Country Library
KR

Republic of Korea

Analyst Library· Aug 2026
SeoulAsiaKoreanSouth Korean Won (KRW)

Official Data — Live Indicators

GDP Growth (annual %)

1.01

· 2025

World Bank Open Data

Inflation (CPI, % annual)

2.12

· 2025

World Bank Open Data

Unemployment Rate (%)

2.68

· 2025

World Bank Open Data

Total Population

51.7M

· 2025

World Bank Open Data

GDP per Capita (US$)

36,226.97

· 2025

World Bank Open Data

Inflation (CPI, % y/y — monthly)

2.79

% y/y inflation (CPI) · 2026-07

OECD Data

Unemployment Rate (% — monthly)

2.8

% of labour force · 2026-07

OECD Data

10Y Government Bond Yield (%)

4.29

% p.a. (10Y government bond yield) · 2026-08

OECD Data

Fetched from official statistical APIs (World Bank, OECD) — no AI estimation.

Overview

The Republic of Korea, commonly known as South Korea, is a highly developed country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Emerging from a devastating civil war in the 1950s, South Korea underwent a rapid economic transformation, often referred to as the 'Miracle on the Han River', becoming a global leader in technology, automotive manufacturing, and shipbuilding. Its vibrant democracy and cultural influence (Hallyu) are recognized worldwide. Today, South Korea stands as a major economic power and a key player in international affairs. It faces ongoing geopolitical tensions with its northern neighbor, North Korea, while maintaining strong alliances, particularly with the United States. The nation is also grappling with demographic challenges such as a rapidly aging population and one of the world's lowest fertility rates, alongside a continuous drive for innovation and sustainable development.

Economy

gdp nominal

$1.93 trillion (2026)

gdp ppp

$2.82 trillion (2024 est.)

gdp rank

15

gdp per capita

$37,412 (2026)

gdp growth rate

1.9% (2026)

inflation rate

2.5% (2024)

unemployment rate

2.81% (2026)

debt to gdp

54.3% (2022 est.)

major industries

Electronics, Telecommunications, Automobiles, Chemicals, Shipbuilding, Steel

top exports

Semiconductors, Automobiles, Petroleum products, Flat panel displays, Ships, Wireless communication devices

top imports

Crude petroleum, Natural gas, Semiconductors, Coal, Electronic components, Machinery

major trading partners

China, United States, Japan, Vietnam, Germany, Saudi Arabia

Demographics

population

51609905

population rank

31

population growth rate

-0.13

median age

46.2

urbanization rate

82.8

life expectancy

83.6 years (2022)

fertility rate

0.76

literacy rate

97.9% (2018)

ethnic groups

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religions

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age distribution

0 14: 11.7% (2023 est.) · 15 64: 71.1% (2023 est.) · 65 plus: 17.2% (2023 est.)

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Report refreshed monthly · Official indicators refreshed daily · Built with CleverGraph