GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in South Korea
South Korea: GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) was 49.41 million current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
49.41 million current LCU
Change on year
up 6.1%
World rank
5th
of 211 countries
All-time high
49.41 million current LCU
in 2024
All-time low
87,510 current LCU
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
GDP per capita in South Korea, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2024, gdp per capita in South Korea stood at 49.41 million current LCU. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.1% on the previous year and up 53.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in South Korea peaked at 49.41 million current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 87,510 current LCU, in 1970.
South Korea ranks 5th of 211 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 87,510 current LCU | — |
| 1971 | 105,627 current LCU | +20.7% |
| 1972 | 128,878 current LCU | +22.0% |
| 1973 | 164,307 current LCU | +27.5% |
| 1974 | 231,556 current LCU | +40.9% |
| 1975 | 303,537 current LCU | +31.1% |
| 1976 | 410,048 current LCU | +35.1% |
| 1977 | 519,260 current LCU | +26.6% |
| 1978 | 691,581 current LCU | +33.2% |
| 1979 | 877,934 current LCU | +26.9% |
| 1980 | 1.06 million current LCU | +20.8% |
| 1981 | 1.31 million current LCU | +23.2% |
| 1982 | 1.49 million current LCU | +13.7% |
| 1983 | 1.74 million current LCU | +17.2% |
| 1984 | 1.99 million current LCU | +14.2% |
| 1985 | 2.21 million current LCU | +11.2% |
| 1986 | 2.57 million current LCU | +16.0% |
| 1987 | 3.01 million current LCU | +17.3% |
| 1988 | 3.58 million current LCU | +18.9% |
| 1989 | 4.02 million current LCU | +12.5% |
| 1990 | 4.82 million current LCU | +19.9% |
| 1991 | 5.77 million current LCU | +19.7% |
| 1992 | 6.55 million current LCU | +13.4% |
| 1993 | 7.37 million current LCU | +12.5% |
| 1994 | 8.62 million current LCU | +17.0% |
| 1995 | 10.03 million current LCU | +16.3% |
| 1996 | 11.15 million current LCU | +11.2% |
| 1997 | 12.20 million current LCU | +9.4% |
| 1998 | 12.03 million current LCU | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 13.15 million current LCU | +9.3% |
| 2000 | 14.37 million current LCU | +9.3% |
| 2001 | 15.47 million current LCU | +7.6% |
| 2002 | 17.07 million current LCU | +10.3% |
| 2003 | 18.13 million current LCU | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 19.61 million current LCU | +8.2% |
| 2005 | 20.65 million current LCU | +5.3% |
| 2006 | 21.59 million current LCU | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 23.30 million current LCU | +8.0% |
| 2008 | 24.52 million current LCU | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 25.46 million current LCU | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 27.84 million current LCU | +9.3% |
| 2011 | 29.01 million current LCU | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 29.97 million current LCU | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 31.15 million current LCU | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 32.29 million current LCU | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 34.12 million current LCU | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 35.79 million current LCU | +4.9% |
| 2017 | 37.66 million current LCU | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 38.91 million current LCU | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 39.42 million current LCU | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 39.71 million current LCU | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 42.92 million current LCU | +8.1% |
| 2022 | 44.97 million current LCU | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 46.58 million current LCU | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 49.41 million current LCU | +6.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 49.41 million current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 67,855 current LCU, 728.1× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 49.41 million current LCU is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 88,147 current LCU, 560.5× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 352,024 current LCU | 87,510 current LCU | 877,934 current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.30 million current LCU | 1.06 million current LCU | 4.02 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.17 million current LCU | 4.82 million current LCU | 13.15 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.02 million current LCU | 14.37 million current LCU | 25.46 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.62 million current LCU | 27.84 million current LCU | 39.42 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.72 million current LCU | 39.71 million current LCU | 49.41 million current LCU | 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 per capita in South Korea?
- Gdp per capita in South Korea was 49.41 million current LCU in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 49.41 million current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 87,510 current LCU in 1970.
- How does South Korea rank for gdp per capita?
- South Korea ranks 5th out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.0%. 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 per capita (current LCU). 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