Income share held by highest 10% in South Korea
South Korea: Income share held by highest 10% was 25.0% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Income share held by highest 10% in South Korea, 2006–2021
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
Analysis
The most recent figure for income share held by highest 10% in South Korea is 25.0%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and up 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share held by highest 10% in South Korea peaked at 26.4% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 23.7%, in 2014.
South Korea ranks 78th of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Income share held by highest 10% in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 24.0% | — |
| 2008 | 24.5% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 24.2% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 23.8% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 23.7% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 26.4% | +11.4% |
| 2017 | 26.1% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 25.2% | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 25.2% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 25.2% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 25.0% | -0.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 25.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.0%, 1.0× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 25.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28.1%, 89% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24.2% | 24.0% | 24.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 24.9% | 23.7% | 26.4% | 7 |
| 2020s | 25.1% | 25.0% | 25.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 75 Kosovo 25.1% compare
- 75 Russia 25.1% compare
- 75 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 25.1% compare
- 78 France 25.0% compare
- 78 Luxembourg 25.0% compare
- 78 United Kingdom 25.0% compare
More poverty & inequality data for South Korea
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 6 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 0.72 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 6,615 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 0.0454 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 26.87 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 26.9% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is income share held by highest 10% in South Korea?
- Income share held by highest 10% in South Korea was 25.0% in 2021, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
- What is the highest income share held by highest 10% recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 26.4% in 2016.
- What is the lowest income share held by highest 10% recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.7% in 2014.
- How does South Korea rank for income share held by highest 10%?
- South Korea ranks 78th out of 123 countries with data for 2021.
- Is income share held by highest 10% rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Income share held by highest 10%. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles.