Income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. GDP per capita in South Korea
South Korea: Income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. GDP per capita was 24.56 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
24.56 international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
19th
of 118 countries
All-time high
24.56 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2021
All-time low
15.02 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2006
Years of data
11
2006–2021
Income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. GDP per capita in South Korea, 2006–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 24.56 international-$ in 2021 prices for income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. gdp per capita in 2021. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 55.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. gdp per capita in South Korea peaked at 24.56 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021 and was at its lowest, 15.02 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2006.
That places South Korea 19th out of 118 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. GDP per capita in South Korea, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 15.02 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2008 | 15.12 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 15.81 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 16.62 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 17.69 international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.4% |
| 2016 | 18.25 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 19.16 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 20.74 international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.2% |
| 2019 | 22.21 international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.1% |
| 2020 | 23.98 international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.0% |
| 2021 | 24.56 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 24.56 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for high income countries, which is 21.29 international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.2× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 24.56 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.29 international-$ in 2021 prices, 3.9× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15.07 international-$ in 2021 prices | 15.02 international-$ in 2021 prices | 15.12 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
| 2010s | 18.64 international-$ in 2021 prices | 15.81 international-$ in 2021 prices | 22.21 international-$ in 2021 prices | 7 |
| 2020s | 24.27 international-$ in 2021 prices | 23.98 international-$ in 2021 prices | 24.56 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 16 Sweden 26.45 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 17 United States 26.29 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 18 United Kingdom 25.67 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 20 Taiwan 24.47 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 21 Czechia 21.95 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 22 Italy 20.63 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More economy & growth data for South Korea
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 41.23 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.022 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 797.74 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 15.80 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 22.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0084 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 305.78 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 4.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2332 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 8,447 includes gold, current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. gdp per capita in South Korea?
- Income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. gdp per capita in South Korea was 24.56 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 24.56 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021.
- What is the lowest income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.02 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2006.
- How does South Korea rank for income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. gdp per capita?
- South Korea ranks 19th out of 118 countries with data for 2021.
- Is income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Income or consumption of the poorest 10% vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Level of income or consumption per day below which 10% of the population falls.