Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Korea
Korea: Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services was 7.3% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Korea, 1980–2023
Source: UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Korea is 7.3%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.1% on the previous year and down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Korea peaked at 9.2% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 1987.
Korea ranks 97th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Korea, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 8.5% | — |
| 1981 | 8.3% | -1.8% |
| 1982 | 8.5% | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 8.6% | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 8.1% | -6.7% |
| 1985 | 7.7% | -4.5% |
| 1986 | 7.4% | -3.8% |
| 1987 | 6.9% | -6.6% |
| 1988 | 7.0% | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 6.9% | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 7.6% | +9.4% |
| 1991 | 7.5% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 7.9% | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 8.0% | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 8.2% | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 8.0% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 8.3% | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 8.3% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 7.5% | -10.3% |
| 1999 | 8.4% | +12.4% |
| 2000 | 8.6% | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 9.0% | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 9.2% | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 8.9% | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 8.2% | -7.6% |
| 2005 | 8.3% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 8.4% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 8.3% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 8.1% | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 7.8% | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 8.0% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 7.8% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 7.8% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 7.4% | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 7.6% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 7.6% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 7.9% | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 7.9% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 8.0% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 7.9% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 8.3% | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 8.5% | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 8.0% | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 7.3% | -9.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.8% | 6.9% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.0% | 7.5% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.5% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.8% | 7.4% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.0% | 7.3% | 8.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Korea
More economy & growth data for 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 taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Korea?
- Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services in Korea was 7.3% in 2023, according to UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 9.2% in 2002.
- What is the lowest taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 1987.
- How does Korea rank for taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services?
- Korea ranks 97th out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Taxes on income vs. taxes on goods and services. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total taxes on income (individual and corporate) vs. total taxes on goods and services (including VAT and sales taxes), as a share of GDP.