GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in South Korea
South Korea: GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 2.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
GDP growth in South Korea, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 2.0% for gdp growth in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 26.6% on the previous year and down 37.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp growth in South Korea peaked at 15.0% in 1973 and was at its lowest, -4.9%, in 1998.
That places South Korea 146th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 10.2% | — |
| 1971 | 10.7% | +4.8% |
| 1972 | 7.3% | -31.1% |
| 1973 | 15.0% | +104.1% |
| 1974 | 9.6% | -35.6% |
| 1975 | 7.9% | -17.8% |
| 1976 | 13.3% | +67.2% |
| 1977 | 12.4% | -6.7% |
| 1978 | 11.1% | -10.6% |
| 1979 | 8.7% | -21.1% |
| 1980 | -1.5% | -117.4% |
| 1981 | 7.4% | -585.7% |
| 1982 | 8.5% | +14.4% |
| 1983 | 13.5% | +59.0% |
| 1984 | 10.6% | -21.0% |
| 1985 | 7.9% | -25.4% |
| 1986 | 11.5% | +44.9% |
| 1987 | 12.9% | +12.1% |
| 1988 | 12.1% | -5.9% |
| 1989 | 7.2% | -40.9% |
| 1990 | 10.0% | +39.9% |
| 1991 | 10.9% | +8.5% |
| 1992 | 6.4% | -41.6% |
| 1993 | 7.0% | +10.1% |
| 1994 | 9.4% | +34.0% |
| 1995 | 9.7% | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 8.0% | -17.9% |
| 1997 | 6.3% | -21.4% |
| 1998 | -4.9% | -178.6% |
| 1999 | 11.6% | -335.2% |
| 2000 | 9.2% | -20.8% |
| 2001 | 4.7% | -48.6% |
| 2002 | 7.7% | +63.9% |
| 2003 | 3.1% | -60.3% |
| 2004 | 5.2% | +68.6% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | -15.9% |
| 2006 | 5.2% | +20.3% |
| 2007 | 5.8% | +11.4% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | -48.6% |
| 2009 | 0.8% | -72.7% |
| 2010 | 7.0% | +751.6% |
| 2011 | 3.7% | -47.2% |
| 2012 | 2.5% | -30.9% |
| 2013 | 3.3% | +29.2% |
| 2014 | 3.2% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | -9.2% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | +8.6% |
| 2017 | 3.4% | +8.3% |
| 2018 | 3.2% | -7.5% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | -27.2% |
| 2020 | -0.7% | -130.3% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | -758.8% |
| 2022 | 2.7% | -40.9% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | -42.0% |
| 2024 | 2.0% | +26.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.3%, 88% of the median. (83 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.8%, 52% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +758.8% | -0.7% | 4.6% |
| 2010 | +751.6% | 0.8% | 7.0% |
| 1981 | +585.7% | -1.5% | 7.4% |
| 1999 | +335.2% | -4.9% | 11.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10.6% | 7.3% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.0% | -1.5% | 13.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.4% | -4.9% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.9% | 0.8% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 2.3% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | -0.7% | 4.6% | 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 growth in South Korea?
- Gdp growth in South Korea was 2.0% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp growth recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 15.0% in 1973.
- What is the lowest gdp growth recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.9% in 1998.
- How does South Korea rank for gdp growth?
- South Korea ranks 146th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp growth rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.7%. 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 growth (annual %). 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