Income share held by highest 20% in South Korea
South Korea: Income share held by highest 20% was 40.3% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Income share held by highest 20% 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 20% in South Korea is 40.3%, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share held by highest 20% in South Korea peaked at 41.9% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 38.9%, in 2014.
That places South Korea 78th out of 123 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Income share held by highest 20% in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 39.2% | — |
| 2008 | 39.8% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 39.5% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 39.0% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 38.9% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 41.9% | +7.7% |
| 2017 | 41.6% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 40.7% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 40.5% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 40.3% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 40.3% | +0.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 40.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 39.9%, 1.0× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 40.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 43.1%, 94% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 39.5% | 39.2% | 39.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 40.3% | 38.9% | 41.9% | 7 |
| 2020s | 40.3% | 40.3% | 40.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 75 Luxembourg 40.7% compare
- 76 Cyprus 40.6% compare
- 77 Montenegro 40.4% compare
- 79 Spain 40.2% compare
- 80 Bangladesh 40.1% compare
- 81 Mauritania 40.0% compare
- 81 United Kingdom 40.0% compare
- 81 Uzbekistan 40.0% 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 20% in South Korea?
- Income share held by highest 20% in South Korea was 40.3% 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 20% recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 41.9% in 2016.
- What is the lowest income share held by highest 20% recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.9% in 2014.
- How does South Korea rank for income share held by highest 20%?
- South Korea ranks 78th out of 123 countries with data for 2021.
- Is income share held by highest 20% rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 20%. 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. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.