Gross capital formation (current US$) in South Korea
South Korea: Gross capital formation (current US$) was 545.44 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Gross capital formation in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 545.44 billion current US$ for gross capital formation in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross capital formation in South Korea peaked at 631.11 billion current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 312.52 million current US$, in 1961.
That places South Korea 10th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross capital formation (current US$) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 421.39 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 312.52 million current US$ | -25.8% |
| 1962 | 403.85 million current US$ | +29.2% |
| 1963 | 762.31 million current US$ | +88.8% |
| 1964 | 545.72 million current US$ | -28.4% |
| 1965 | 468.84 million current US$ | -14.1% |
| 1966 | 863.50 million current US$ | +84.2% |
| 1967 | 1.09 billion current US$ | +26.0% |
| 1968 | 1.68 billion current US$ | +54.2% |
| 1969 | 2.32 billion current US$ | +38.4% |
| 1970 | 2.40 billion current US$ | +3.2% |
| 1971 | 2.52 billion current US$ | +5.1% |
| 1972 | 2.40 billion current US$ | -4.7% |
| 1973 | 3.72 billion current US$ | +55.0% |
| 1974 | 6.54 billion current US$ | +75.8% |
| 1975 | 6.38 billion current US$ | -2.4% |
| 1976 | 8.49 billion current US$ | +32.9% |
| 1977 | 11.84 billion current US$ | +39.5% |
| 1978 | 18.40 billion current US$ | +55.4% |
| 1979 | 25.64 billion current US$ | +39.4% |
| 1980 | 22.96 billion current US$ | -10.4% |
| 1981 | 24.48 billion current US$ | +6.6% |
| 1982 | 26.22 billion current US$ | +7.1% |
| 1983 | 29.85 billion current US$ | +13.9% |
| 1984 | 33.11 billion current US$ | +10.9% |
| 1985 | 34.45 billion current US$ | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 40.27 billion current US$ | +16.9% |
| 1987 | 51.10 billion current US$ | +26.9% |
| 1988 | 73.35 billion current US$ | +43.6% |
| 1989 | 95.16 billion current US$ | +29.7% |
| 1990 | 117.27 billion current US$ | +23.2% |
| 1991 | 142.02 billion current US$ | +21.1% |
| 1992 | 143.52 billion current US$ | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 154.49 billion current US$ | +7.6% |
| 1994 | 186.44 billion current US$ | +20.7% |
| 1995 | 230.67 billion current US$ | +23.7% |
| 1996 | 250.63 billion current US$ | +8.7% |
| 1997 | 220.26 billion current US$ | -12.1% |
| 1998 | 111.75 billion current US$ | -49.3% |
| 1999 | 161.17 billion current US$ | +44.2% |
| 2000 | 197.28 billion current US$ | +22.4% |
| 2001 | 180.86 billion current US$ | -8.3% |
| 2002 | 203.50 billion current US$ | +12.5% |
| 2003 | 236.02 billion current US$ | +16.0% |
| 2004 | 269.08 billion current US$ | +14.0% |
| 2005 | 317.90 billion current US$ | +18.1% |
| 2006 | 361.45 billion current US$ | +13.7% |
| 2007 | 405.94 billion current US$ | +12.3% |
| 2008 | 367.90 billion current US$ | -9.4% |
| 2009 | 290.57 billion current US$ | -21.0% |
| 2010 | 391.00 billion current US$ | +34.6% |
| 2011 | 434.76 billion current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2012 | 416.83 billion current US$ | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 428.95 billion current US$ | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 463.60 billion current US$ | +8.1% |
| 2015 | 451.18 billion current US$ | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 473.47 billion current US$ | +4.9% |
| 2017 | 546.67 billion current US$ | +15.5% |
| 2018 | 570.05 billion current US$ | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 546.25 billion current US$ | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 549.82 billion current US$ | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 631.11 billion current US$ | +14.8% |
| 2022 | 599.65 billion current US$ | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 588.33 billion current US$ | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 562.13 billion current US$ | -4.5% |
| 2025 | 545.44 billion current US$ | -3.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 545.44 billion current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 48.39 billion current US$, 11.3× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 545.44 billion current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.38 billion current US$, 85.5× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 886.70 million current US$ | 312.52 million current US$ | 2.32 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.83 billion current US$ | 2.40 billion current US$ | 25.64 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 43.10 billion current US$ | 22.96 billion current US$ | 95.16 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 171.82 billion current US$ | 111.75 billion current US$ | 250.63 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 283.05 billion current US$ | 180.86 billion current US$ | 405.94 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 472.28 billion current US$ | 391.00 billion current US$ | 570.05 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 579.41 billion current US$ | 545.44 billion current US$ | 631.11 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More economy & growth data for South Korea
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 7.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0085 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 307.17 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 2.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0062 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 224.29 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.58 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0047 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per capita 168.75 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, SDR, annual growth rate -0.4147 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross capital formation in South Korea?
- Gross capital formation in South Korea was 545.44 billion current 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 631.11 billion current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest gross capital formation recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 312.52 million current US$ in 1961.
- How does South Korea rank for gross capital formation?
- South Korea ranks 10th 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 20.9%. 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 US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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 indicator is expressed in United States dollars.