Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) in South Korea
South Korea: Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) was 70.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
70.1%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
67th
of 220 countries
All-time high
82.6%
in 2011
All-time low
48.4%
in 2002
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in South Korea, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 70.1% for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in South Korea peaked at 82.6% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 48.4%, in 2002.
South Korea ranks 67th of 220 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 55.7% | — |
| 2001 | 51.4% | -7.8% |
| 2002 | 48.4% | -5.8% |
| 2003 | 51.2% | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 58.1% | +13.6% |
| 2005 | 56.2% | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 58.0% | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 59.7% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 78.5% | +31.6% |
| 2009 | 69.8% | -11.1% |
| 2010 | 74.7% | +7.0% |
| 2011 | 82.6% | +10.5% |
| 2012 | 79.9% | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 74.9% | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 70.6% | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 62.6% | -11.4% |
| 2016 | 57.1% | -8.8% |
| 2017 | 61.5% | +7.8% |
| 2018 | 62.5% | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 59.7% | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 56.2% | -5.9% |
| 2021 | 64.8% | +15.4% |
| 2022 | 78.6% | +21.3% |
| 2023 | 69.1% | -12.1% |
| 2024 | 70.1% | +1.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 70.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 56.9%, 1.2× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 70.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 56.4%, 1.2× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 58.7% | 48.4% | 78.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.6% | 57.1% | 82.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.8% | 56.2% | 78.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 65 Fiji 70.9% compare
- 66 Kuwait 70.6% compare
- 67 Republic of Korea 70.1% compare
- 69 Republic of Moldova 69.3% compare
- 69 Moldova 69.3% compare
More economy & growth data for South Korea
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -49.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in South Korea?
- Merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in South Korea was 70.1% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 82.6% in 2011.
- What is the lowest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.4% in 2002.
- How does South Korea rank for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp?
- South Korea ranks 67th out of 220 countries with data for 2024.
- Is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).