Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in South Korea
South Korea: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP was 37.2% in 2014. ▲ Rising
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in South Korea, 1911–2014
Source: Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for value of imported goods as a share of gdp in South Korea is 37.2%, measured in 2014.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.7% on the previous year and up 26.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in South Korea peaked at 43.6% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 1950.
South Korea ranks 103rd of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 92 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 12.3% | 10.0% | 15.7% | 9 |
| 1920s | 18.0% | 14.0% | 23.6% | 10 |
| 1930s | 26.3% | 19.2% | 32.0% | 8 |
| 1950s | 10.0% | 2.6% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 18.4% | 11.0% | 25.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 27.2% | 21.1% | 33.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 29.0% | 24.2% | 34.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.3% | 22.1% | 26.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.6% | 25.0% | 43.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.3% | 37.2% | 43.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More economy & growth data for South Korea
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP 5.2% (2025)
- Inflation of consumer prices 2.1% (2025)
- GDP per capita 37,470 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) 27.4% (2025)
- Gross domestic product (GDP) 1.94 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- GDP per capita in international and market dollars 37,470 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- DEC alternative conversion factor 1,422 LCU per US$ (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) -6.93 trillion current LCU (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) -4.87 billion current US$ (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products 185.85 trillion current LCU (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is value of imported goods as a share of gdp in South Korea?
- Value of imported goods as a share of gdp in South Korea was 37.2% in 2014, according to Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 43.6% in 2011.
- What is the lowest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 1950.
- How does South Korea rank for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?
- South Korea ranks 103rd out of 193 countries with data for 2014.
- Is value of imported goods as a share of gdp rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 92 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimates correspond to merchandise import-to-GDP ratios for countries and regions. All ratios are taken at current prices. See source for more details.