Primary income receipts in South Korea
South Korea: Primary income receipts was 73.02 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Primary income receipts in South Korea, 1976–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, primary income receipts in South Korea stood at 73.02 billion BoP, current US$. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 190.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary income receipts in South Korea peaked at 73.02 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 116.00 million BoP, current US$, in 1976.
South Korea ranks 20th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary income receipts in South Korea, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 116.00 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1977 | 243.00 million BoP, current US$ | +109.5% |
| 1978 | 391.00 million BoP, current US$ | +60.9% |
| 1979 | 433.00 million BoP, current US$ | +10.7% |
| 1980 | 714.10 million BoP, current US$ | +64.9% |
| 1981 | 921.60 million BoP, current US$ | +29.1% |
| 1982 | 970.60 million BoP, current US$ | +5.3% |
| 1983 | 934.00 million BoP, current US$ | -3.8% |
| 1984 | 1.09 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.8% |
| 1985 | 1.15 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.6% |
| 1986 | 1.32 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.3% |
| 1987 | 1.21 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.8% |
| 1988 | 1.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.2% |
| 1989 | 2.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +49.8% |
| 1990 | 2.70 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.1% |
| 1991 | 2.76 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 2.61 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.4% |
| 1993 | 2.44 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.6% |
| 1994 | 2.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 3.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +36.6% |
| 1996 | 3.87 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.6% |
| 1997 | 3.76 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 3.81 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 4.43 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.1% |
| 2000 | 7.04 billion BoP, current US$ | +58.9% |
| 2001 | 7.28 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 7.30 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 7.69 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 10.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.2% |
| 2005 | 11.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.4% |
| 2006 | 14.71 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.3% |
| 2007 | 20.12 billion BoP, current US$ | +36.8% |
| 2008 | 20.81 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 14.71 billion BoP, current US$ | -29.3% |
| 2010 | 21.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +49.4% |
| 2011 | 26.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.3% |
| 2012 | 29.15 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.3% |
| 2013 | 28.98 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 28.23 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 25.10 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.1% |
| 2016 | 26.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 29.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.3% |
| 2018 | 34.82 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.2% |
| 2019 | 41.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.8% |
| 2020 | 37.95 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.3% |
| 2021 | 54.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +44.9% |
| 2022 | 57.83 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 69.46 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.1% |
| 2024 | 71.92 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.5% |
| 2025 | 73.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 73.02 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.49 billion BoP, current US$, 6.4× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 73.02 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 675.89 million BoP, current US$, 108.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary income receipts in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | +109.5% | 116.00 million BoP, current US$ | 243.00 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 295.75 million BoP, current US$ | 116.00 million BoP, current US$ | 433.00 million BoP, current US$ | 4 |
| 1980s | 1.23 billion BoP, current US$ | 714.10 million BoP, current US$ | 2.37 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.24 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.44 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.43 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.19 billion BoP, current US$ | 7.04 billion BoP, current US$ | 20.81 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.22 billion BoP, current US$ | 21.98 billion BoP, current US$ | 41.37 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.86 billion BoP, current US$ | 37.95 billion BoP, current US$ | 73.02 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 receipts in South Korea?
- Primary income receipts in South Korea was 73.02 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 receipts recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 73.02 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest primary income receipts recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 116.00 million BoP, current US$ in 1976.
- How does South Korea rank for primary income receipts?
- South Korea ranks 20th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary income receipts rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 190.9%. 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 receipts (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Primary income receipts refer to employee compensation paid to resident workers working abroad and investment income (receipts on direct investment, portfolio investment, other investments, and receipts on reserve assets). 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.