GDP (current US$), per capita in South Korea
South Korea: GDP (current US$), per capita was 36,239 current US$ per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
36,239 current US$ per person
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
42nd
of 211 countries
All-time high
37,518 current US$ per person
in 2021
All-time low
281.79 current US$ per person
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
GDP (current US$), per capita in South Korea, 1970–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current US$ per person.
Analysis
In 2024, gdp (current us$), per capita in South Korea stood at 36,239 current US$ per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 18.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp (current us$), per capita in South Korea peaked at 37,518 current US$ per person in 2021 and was at its lowest, 281.79 current US$ per person, in 1970.
That places South Korea 42nd out of 211 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP (current US$), per capita in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 281.79 current US$ per person | — |
| 1971 | 304.27 current US$ per person | +8.0% |
| 1972 | 328.02 current US$ per person | +7.8% |
| 1973 | 412.5 current US$ per person | +25.8% |
| 1974 | 572.49 current US$ per person | +38.8% |
| 1975 | 627.14 current US$ per person | +9.5% |
| 1976 | 847.21 current US$ per person | +35.1% |
| 1977 | 1,073 current US$ per person | +26.6% |
| 1978 | 1,429 current US$ per person | +33.2% |
| 1979 | 1,814 current US$ per person | +26.9% |
| 1980 | 1,746 current US$ per person | -3.8% |
| 1981 | 1,918 current US$ per person | +9.9% |
| 1982 | 2,032 current US$ per person | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 2,246 current US$ per person | +10.5% |
| 1984 | 2,469 current US$ per person | +9.9% |
| 1985 | 2,543 current US$ per person | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 2,911 current US$ per person | +14.5% |
| 1987 | 3,658 current US$ per person | +25.7% |
| 1988 | 4,889 current US$ per person | +33.7% |
| 1989 | 5,989 current US$ per person | +22.5% |
| 1990 | 6,813 current US$ per person | +13.8% |
| 1991 | 7,873 current US$ per person | +15.6% |
| 1992 | 8,387 current US$ per person | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 9,180 current US$ per person | +9.5% |
| 1994 | 10,734 current US$ per person | +16.9% |
| 1995 | 13,002 current US$ per person | +21.1% |
| 1996 | 13,865 current US$ per person | +6.6% |
| 1997 | 12,822 current US$ per person | -7.5% |
| 1998 | 8,583 current US$ per person | -33.1% |
| 1999 | 11,062 current US$ per person | +28.9% |
| 2000 | 12,710 current US$ per person | +14.9% |
| 2001 | 11,982 current US$ per person | -5.7% |
| 2002 | 13,643 current US$ per person | +13.9% |
| 2003 | 15,212 current US$ per person | +11.5% |
| 2004 | 17,122 current US$ per person | +12.6% |
| 2005 | 20,167 current US$ per person | +17.8% |
| 2006 | 22,610 current US$ per person | +12.1% |
| 2007 | 25,078 current US$ per person | +10.9% |
| 2008 | 22,252 current US$ per person | -11.3% |
| 2009 | 19,937 current US$ per person | -10.4% |
| 2010 | 24,071 current US$ per person | +20.7% |
| 2011 | 26,175 current US$ per person | +8.7% |
| 2012 | 26,600 current US$ per person | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 28,449 current US$ per person | +7.0% |
| 2014 | 30,667 current US$ per person | +7.8% |
| 2015 | 30,172 current US$ per person | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 30,832 current US$ per person | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 33,297 current US$ per person | +8.0% |
| 2018 | 35,364 current US$ per person | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 33,827 current US$ per person | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 33,646 current US$ per person | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 37,518 current US$ per person | +11.5% |
| 2022 | 34,822 current US$ per person | -7.2% |
| 2023 | 35,674 current US$ per person | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 36,239 current US$ per person | +1.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 36,239 current US$ per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 36,873 current US$ per person, 98% of the median. (82 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 36,239 current US$ per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7,406 current US$ per person, 4.9× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 768.91 current US$ per person | 281.79 current US$ per person | 1,814 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 3,040 current US$ per person | 1,746 current US$ per person | 5,989 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 10,232 current US$ per person | 6,813 current US$ per person | 13,865 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 18,071 current US$ per person | 11,982 current US$ per person | 25,078 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 29,946 current US$ per person | 24,071 current US$ per person | 35,364 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 35,580 current US$ per person | 33,646 current US$ per person | 37,518 current US$ per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 39 Bahamas 39,455 current US$ per person compare
- 40 Puerto Rico 39,295 current US$ per person compare
- 41 Turks and Caicos Islands 37,507 current US$ per person compare
- 43 Spain 35,267 current US$ per person compare
- 44 Saudi Arabia 35,057 current US$ per person compare
- 45 Slovenia 34,072 current US$ per person compare
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)
- World population growth -1.4% (2100)
- Population density 223.86 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 599,530 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.4% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate -0.0908 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp (current us$), per capita in South Korea?
- Gdp (current us$), per capita in South Korea was 36,239 current US$ per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest gdp (current us$), per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 37,518 current US$ per person in 2021.
- What is the lowest gdp (current us$), per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 281.79 current US$ per person in 1970.
- How does South Korea rank for gdp (current us$), per capita?
- South Korea ranks 42nd out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp (current us$), per capita rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of GDP (current US$), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
GDP (current US$) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
GDP (current US$) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- GDP UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
GDP (current US$) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.