Primary income payments in South Korea
South Korea: Primary income payments was 45.10 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
45.10 billion BoP, current US$
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
26th
of 200 countries
All-time high
45.14 billion BoP, current US$
in 2024
All-time low
518.00 million BoP, current US$
in 1976
Years of data
50
1976–2025
Primary income payments in South Korea, 1976–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 45.10 billion BoP, current US$ for primary income payments in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 118.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary income payments in South Korea peaked at 45.14 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024 and was at its lowest, 518.00 million BoP, current US$, in 1976.
That places South Korea 26th out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary income payments in South Korea, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 518.00 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1977 | 736.00 million BoP, current US$ | +42.1% |
| 1978 | 1.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.1% |
| 1979 | 1.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +47.1% |
| 1980 | 2.70 billion BoP, current US$ | +78.1% |
| 1981 | 3.71 billion BoP, current US$ | +37.4% |
| 1982 | 3.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1983 | 3.54 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.9% |
| 1984 | 4.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.0% |
| 1985 | 4.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 4.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 3.80 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.7% |
| 1988 | 3.37 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.4% |
| 1989 | 3.24 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.7% |
| 1990 | 3.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 3.36 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 3.14 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.6% |
| 1993 | 3.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 3.71 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.8% |
| 1995 | 5.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +50.6% |
| 1996 | 6.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.8% |
| 1997 | 6.92 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.8% |
| 1998 | 9.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.2% |
| 1999 | 9.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.5% |
| 2000 | 11.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.3% |
| 2001 | 10.99 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 9.71 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.7% |
| 2003 | 10.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.3% |
| 2004 | 12.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.6% |
| 2005 | 19.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +55.1% |
| 2006 | 19.71 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 24.65 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.1% |
| 2008 | 23.22 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.8% |
| 2009 | 18.15 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.9% |
| 2010 | 22.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.9% |
| 2011 | 21.27 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.2% |
| 2012 | 18.42 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.4% |
| 2013 | 21.46 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.5% |
| 2014 | 23.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.5% |
| 2015 | 20.65 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 21.91 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 24.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.2% |
| 2018 | 29.92 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.0% |
| 2019 | 28.52 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 24.90 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.7% |
| 2021 | 35.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +43.2% |
| 2022 | 38.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.7% |
| 2023 | 44.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.3% |
| 2024 | 45.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 45.10 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 45.10 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 16.26 billion BoP, current US$, 2.8× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 45.10 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.58 billion BoP, current US$, 28.5× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 950.50 million BoP, current US$ | 518.00 million BoP, current US$ | 1.52 billion BoP, current US$ | 4 |
| 1980s | 3.67 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.70 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.26 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.42 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.14 billion BoP, current US$ | 9.96 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.02 billion BoP, current US$ | 9.71 billion BoP, current US$ | 24.65 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.20 billion BoP, current US$ | 18.42 billion BoP, current US$ | 29.92 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.85 billion BoP, current US$ | 24.90 billion BoP, current US$ | 45.14 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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 primary income payments in South Korea?
- Primary income payments in South Korea was 45.10 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest primary income payments recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 45.14 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024.
- What is the lowest primary income payments recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 518.00 million BoP, current US$ in 1976.
- How does South Korea rank for primary income payments?
- South Korea ranks 26th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary income payments rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 118.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Primary income payments (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Primary income payments refer to employee compensation paid to nonresident workers and investment income (payments on direct investment, portfolio investment, other investments).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.