GDP (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) in South Korea
South Korea: GDP (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) was 1.88 trillion current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.88 trillion current US$
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
12th
of 211 countries
All-time high
1.94 trillion current US$
in 2021
All-time low
9.09 billion current US$
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
GDP in South Korea, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 1.88 trillion current US$ for gdp in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and up 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp in South Korea peaked at 1.94 trillion current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 9.09 billion current US$, in 1970.
That places South Korea 12th out of 211 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9.09 billion current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 10.01 billion current US$ | +10.1% |
| 1972 | 10.99 billion current US$ | +9.8% |
| 1973 | 14.07 billion current US$ | +28.0% |
| 1974 | 19.86 billion current US$ | +41.2% |
| 1975 | 22.13 billion current US$ | +11.4% |
| 1976 | 30.37 billion current US$ | +37.3% |
| 1977 | 39.06 billion current US$ | +28.6% |
| 1978 | 52.82 billion current US$ | +35.2% |
| 1979 | 68.08 billion current US$ | +28.9% |
| 1980 | 66.55 billion current US$ | -2.3% |
| 1981 | 74.29 billion current US$ | +11.6% |
| 1982 | 79.92 billion current US$ | +7.6% |
| 1983 | 89.62 billion current US$ | +12.1% |
| 1984 | 99.75 billion current US$ | +11.3% |
| 1985 | 103.76 billion current US$ | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 119.97 billion current US$ | +15.6% |
| 1987 | 152.24 billion current US$ | +26.9% |
| 1988 | 205.48 billion current US$ | +35.0% |
| 1989 | 254.24 billion current US$ | +23.7% |
| 1990 | 292.06 billion current US$ | +14.9% |
| 1991 | 340.85 billion current US$ | +16.7% |
| 1992 | 366.92 billion current US$ | +7.6% |
| 1993 | 405.70 billion current US$ | +10.6% |
| 1994 | 479.18 billion current US$ | +18.1% |
| 1995 | 586.29 billion current US$ | +22.4% |
| 1996 | 631.20 billion current US$ | +7.7% |
| 1997 | 589.20 billion current US$ | -6.7% |
| 1998 | 397.30 billion current US$ | -32.6% |
| 1999 | 515.70 billion current US$ | +29.8% |
| 2000 | 597.49 billion current US$ | +15.9% |
| 2001 | 567.57 billion current US$ | -5.0% |
| 2002 | 650.01 billion current US$ | +14.5% |
| 2003 | 728.52 billion current US$ | +12.1% |
| 2004 | 823.25 billion current US$ | +13.0% |
| 2005 | 971.74 billion current US$ | +18.0% |
| 2006 | 1.10 trillion current US$ | +12.7% |
| 2007 | 1.22 trillion current US$ | +11.5% |
| 2008 | 1.09 trillion current US$ | -10.6% |
| 2009 | 983.07 billion current US$ | -9.9% |
| 2010 | 1.19 trillion current US$ | +21.3% |
| 2011 | 1.31 trillion current US$ | +9.6% |
| 2012 | 1.34 trillion current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 1.43 trillion current US$ | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 1.56 trillion current US$ | +8.5% |
| 2015 | 1.54 trillion current US$ | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 1.58 trillion current US$ | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 1.71 trillion current US$ | +8.3% |
| 2018 | 1.82 trillion current US$ | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 1.75 trillion current US$ | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 1.74 trillion current US$ | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 1.94 trillion current US$ | +11.4% |
| 2022 | 1.80 trillion current US$ | -7.4% |
| 2023 | 1.84 trillion current US$ | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 1.88 trillion current US$ | +1.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.88 trillion current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 92.86 billion current US$, 20.2× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.88 trillion current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.98 billion current US$, 117.3× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 27.65 billion current US$ | 9.09 billion current US$ | 68.08 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 124.58 billion current US$ | 66.55 billion current US$ | 254.24 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 460.44 billion current US$ | 292.06 billion current US$ | 631.20 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 872.93 billion current US$ | 567.57 billion current US$ | 1.22 trillion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.52 trillion current US$ | 1.19 trillion current US$ | 1.82 trillion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.84 trillion current US$ | 1.74 trillion current US$ | 1.94 trillion current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More population data for South Korea
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.17 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.17 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3601 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1.45 (2100)
- Population density 223.86 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 599,530 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -1.45 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.007 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp in South Korea?
- Gdp in South Korea was 1.88 trillion current US$ in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.94 trillion current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest gdp recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.09 billion current US$ in 1970.
- How does South Korea rank for gdp?
- South Korea ranks 12th out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of GDP (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release