Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) in South Korea
South Korea: Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) was 27.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
27.4%
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
7th
of 202 countries
All-time high
29.0%
in 2011
All-time low
11.4%
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) in South Korea is 27.4%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) in South Korea peaked at 29.0% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 11.4%, in 1960.
South Korea ranks 7th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 11.4% | — |
| 1961 | 12.0% | +4.8% |
| 1962 | 11.7% | -2.1% |
| 1963 | 12.8% | +9.6% |
| 1964 | 14.2% | +10.9% |
| 1965 | 17.1% | +20.0% |
| 1966 | 16.6% | -2.4% |
| 1967 | 16.8% | +0.7% |
| 1968 | 17.1% | +2.1% |
| 1969 | 17.0% | -0.5% |
| 1970 | 17.3% | +1.6% |
| 1971 | 16.6% | -4.2% |
| 1972 | 18.6% | +12.2% |
| 1973 | 21.3% | +14.6% |
| 1974 | 20.6% | -3.0% |
| 1975 | 20.0% | -3.3% |
| 1976 | 21.3% | +6.6% |
| 1977 | 20.9% | -1.7% |
| 1978 | 21.0% | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 21.5% | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 21.9% | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 21.8% | -0.6% |
| 1982 | 21.8% | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 23.0% | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 24.6% | +7.1% |
| 1985 | 24.3% | -1.1% |
| 1986 | 25.5% | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 26.8% | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 27.7% | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 26.7% | -3.5% |
| 1990 | 25.2% | -5.6% |
| 1991 | 25.5% | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 24.8% | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 25.0% | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 25.7% | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 26.3% | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 25.2% | -4.1% |
| 1997 | 25.1% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 25.8% | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 25.8% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 26.6% | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 25.1% | -5.5% |
| 2002 | 24.8% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 24.4% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 26.4% | +8.1% |
| 2005 | 26.1% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 25.7% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 25.9% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 26.1% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 26.3% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 28.1% | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 29.0% | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 28.7% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 28.9% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 28.3% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 27.8% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 27.5% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 28.0% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 27.8% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 26.4% | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 25.7% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 26.2% | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 26.5% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 25.5% | -3.9% |
| 2024 | 26.6% | +4.6% |
| 2025 | 27.4% | +3.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 27.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.5%, 2.9× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 27.4% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7.1%, 3.9× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 14.7% | 11.4% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 19.9% | 16.6% | 21.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.4% | 21.8% | 27.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.5% | 24.8% | 26.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.7% | 24.4% | 26.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.0% | 26.4% | 29.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.3% | 25.5% | 27.4% | 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 share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) in South Korea?
- Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) in South Korea was 27.4% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 29.0% in 2011.
- What is the lowest share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.4% in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp)?
- South Korea ranks 7th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Manufacturing comprises units engaged in the physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products.