South Korea

Country in Asia

In brief

GDP: $1.9T (2025). World rank 13 of 210; in Asia, 4 of 47. Current account balance, share of GDP: +6.6% (2025). World rank 28 of 185; in Asia, 11 of 43. Living on under $3 a day: 0.1% (2021). World rank 12 of 116 (1 = best); in Asia, 6 of 28. From 2015 to 2025: GDP $1.5T → $1.9T, GDP per person $30,172 → $36,227, and GDP per person at purchasing power parity $39,794 → $63,125. Better than all its neighbours (North Korea): unemployment and youth unemployment.

Size and growth

GDP: $1.9T 2025
GDP per person: $36,227 2025
GDP per person at purchasing power parity: $63,125 2025
GDP growth per year: +1% 2025

Income and prices

Income level (World Bank): High income
Gross national income per person: $37,880 2025
Inflation: +2.1% 2025
Price level, USA = 100: 57 2025

Structure and jobs

Agriculture, share of GDP: 1.5% 2025
Industry, share of GDP: 34.3% 2025
Services, share of GDP: 57.2% 2025
Unemployment: 2.7% 2025
Youth unemployment, ages 15–24: 6.7% 2025
Women in work or seeking work: 56.8% 2025

Trade and finance

Exports, share of GDP: 45.8% 2025
Imports, share of GDP: 40.6% 2025
Current account balance, share of GDP: +6.6% 2025
Foreign direct investment, share of GDP: +0.8% 2025
Remittances received, share of GDP: 0.4% 2025
Tax revenue, share of GDP: 13.3% 2024
Currency: South Korean Won (KRW)

Poverty and inequality

Gini index (0 = full equality): 32.9 2021
Living on under $3 a day: 0.1% 2021