South Korea
World Bank name: Korea, Rep.
- Capital
- Seoul
- Region
- East Asia & Pacific
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 51.7 million (2025)
At a glance
- Prices in South Korea rose 2.1% in 2025, slower than in most countries.
- South Korea's economy grew 1.0% in 2025, slower than most economies.
- Output per person in South Korea was US$36,227 in 2025, higher than in most countries.
- 2.7% of South Korea's labour force had no job in 2025, a lower share than in most countries.
- South Korea's central government owed 47.8% of GDP in 2024, less than in most countries with data.
- South Korea had 51.7 million people in 2025: about 0.6% of everyone on Earth, the 29th largest population of 217 countries and territories.
- South Korea had a current account surplus of 6.6% of GDP in 2025, higher than in most countries.
Inflation
2025Consumer prices, change over the year (yearly average)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | South Korea | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.1% | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 2.3% | 3.0% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | 5.7% |
| 2022 | 5.1% | 8.0% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | 3.5% |
| 2020 | 0.5% | 1.9% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | 2.2% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | 2.3% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | 1.6% |
Economic growth
2025Real GDP, change over the year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | South Korea | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.0% | 3.4% |
| 2024 | 2.0% | 3.4% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | 3.2% |
| 2022 | 2.7% | 4.3% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | 5.1% |
| 2020 | −0.7% | −3.8% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | 2.8% |
| 2018 | 3.2% | 3.2% |
| 2017 | 3.4% | 3.3% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | 3.1% |
GDP per person
2025GDP divided by population, in US dollars at current prices
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | South Korea | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | US$36,227 | US$7,882 |
| 2024 | US$36,239 | US$7,853 |
| 2023 | US$35,674 | US$7,862 |
| 2022 | US$34,822 | US$7,656 |
| 2021 | US$37,518 | US$7,269 |
| 2020 | US$33,646 | US$6,433 |
| 2019 | US$33,827 | US$7,037 |
| 2018 | US$35,364 | US$6,978 |
| 2017 | US$33,297 | US$6,548 |
| 2016 | US$30,832 | US$5,982 |
Unemployment
2025Share of the labour force without a job (ILO modelled estimate)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | South Korea | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.7% | 5.1% |
| 2024 | 2.8% | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 2.7% | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | 5.3% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | 6.0% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | 6.4% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | 5.4% |
| 2018 | 3.8% | 5.4% |
| 2017 | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2016 | 3.7% | 5.9% |
Government debt
2024Central government debt, % of GDP
Since 2012
Show the numbers
| Year | South Korea | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 47.8% | 53.2% |
| 2023 | 48.6% | 60.7% |
| 2022 | 47.6% | 55.6% |
| 2021 | 45.8% | 58.8% |
| 2020 | 43.8% | 64.3% |
| 2019 | 37.7% | 49.2% |
| 2018 | 35.5% | 47.3% |
| 2017 | 35.5% | 51.2% |
| 2016 | 36.2% | 50.2% |
| 2015 | 35.7% | 49.4% |
Population
2025Everyone living in the country, mid-year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | South Korea |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 51.7 million |
| 2024 | 51.8 million |
| 2023 | 51.7 million |
| 2022 | 51.7 million |
| 2021 | 51.8 million |
| 2020 | 51.8 million |
| 2019 | 51.8 million |
| 2018 | 51.6 million |
| 2017 | 51.4 million |
| 2016 | 51.2 million |
Current account balance, % of GDP
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | South Korea | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6.6% | −0.8% |
| 2024 | 5.3% | −1.3% |
| 2023 | 1.8% | −1.2% |
| 2022 | 1.3% | −3.0% |
| 2021 | 4.3% | −2.4% |
| 2020 | 4.4% | −1.7% |
| 2019 | 3.4% | −2.1% |
| 2018 | 4.3% | −2.9% |
| 2017 | 4.4% | −2.1% |
| 2016 | 6.2% | −2.8% |
About these figures
All numbers are yearly. The world median is the middle value of all countries with a figure for the same year: half of them are above it and half below. Sparklines show South Korea since 2000 or since its first figure.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), updated 2026-10-08. Original sources: Inflation: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics; Economic growth: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; GDP per person: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; Unemployment: International Labour Organization, ILO modelled estimates (ILOSTAT); Government debt: International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics; Population: United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects) and national statistical offices; Current account balance: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments Statistics, with World Bank and OECD data. Yearly figures; recent years are often revised. All sources and terms.