Net primary income (Net income from abroad) (current US$) (US current) in South Korea
South Korea: Net primary income (Net income from abroad) (current US$) (US current) was 32.17 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net primary income (Net income from abroad) in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, net primary income (net income from abroad) in South Korea stood at 32.17 billion current US$. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.8% on the previous year and up 601.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net primary income (net income from abroad) in South Korea peaked at 32.17 billion current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, -6.60 billion current US$, in 2005.
That places South Korea 8th out of 209 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net primary income (Net income from abroad) (current US$) (US current) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 36.44 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 30.45 million current US$ | -16.4% |
| 1962 | 32.31 million current US$ | +6.1% |
| 1963 | 36.15 million current US$ | +11.9% |
| 1964 | 36.94 million current US$ | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 43.92 million current US$ | +18.9% |
| 1966 | 84.77 million current US$ | +93.0% |
| 1967 | 148.60 million current US$ | +75.3% |
| 1968 | 169.17 million current US$ | +13.8% |
| 1969 | 198.50 million current US$ | +17.3% |
| 1970 | 163.58 million current US$ | -17.6% |
| 1971 | 75.47 million current US$ | -53.9% |
| 1972 | 23.67 million current US$ | -68.6% |
| 1973 | 13.56 million current US$ | -42.7% |
| 1974 | 70.21 million current US$ | +417.9% |
| 1975 | -176.24 million current US$ | -351.0% |
| 1976 | -132.44 million current US$ | -24.9% |
| 1977 | -109.92 million current US$ | -17.0% |
| 1978 | 150.62 million current US$ | -237.0% |
| 1979 | -116.53 million current US$ | -177.4% |
| 1980 | -595.13 million current US$ | +410.7% |
| 1981 | -993.79 million current US$ | +67.0% |
| 1982 | -724.54 million current US$ | -27.1% |
| 1983 | -915.37 million current US$ | +26.3% |
| 1984 | -1.38 billion current US$ | +50.7% |
| 1985 | -2.22 billion current US$ | +61.0% |
| 1986 | -2.51 billion current US$ | +13.1% |
| 1987 | -1.79 billion current US$ | -28.6% |
| 1988 | -1.55 billion current US$ | -13.7% |
| 1989 | -726.33 million current US$ | -53.0% |
| 1990 | -283.85 million current US$ | -60.9% |
| 1991 | -336.26 million current US$ | +18.5% |
| 1992 | -471.66 million current US$ | +40.3% |
| 1993 | -524.25 million current US$ | +11.2% |
| 1994 | -1.17 billion current US$ | +122.9% |
| 1995 | -2.08 billion current US$ | +78.0% |
| 1996 | -2.14 billion current US$ | +2.9% |
| 1997 | -3.06 billion current US$ | +43.0% |
| 1998 | -4.96 billion current US$ | +62.1% |
| 1999 | -5.49 billion current US$ | +10.6% |
| 2000 | -3.86 billion current US$ | -29.7% |
| 2001 | -3.71 billion current US$ | -3.9% |
| 2002 | -2.33 billion current US$ | -37.2% |
| 2003 | -2.45 billion current US$ | +5.3% |
| 2004 | -1.37 billion current US$ | -43.9% |
| 2005 | -6.60 billion current US$ | +380.3% |
| 2006 | -3.08 billion current US$ | -53.4% |
| 2007 | -2.97 billion current US$ | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 266.05 million current US$ | -108.9% |
| 2009 | -1.46 billion current US$ | -649.8% |
| 2010 | 1.71 billion current US$ | -216.8% |
| 2011 | 7.76 billion current US$ | +354.1% |
| 2012 | 13.38 billion current US$ | +72.5% |
| 2013 | 8.74 billion current US$ | -34.7% |
| 2014 | 7.18 billion current US$ | -17.8% |
| 2015 | 4.59 billion current US$ | -36.2% |
| 2016 | 5.48 billion current US$ | +19.6% |
| 2017 | 6.62 billion current US$ | +20.7% |
| 2018 | 6.92 billion current US$ | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 14.25 billion current US$ | +105.9% |
| 2020 | 14.36 billion current US$ | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 20.47 billion current US$ | +42.6% |
| 2022 | 21.72 billion current US$ | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 26.56 billion current US$ | +22.2% |
| 2024 | 27.07 billion current US$ | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 32.17 billion current US$ | +18.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 32.17 billion current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is -774.68 million current US$. (77 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 32.17 billion current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.75 million current US$, 18419.1× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net primary income (Net income from abroad) (current US$) (US current) in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | -649.8% | 266.05 million current US$ | -1.46 billion current US$ |
| 1974 | +417.9% | 13.56 million current US$ | 70.21 million current US$ |
| 1980 | -410.7% | -116.53 million current US$ | -595.13 million current US$ |
| 2005 | -380.3% | -1.37 billion current US$ | -6.60 billion current US$ |
| 1975 | -351.0% | 70.21 million current US$ | -176.24 million current US$ |
| 2011 | +354.1% | 1.71 billion current US$ | 7.76 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 81.72 million current US$ | 30.45 million current US$ | 198.50 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | -3.80 million current US$ | -176.24 million current US$ | 163.58 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.34 billion current US$ | -2.51 billion current US$ | -595.13 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -2.05 billion current US$ | -5.49 billion current US$ | -283.85 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -2.76 billion current US$ | -6.60 billion current US$ | 266.05 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.66 billion current US$ | 1.71 billion current US$ | 14.25 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.72 billion current US$ | 14.36 billion current US$ | 32.17 billion current US$ | 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 net primary income (net income from abroad) in South Korea?
- Net primary income (net income from abroad) in South Korea was 32.17 billion current US$ in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest net primary income (net income from abroad) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 32.17 billion current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest net primary income (net income from abroad) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.60 billion current US$ in 2005.
- How does South Korea rank for net primary income (net income from abroad)?
- South Korea ranks 8th out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net primary income (net income from abroad) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 601.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Net primary income (Net income from abroad) (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net primary income includes the net labor income and net property and entrepreneurial income components of the SNA. Labor income covers compensation of employees paid to nonresident workers. Property and entrepreneurial income covers investment income from the ownership of foreign financial claims (interest, dividends, rent, etc.) and nonfinancial property income (patents, copyrights, etc.). This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.