.65 trillion current LCU | +78.5% |
| 1975 | 3.09 trillion current LCU | +16.7% |
| 1976 | 4.11 trillion current LCU | +32.9% |
| 1977 | 5.73 trillion current LCU | +39.5% |
| 1978 | 8.90 trillion current LCU | +55.4% |
| 1979 | 12.41 trillion current LCU | +39.4% |
| 1980 | 13.95 trillion current LCU | +12.4% |
| 1981 | 16.67 trillion current LCU | +19.5% |
| 1982 | 19.17 trillion current LCU | +15.0% |
| 1983 | 23.16 trillion current LCU | +20.8% |
| 1984 | 26.69 trillion current LCU | +15.3% |
| 1985 | 29.97 trillion current LCU | +12.3% |
| 1986 | 35.50 trillion current LCU | +18.4% |
| 1987 | 42.03 trillion current LCU | +18.4% |
| 1988 | 53.65 trillion current LCU | +27.7% |
| 1989 | 63.89 trillion current LCU | +19.1% |
| 1990 | 83.00 trillion current LCU | +29.9% |
| 1991 | 104.15 trillion current LCU | +25.5% |
| 1992 | 112.03 trillion current LCU | +7.6% |
| 1993 | 124.01 trillion current LCU | +10.7% |
| 1994 | 149.79 trillion current LCU | +20.8% |
| 1995 | 177.91 trillion current LCU | +18.8% |
| 1996 | 201.62 trillion current LCU | +13.3% |
| 1997 | 209.53 trillion current LCU | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 156.61 trillion current LCU | -25.3% |
| 1999 | 191.60 trillion current LCU | +22.3% |
| 2000 | 223.11 trillion current LCU | +16.4% |
| 2001 | 233.49 trillion current LCU | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 254.59 trillion current LCU | +9.0% |
| 2003 | 281.24 trillion current LCU | +10.5% |
| 2004 | 308.18 trillion current LCU | +9.6% |
| 2005 | 325.56 trillion current LCU | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 345.11 trillion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2007 | 377.23 trillion current LCU | +9.3% |
| 2008 | 405.45 trillion current LCU | +7.5% |
| 2009 | 371.04 trillion current LCU | -8.5% |
| 2010 | 452.18 trillion current LCU | +21.9% |
| 2011 | 481.82 trillion current LCU | +6.6% |
| 2012 | 469.68 trillion current LCU | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 469.69 trillion current LCU | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 488.10 trillion current LCU | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 510.26 trillion current LCU | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 549.59 trillion current LCU | +7.7% |
| 2017 | 618.28 trillion current LCU | +12.5% |
| 2018 | 627.15 trillion current LCU | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 636.58 trillion current LCU | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 648.93 trillion current LCU | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 721.96 trillion current LCU | +11.3% |
| 2022 | 774.41 trillion current LCU | +7.3% |
| 2023 | 768.16 trillion current LCU | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 766.39 trillion current LCU | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 775.86 trillion current LCU | +1.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 775.86 trillion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 146.46 billion current LCU, 5297.3× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 775.86 trillion current LCU is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 177.54 billion current LCU, 4370.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross capital formation 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | +88.8% | 52.50 billion current LCU | 99.10 billion current LCU |
| 1966 | +87.6% | 124.90 billion current LCU | 234.30 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 212.10 billion current LCU | 26.60 billion current LCU | 669.30 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.09 trillion current LCU | 744.70 billion current LCU | 12.41 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 32.47 trillion current LCU | 13.95 trillion current LCU | 63.89 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 151.03 trillion current LCU | 83.00 trillion current LCU | 209.53 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 312.50 trillion current LCU | 223.11 trillion current LCU | 405.45 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 530.33 trillion current LCU | 452.18 trillion current LCU | 636.58 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 742.62 trillion current LCU | 648.93 trillion current LCU | 775.86 trillion current 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 775.86 trillion current 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 775.86 trillion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest gross capital formation recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.60 billion current LCU in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for gross capital formation?
- South Korea ranks 4th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gross capital formation rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.1%. 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 (current 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 current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.