Median income per year (after tax) in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Median income per year (after tax) was 33,996 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
33,996 international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
14th
of 47 countries
All-time high
33,996 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2021
All-time low
22,416 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2006
Years of data
11
2006–2021
Median income per year (after tax) in Republic of Korea, 2006–2021
Source: Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
In 2021, median income per year (after tax) in Republic of Korea stood at 33,996 international-$ in 2021 prices. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 46.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, median income per year (after tax) in Republic of Korea peaked at 33,996 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021 and was at its lowest, 22,416 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2006.
Republic of Korea ranks 14th of 47 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Median income per year (after tax) in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 22,416 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2008 | 22,739 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 23,252 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 24,689 international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.2% |
| 2014 | 25,513 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 29,401 international-$ in 2021 prices | +15.2% |
| 2017 | 30,082 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 30,884 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 31,983 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 32,954 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 33,996 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 22,577 international-$ in 2021 prices | 22,416 international-$ in 2021 prices | 22,739 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
| 2010s | 27,972 international-$ in 2021 prices | 23,252 international-$ in 2021 prices | 31,983 international-$ in 2021 prices | 7 |
| 2020s | 33,475 international-$ in 2021 prices | 32,954 international-$ in 2021 prices | 33,996 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
- 11 Germany 36,469 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 12 Denmark 35,598 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 13 Ireland 34,694 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 15 Sweden 32,021 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 16 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 31,976 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 17 Finland 31,699 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More economy & growth data for Republic of Korea
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 0.0121 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9302 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 33,699 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 4.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 1,323 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 47.93 million current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.9641 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per 34,925 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant LCU), annual growth 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is median income per year (after tax) in Republic of Korea?
- Median income per year (after tax) in Republic of Korea was 33,996 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021, according to Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest median income per year (after tax) recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 33,996 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021.
- What is the lowest median income per year (after tax) recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 22,416 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2006.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for median income per year (after tax)?
- Republic of Korea ranks 14th out of 47 countries with data for 2021.
- Is median income per year (after tax) rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Median income per year (after tax). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Value of income per year below which 50% of the population live.