GDP per capita (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) in South Korea
South Korea: GDP per capita (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) was 36,239 current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
36,239 current US$
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
43rd
of 211 countries
All-time high
37,518 current US$
in 2021
All-time low
281.79 current US$
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
GDP per capita in South Korea, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, gdp per capita in South Korea stood at 36,239 current US$.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 18.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in South Korea peaked at 37,518 current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 281.79 current US$, in 1970.
South Korea ranks 43rd of 211 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP per capita (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 281.79 current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 304.27 current US$ | +8.0% |
| 1972 | 328.02 current US$ | +7.8% |
| 1973 | 412.5 current US$ | +25.8% |
| 1974 | 572.49 current US$ | +38.8% |
| 1975 | 627.14 current US$ | +9.5% |
| 1976 | 847.21 current US$ | +35.1% |
| 1977 | 1,073 current US$ | +26.6% |
| 1978 | 1,429 current US$ | +33.2% |
| 1979 | 1,814 current US$ | +26.9% |
| 1980 | 1,746 current US$ | -3.8% |
| 1981 | 1,918 current US$ | +9.9% |
| 1982 | 2,032 current US$ | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 2,246 current US$ | +10.5% |
| 1984 | 2,469 current US$ | +9.9% |
| 1985 | 2,543 current US$ | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 2,911 current US$ | +14.5% |
| 1987 | 3,658 current US$ | +25.7% |
| 1988 | 4,889 current US$ | +33.7% |
| 1989 | 5,989 current US$ | +22.5% |
| 1990 | 6,813 current US$ | +13.8% |
| 1991 | 7,873 current US$ | +15.6% |
| 1992 | 8,387 current US$ | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 9,180 current US$ | +9.5% |
| 1994 | 10,734 current US$ | +16.9% |
| 1995 | 13,002 current US$ | +21.1% |
| 1996 | 13,865 current US$ | +6.6% |
| 1997 | 12,822 current US$ | -7.5% |
| 1998 | 8,583 current US$ | -33.1% |
| 1999 | 11,062 current US$ | +28.9% |
| 2000 | 12,710 current US$ | +14.9% |
| 2001 | 11,982 current US$ | -5.7% |
| 2002 | 13,643 current US$ | +13.9% |
| 2003 | 15,212 current US$ | +11.5% |
| 2004 | 17,122 current US$ | +12.6% |
| 2005 | 20,167 current US$ | +17.8% |
| 2006 | 22,610 current US$ | +12.1% |
| 2007 | 25,078 current US$ | +10.9% |
| 2008 | 22,252 current US$ | -11.3% |
| 2009 | 19,937 current US$ | -10.4% |
| 2010 | 24,071 current US$ | +20.7% |
| 2011 | 26,175 current US$ | +8.7% |
| 2012 | 26,600 current US$ | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 28,449 current US$ | +7.0% |
| 2014 | 30,667 current US$ | +7.8% |
| 2015 | 30,172 current US$ | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 30,832 current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 33,297 current US$ | +8.0% |
| 2018 | 35,364 current US$ | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 33,827 current US$ | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 33,646 current US$ | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 37,518 current US$ | +11.5% |
| 2022 | 34,822 current US$ | -7.2% |
| 2023 | 35,674 current US$ | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 36,239 current US$ | +1.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 36,239 current US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 38,080 current US$, 95% of the median. (82 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 36,239 current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7,406 current US$, 4.9× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 768.91 current US$ | 281.79 current US$ | 1,814 current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 3,040 current US$ | 1,746 current US$ | 5,989 current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 10,232 current US$ | 6,813 current US$ | 13,865 current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 18,071 current US$ | 11,982 current US$ | 25,078 current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 29,946 current US$ | 24,071 current US$ | 35,364 current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 35,580 current US$ | 33,646 current US$ | 37,518 current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 40 Puerto Rico 39,285 current US$ compare
- 41 Cyprus 38,654 current US$ compare
- 42 Turks and Caicos Islands 37,507 current US$ compare
- 44 Spain 35,297 current US$ compare
- 45 Saudi Arabia 35,057 current US$ compare
- 46 Slovenia 34,089 current US$ 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)
- 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 36,239 current US$ in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 37,518 current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 281.79 current US$ in 1970.
- How does South Korea rank for gdp per capita?
- South Korea ranks 43rd 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 18.2%. 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 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