Textiles and clothing in Korea
Korea: Textiles and clothing was 2.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Textiles and clothing in Korea, 1963–2023
Source: International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics, UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Measured in % of value added in manufacturing.
Analysis
Korea recorded 2.7% for textiles and clothing in 2023.
That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and down 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, textiles and clothing in Korea peaked at 23.6% in 1967 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 2022.
Korea ranks 94th of 154 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Textiles and clothing in Korea, year by year
| Year | % of value added in manufacturing | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 20.2% | — |
| 1964 | 18.6% | -8.0% |
| 1965 | 20.2% | +8.6% |
| 1966 | 19.4% | -4.1% |
| 1967 | 23.6% | +22.1% |
| 1968 | 20.0% | -15.6% |
| 1969 | 18.7% | -6.1% |
| 1970 | 17.1% | -8.7% |
| 1971 | 17.6% | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 20.6% | +17.4% |
| 1973 | 21.8% | +5.6% |
| 1974 | 19.7% | -9.4% |
| 1975 | 22.6% | +14.2% |
| 1976 | 22.5% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 19.6% | -13.2% |
| 1978 | 20.0% | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 19.3% | -3.5% |
| 1980 | 19.5% | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 19.8% | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 17.8% | -10.0% |
| 1983 | 16.6% | -6.7% |
| 1984 | 16.6% | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 16.5% | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 16.7% | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 16.4% | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 15.3% | -6.6% |
| 1989 | 14.0% | -8.6% |
| 1990 | 13.8% | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 13.4% | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 13.3% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 12.8% | -3.9% |
| 1994 | 11.5% | -10.4% |
| 1995 | 10.2% | -11.1% |
| 1996 | 9.5% | -6.5% |
| 1997 | 8.8% | -7.5% |
| 1998 | 8.6% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 8.4% | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 8.0% | -4.8% |
| 2001 | 7.8% | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 7.1% | -9.7% |
| 2003 | 6.6% | -6.6% |
| 2004 | 5.5% | -16.5% |
| 2005 | 5.3% | -3.8% |
| 2006 | 4.9% | -7.6% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | -11.7% |
| 2008 | 4.1% | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 4.3% | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 4.3% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 3.8% | -11.6% |
| 2012 | 3.5% | -6.5% |
| 2013 | 3.6% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 3.5% | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 3.4% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 3.1% | -10.3% |
| 2018 | 2.9% | -5.7% |
| 2019 | 2.9% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 3.0% | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 2.7% | -10.0% |
| 2022 | 2.6% | -4.7% |
| 2023 | 2.7% | +2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 20.1% | 18.6% | 23.6% | 7 |
| 1970s | 20.1% | 17.1% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.9% | 14.0% | 19.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.0% | 8.4% | 13.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.8% | 4.1% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.4% | 2.9% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.6% | 3.0% | 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 textiles and clothing in Korea?
- Textiles and clothing in Korea was 2.7% in 2023, according to International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics, UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
- What is the highest textiles and clothing recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 23.6% in 1967.
- What is the lowest textiles and clothing recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 2022.
- How does Korea rank for textiles and clothing?
- Korea ranks 94th out of 154 countries with data for 2023.
- Is textiles and clothing rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics, UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), published as part of Textiles and clothing (% of value added in manufacturing). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Textiles and clothing refers to industries in ISIC (rev. 3) divisions 17-19 and includes manufacturing of textiles, apparel, dyeing of fur, and tanning of leather. Value added is the contribution to the economy by a producer or an industry or an institutional sector, which is estimated by the total value of output produced and deducting the total value of intermediate consumption of goods and services used to produce that output. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of value added in manufacturing which is the contribution to the economy by the manufacturing sector (ISIC Rev. 3 major division D).