South Korea in figures

A profile of South Korea from official statistics: 23 figures in 5 sections, each with its period, its change from a year earlier, its rank among similar places where a ranking exists, and its source.

Figures last updated on 2026-10-12.

People

Population in South Korea was 51.68 million in 2025, down 0.1% from 2024, and the 29th highest of 215 countries.

Population51.68 million2025Down 0.1% from 2024The 29th highest of 215 countries
Population growth rate0.08%2023Up 0.26 percentage points from 2022The 45th lowest of 215 countries
Median age, July 1 estimate44.49 years2023, estimatedUp 0.54 years from 2022The 21st highest of 236 countries
Population aged 65 and over18.3%2023Up 0.9 percentage points from 2022
Population density530.2 inhabitants per km²2024Up 0.1% from 2023
Net migration87,8002023Unchanged from 2022
47M48M49M50M51M52M20012005200920132017202120252001: 47,370,164 persons2002: 47,644,736 persons2003: 47,892,330 persons2004: 48,082,519 persons2005: 48,184,561 persons2006: 48,438,292 persons2007: 48,683,638 persons2008: 49,054,708 persons2009: 49,307,835 persons2010: 49,554,112 persons2011: 49,936,638 persons2012: 50,199,853 persons2013: 50,428,893 persons2014: 50,746,659 persons2015: 51,014,947 persons2016: 51,217,803 persons2017: 51,361,911 persons2018: 51,585,058 persons2019: 51,764,822 persons2020: 51,836,239 persons2021: 51,769,539 persons2022: 51,672,569 persons2023: 51,712,619 persons2024: 51,751,065 persons2025: 51,684,564 persons46M48M50M52M2001201020252001: 47,370,164 persons2002: 47,644,736 persons2003: 47,892,330 persons2004: 48,082,519 persons2005: 48,184,561 persons2006: 48,438,292 persons2007: 48,683,638 persons2008: 49,054,708 persons2009: 49,307,835 persons2010: 49,554,112 persons2011: 49,936,638 persons2012: 50,199,853 persons2013: 50,428,893 persons2014: 50,746,659 persons2015: 51,014,947 persons2016: 51,217,803 persons2017: 51,361,911 persons2018: 51,585,058 persons2019: 51,764,822 persons2020: 51,836,239 persons2021: 51,769,539 persons2022: 51,672,569 persons2023: 51,712,619 persons2024: 51,751,065 persons2025: 51,684,564 persons
Population, 2001 to 2025. persons. Source: World Bank, Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL).

Sources: World Bank, Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL); World Bank, Population growth, annual % (SP.POP.GROW); United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Median age on 1 July, modelled estimates 1950 to 2023; projections excluded; World Bank, Population ages 65 and above, % of total population (SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS); World Bank, Population density, people per km² of land area (EN.POP.DNST); World Bank, Net migration (SM.POP.NETM). Population and demography statistics and rankings

Work and income

Unemployment rate in South Korea was 2.7% in August 2026, down 0.1 percentage points from August 2025.

Unemployment rate2.7%August 2026Down 0.1 percentage points from August 2025
Employment-population ratio, ages 15 and over62.6%2025Down less than 0.1 percentage points from 2024The 53rd highest of 181 countries
Gini index (World Bank, income or consumption)32.92021Up 0.2 points from 2020
2.42.62.833.23.42021-082022-052023-022023-112024-082025-052026-082021-08: 3.4 %2021-09: 3.1 %2021-10: 3.3 %2021-11: 3.1 %2021-12: 3.2 %2022-01: 3.2 %2022-02: 2.9 %2022-03: 2.8 %2022-04: 2.8 %2022-05: 2.9 %2022-06: 2.9 %2022-07: 3 %2022-08: 2.8 %2022-09: 2.9 %2022-10: 2.9 %2022-11: 2.8 %2022-12: 2.7 %2023-01: 2.7 %2023-02: 2.7 %2023-03: 2.7 %2023-04: 2.6 %2023-05: 2.5 %2023-06: 2.6 %2023-07: 2.9 %2023-08: 2.7 %2023-09: 2.8 %2023-10: 2.6 %2023-11: 2.8 %2023-12: 2.8 %2024-01: 2.8 %2024-02: 2.7 %2024-03: 2.8 %2024-04: 2.8 %2024-05: 2.8 %2024-06: 2.8 %2024-07: 2.7 %2024-08: 2.6 %2024-09: 2.6 %2024-10: 2.8 %2024-11: 2.8 %2024-12: 3.1 %2025-01: 2.8 %2025-02: 2.8 %2025-03: 2.8 %2025-04: 2.7 %2025-05: 2.7 %2025-06: 2.7 %2025-07: 2.7 %2025-08: 2.8 %2025-09: 2.7 %2025-10: 2.7 %2025-11: 2.8 %2025-12: 3.3 %2026-01: 3 %2026-02: 2.9 %2026-03: 2.7 %2026-04: 2.8 %2026-05: 2.8 %2026-06: 2.7 %2026-07: 2.8 %2026-08: 2.7 %2.52.7533.253.52021-082023-052025-022026-082021-08: 3.4 %2021-09: 3.1 %2021-10: 3.3 %2021-11: 3.1 %2021-12: 3.2 %2022-01: 3.2 %2022-02: 2.9 %2022-03: 2.8 %2022-04: 2.8 %2022-05: 2.9 %2022-06: 2.9 %2022-07: 3 %2022-08: 2.8 %2022-09: 2.9 %2022-10: 2.9 %2022-11: 2.8 %2022-12: 2.7 %2023-01: 2.7 %2023-02: 2.7 %2023-03: 2.7 %2023-04: 2.6 %2023-05: 2.5 %2023-06: 2.6 %2023-07: 2.9 %2023-08: 2.7 %2023-09: 2.8 %2023-10: 2.6 %2023-11: 2.8 %2023-12: 2.8 %2024-01: 2.8 %2024-02: 2.7 %2024-03: 2.8 %2024-04: 2.8 %2024-05: 2.8 %2024-06: 2.8 %2024-07: 2.7 %2024-08: 2.6 %2024-09: 2.6 %2024-10: 2.8 %2024-11: 2.8 %2024-12: 3.1 %2025-01: 2.8 %2025-02: 2.8 %2025-03: 2.8 %2025-04: 2.7 %2025-05: 2.7 %2025-06: 2.7 %2025-07: 2.7 %2025-08: 2.8 %2025-09: 2.7 %2025-10: 2.7 %2025-11: 2.8 %2025-12: 3.3 %2026-01: 3 %2026-02: 2.9 %2026-03: 2.7 %2026-04: 2.8 %2026-05: 2.8 %2026-06: 2.7 %2026-07: 2.8 %2026-08: 2.7 %
Unemployment rate, August 2021 to August 2026. %. Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD Infra-annual labour statistics: monthly harmonised unemployment, seasonally adjusted, total OECD working-age category, both sexes.

Sources: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD Infra-annual labour statistics: monthly harmonised unemployment, seasonally adjusted, total OECD working-age category, both sexes; World Bank, Employment to population ratio, 15+, total, %, modeled ILO estimate (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS); World Bank, Labor force participation rate, total, % of total population ages 15+, modeled ILO estimate (SL.TLF.CACT.ZS); World Bank, Gini index (SI.POV.GINI). Labor market statistics and rankings

Economy

GDP (US dollars) in South Korea was $1.87 trillion in 2025, down 0.2% from 2024, and the 12th highest of 199 countries in 2024.

Real GDP growth1%2025Down 1 percentage point from 2024The 60th lowest of 199 countries in 2024
GDP per capita, PPP (international dollars)63,125 international $2025Up 3.4% from 2024
General government gross debt, national accounts58% of GDP2025Up 1.4 percentage points from 2024
Trade as a share of GDP86.4%2025Up 1.7 percentage points from 2024
500K1M1.5M2M20012005200920132017202120252001: 567,564.8 USD million2002: 650,014.4 USD million2003: 728,516.5 USD million2004: 823,251.1 USD million2005: 971,740.3 USD million2006: 1,095,175.5 USD million2007: 1,220,911.9 USD million2008: 1,091,580.7 USD million2009: 983,065.2 USD million2010: 1,192,830 USD million2011: 1,307,103.5 USD million2012: 1,335,343.6 USD million2013: 1,434,669.7 USD million2014: 1,556,252.4 USD million2015: 1,539,212.3 USD million2016: 1,579,150.5 USD million2017: 1,710,196.8 USD million2018: 1,824,251.5 USD million2019: 1,751,045.8 USD million2020: 1,744,070.3 USD million2021: 1,942,313.6 USD million2022: 1,799,363.1 USD million2023: 1,844,800.9 USD million2024: 1,875,388.2 USD million2025: 1,872,375 USD million500K1M1.5M2M2001201020252001: 567,564.8 USD million2002: 650,014.4 USD million2003: 728,516.5 USD million2004: 823,251.1 USD million2005: 971,740.3 USD million2006: 1,095,175.5 USD million2007: 1,220,911.9 USD million2008: 1,091,580.7 USD million2009: 983,065.2 USD million2010: 1,192,830 USD million2011: 1,307,103.5 USD million2012: 1,335,343.6 USD million2013: 1,434,669.7 USD million2014: 1,556,252.4 USD million2015: 1,539,212.3 USD million2016: 1,579,150.5 USD million2017: 1,710,196.8 USD million2018: 1,824,251.5 USD million2019: 1,751,045.8 USD million2020: 1,744,070.3 USD million2021: 1,942,313.6 USD million2022: 1,799,363.1 USD million2023: 1,844,800.9 USD million2024: 1,875,388.2 USD million2025: 1,872,375 USD million
Gross domestic product (GDP), US dollars, 2001 to 2025. USD million. Source: World Bank, GDP, current US$ (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD).

Sources: World Bank, GDP, current US$ (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD); World Bank, GDP per capita, current US$ (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD); World Bank, GDP growth, annual % (NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG); World Bank, GDP per capita, PPP (current international $) (NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD); Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD National Accounts at a Glance: gross debt of general government, percentage of GDP (DSD_NAAG_VI@DF_NAAG_VI, LES13_FD4); World Bank, Trade, % of GDP (NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS). Economy statistics and rankings

Business and tourism

International visitor arrivals (non-residents, overnight and same-day) in South Korea were 18.94 million in 2025, up 15.7% from 2024, and the 8th lowest of 34 countries in 2022.

05M10M15M20M2008201120142017202020252008: 6,890,841 count2009: 7,817,533 count2010: 8,797,658 count2011: 9,794,796 count2012: 11,140,028 count2013: 12,175,550 count2014: 14,201,516 count2015: 13,231,651 count2016: 17,241,823 count2017: 13,335,758 count2018: 15,346,879 count2019: 17,502,756 count2020: 2,519,118 count2021: 967,003 count2022: 3,198,017 count2023: 11,031,665 count2024: 16,369,629 count2025: 18,936,562 count05M10M15M20M20082014202020252008: 6,890,841 count2009: 7,817,533 count2010: 8,797,658 count2011: 9,794,796 count2012: 11,140,028 count2013: 12,175,550 count2014: 14,201,516 count2015: 13,231,651 count2016: 17,241,823 count2017: 13,335,758 count2018: 15,346,879 count2019: 17,502,756 count2020: 2,519,118 count2021: 967,003 count2022: 3,198,017 count2023: 11,031,665 count2024: 16,369,629 count2025: 18,936,562 count
International visitor arrivals (non-residents, overnight and same-day), 2008 to 2025. count. Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD Inbound tourism: arrivals of non-resident visitors, overnight and same-day, tourism demand surveys and frontier statistics (DSD_TOURISM_INTER@DF_INBOUND).

Sources: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD Inbound tourism: arrivals of non-resident visitors, overnight and same-day, tourism demand surveys and frontier statistics (DSD_TOURISM_INTER@DF_INBOUND); Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD Key tourism economic indicators: tourism direct GDP, percentage of GDP (DSD_TOURISM_KEY@DF_KEY_IND_PC, GDP_SH). Companies statistics and rankings

Health

Life expectancy in South Korea was 83.43 years in 2023, up 0.75 years from 2022, and the 11th highest of 215 countries.

Life expectancy at birth83.43 years2023Up 0.75 years from 2022The 11th highest of 215 countries
Infant mortality rate2.3 per 1,000 live births2024Down 0.1 per 1,000 live births from 2023Tied for the 16th lowest of 195 countries
Adult obesity rate, age-standardized8.4%2024Up 0.5 percentage points from 2023The 20th lowest of 199 countries
Tobacco use, age-standardized19.6%2022No 2021 figure to compare
Health spending, share of GDP8.4% of GDP2025, provisionalDown less than 0.1 percentage points from 2024
74767880828419992003200720112015201920231999: 75.41 years2000: 75.91 years2001: 76.41 years2002: 76.77 years2003: 77.21 years2004: 77.67 years2005: 78.17 years2006: 78.67 years2007: 79.12 years2008: 79.52 years2009: 79.97 years2010: 80.12 years2011: 80.57 years2012: 80.82 years2013: 81.27 years2014: 81.72 years2015: 82.02 years2016: 82.28 years2017: 82.63 years2018: 82.63 years2019: 83.23 years2020: 83.43 years2021: 83.53 years2022: 82.68 years2023: 83.43 years7577.58082.5851999200820231999: 75.41 years2000: 75.91 years2001: 76.41 years2002: 76.77 years2003: 77.21 years2004: 77.67 years2005: 78.17 years2006: 78.67 years2007: 79.12 years2008: 79.52 years2009: 79.97 years2010: 80.12 years2011: 80.57 years2012: 80.82 years2013: 81.27 years2014: 81.72 years2015: 82.02 years2016: 82.28 years2017: 82.63 years2018: 82.63 years2019: 83.23 years2020: 83.43 years2021: 83.53 years2022: 82.68 years2023: 83.43 years
Life expectancy at birth, 1999 to 2023. years. Source: World Bank, Life expectancy at birth, total, years (SP.DYN.LE00.IN).

Sources: World Bank, Life expectancy at birth, total, years (SP.DYN.LE00.IN); World Bank, Mortality rate, infant, per 1,000 live births (SP.DYN.IMRT.IN); World Health Organization, Age-standardized prevalence of obesity among adults (18+ years), both sexes (NCD_BMI_30A); World Health Organization, Age-standardized prevalence of tobacco use among persons 15 years and older (%), both sexes (M_Est_tob_curr_std); Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD Health expenditure and financing: current expenditure on health, all financing schemes, share of GDP (DSD_SHA@DF_SHA). Health statistics and rankings

Sources and citations

Each figure comes from the table cited here. Cite the publisher; these citations include any notice the publisher requires.

  1. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  2. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population growth, annual % (SP.POP.GROW). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.GROW. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  3. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Median age on 1 July, modelled estimates 1950 to 2023; projections excluded. Modelled estimate. https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Excel%20Files/1_Indicator%20(Standard)/CSV_FILES/WPP2024_Demographic_Indicators_Medium.csv.gz. Retrieved 2026-10-10. CC BY 3.0 IGO.
  4. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population ages 65 and above, % of total population (SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  5. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population density, people per km² of land area (EN.POP.DNST). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  6. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Net migration (SM.POP.NETM). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SM.POP.NETM. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  7. OECD. OECD Infra-annual labour statistics: monthly harmonised unemployment, seasonally adjusted, total OECD working-age category, both sexes. https://www.oecd.org/en/data/indicators/unemployment-rate.html. Accessed 2026-10-10. Data reuse terms and downstream attribution: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/terms-conditions.html
  8. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Employment to population ratio, 15+, total, %, modeled ILO estimate (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  9. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Labor force participation rate, total, % of total population ages 15+, modeled ILO estimate (SL.TLF.CACT.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  10. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gini index (SI.POV.GINI). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  11. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP, current US$ (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  12. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP per capita, current US$ (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  13. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP growth, annual % (NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  14. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP per capita, PPP (current international $) (NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  15. OECD. OECD National Accounts at a Glance: gross debt of general government, percentage of GDP (DSD_NAAG_VI@DF_NAAG_VI, LES13_FD4). https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_NAAG_VI%40DF_NAAG_VI&df[ag]=OECD.SDD.NAD. Accessed 2026-10-12. Data reuse terms and downstream attribution: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/terms-conditions.html
  16. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Trade, % of GDP (NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  17. OECD. OECD Inbound tourism: arrivals of non-resident visitors, overnight and same-day, tourism demand surveys and frontier statistics (DSD_TOURISM_INTER@DF_INBOUND). https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_TOURISM_INTER%40DF_INBOUND&df[ag]=OECD.CFE.TOU. Accessed 2026-10-12. Data reuse terms and downstream attribution: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/terms-conditions.html
  18. OECD. OECD Key tourism economic indicators: tourism direct GDP, percentage of GDP (DSD_TOURISM_KEY@DF_KEY_IND_PC, GDP_SH). https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_TOURISM_KEY%40DF_KEY_IND_PC&df[ag]=OECD.CFE.TOU. Accessed 2026-10-12. Data reuse terms and downstream attribution: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/terms-conditions.html
  19. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Life expectancy at birth, total, years (SP.DYN.LE00.IN). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  20. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Mortality rate, infant, per 1,000 live births (SP.DYN.IMRT.IN). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.IMRT.IN. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  21. World Health Organization, data.who.int. Age-standardized prevalence of obesity among adults (18+ years), both sexes (NCD_BMI_30A) [Indicator]. https://data.who.int/indicators/i/C6262EC/BEFA58B (Accessed on 2026-10-12). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. No changes made to source values. WHO does not endorse Invokely or this use of the data.
  22. World Health Organization, data.who.int. Age-standardized prevalence of tobacco use among persons 15 years and older (%), both sexes (M_Est_tob_curr_std) [Indicator]. https://data.who.int/indicators/i/847662C/75DDA77 (Accessed on 2026-10-12). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. No changes made to source values. WHO does not endorse Invokely or this use of the data.
  23. OECD. OECD Health expenditure and financing: current expenditure on health, all financing schemes, share of GDP (DSD_SHA@DF_SHA). https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_SHA%40DF_SHA&df[ag]=OECD.ELS.HD. Accessed 2026-10-12. Data reuse terms and downstream attribution: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/terms-conditions.html

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Give me an overview of South Korea with the latest official figures and their sources.
get_place_profile {"place":"South Korea"}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/profile?place=kr

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

All statistics for South Korea