Imports of goods and services in Korea
Korea: Imports of goods and services was 3.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods and services in Korea, 1961–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in annual % growth.
Analysis
Korea recorded 3.8% for imports of goods and services in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 54.6% on the previous year and up 97.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Korea peaked at 49.6% in 1966 and was at its lowest, -24.9%, in 1964.
Korea ranks 101st of 178 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services in Korea, year by year
| Year | annual % growth | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -8.6% | — |
| 1962 | 35.9% | -515.8% |
| 1963 | 24.8% | -30.8% |
| 1964 | -24.9% | -200.2% |
| 1965 | 13.6% | -154.7% |
| 1966 | 49.6% | +264.2% |
| 1967 | 30.4% | -38.7% |
| 1968 | 41.8% | +37.7% |
| 1969 | 26.1% | -37.6% |
| 1970 | 9.0% | -65.6% |
| 1971 | 20.0% | +122.8% |
| 1972 | 0.3% | -98.7% |
| 1973 | 33.8% | +13110.8% |
| 1974 | 19.5% | -42.4% |
| 1975 | 4.2% | -78.2% |
| 1976 | 24.6% | +480.0% |
| 1977 | 22.1% | -10.2% |
| 1978 | 30.7% | +38.8% |
| 1979 | 13.3% | -56.7% |
| 1980 | -3.2% | -124.0% |
| 1981 | 4.7% | -248.0% |
| 1982 | 1.6% | -66.0% |
| 1983 | 6.8% | +323.6% |
| 1984 | 4.3% | -37.0% |
| 1985 | -2.1% | -148.8% |
| 1986 | 33.3% | -1695.1% |
| 1987 | 18.1% | -45.6% |
| 1988 | 13.2% | -27.4% |
| 1989 | 15.9% | +20.6% |
| 1990 | 13.4% | -15.7% |
| 1991 | 20.0% | +49.2% |
| 1992 | 4.6% | -76.7% |
| 1993 | 7.1% | +51.8% |
| 1994 | 25.8% | +265.4% |
| 1995 | 23.2% | -9.8% |
| 1996 | 13.8% | -40.5% |
| 1997 | 1.8% | -87.0% |
| 1998 | -24.6% | -1468.2% |
| 1999 | 24.6% | -200.1% |
| 2000 | 22.4% | -8.8% |
| 2001 | -3.5% | -115.6% |
| 2002 | 15.1% | -531.2% |
| 2003 | 10.6% | -29.9% |
| 2004 | 12.0% | +13.3% |
| 2005 | 8.0% | -33.6% |
| 2006 | 12.6% | +58.0% |
| 2007 | 11.5% | -8.9% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | -70.8% |
| 2009 | -6.6% | -296.9% |
| 2010 | 17.8% | -369.7% |
| 2011 | 14.6% | -18.2% |
| 2012 | 2.6% | -82.0% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | -29.3% |
| 2014 | 1.4% | -26.4% |
| 2015 | 1.9% | +42.1% |
| 2016 | 5.4% | +179.5% |
| 2017 | 7.9% | +45.9% |
| 2018 | 1.6% | -79.3% |
| 2019 | -2.0% | -223.4% |
| 2020 | -3.3% | +61.5% |
| 2021 | 10.2% | -412.5% |
| 2022 | 4.2% | -59.2% |
| 2023 | 3.0% | -27.4% |
| 2024 | 2.5% | -17.5% |
| 2025 | 3.8% | +54.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 21.0% | -24.9% | 49.6% | 9 |
| 1970s | 17.8% | 0.3% | 33.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.3% | -3.2% | 33.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.0% | -24.6% | 25.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.6% | -6.6% | 22.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.3% | -2.0% | 17.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | -3.3% | 10.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Korea
- 98 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 4.1% compare
- 99 Madagascar 4.0% compare
- 100 Ecuador 3.9% compare
- 102 Seychelles 3.8% compare
- 103 Slovakia 3.7% compare
- 104 Italy 3.6% compare
More economy & growth data for 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 imports of goods and services in Korea?
- Imports of goods and services in Korea was 3.8% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 49.6% in 1966.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -24.9% in 1964.
- How does Korea rank for imports of goods and services?
- Korea ranks 101st out of 178 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 97.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (annual % growth). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator denotes the percentage change over each previous year of the constant price (base year 2015) series in United States dollars.