Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line was 14.2% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Republic of 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. Measured in % of population.
Analysis
Republic of Korea recorded 14.2% for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Republic of Korea peaked at 17.2% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 14.1%, in 2020.
Republic of Korea ranks 91st of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 15.4% | — |
| 2008 | 15.3% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 14.5% | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 15.0% | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 14.2% | -5.3% |
| 2016 | 17.2% | +21.1% |
| 2017 | 17.1% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 15.9% | -7.0% |
| 2019 | 15.2% | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 14.1% | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 14.2% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15.4% | 15.3% | 15.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 15.6% | 14.2% | 17.2% | 7 |
| 2020s | 14.1% | 14.1% | 14.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
More poverty & inequality data for Republic of 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 poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Republic of Korea?
- Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line in Republic of Korea was 14.2% 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 poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 17.2% in 2016.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.1% in 2020.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line?
- Republic of Korea ranks 91st out of 123 countries with data for 2021.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Republic of 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 Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Societal Poverty Line. The Societal Poverty Line is expressed in purchasing power adjusted 2021 U.S. dollars and defined as max($3.00, $1.30 + 0.5*Median). This means that when the national median is sufficiently low, the Societal Poverty line is equivalent to the extreme poverty line, $3.00. For countries with a sufficiently high national median, the Societal Poverty Line grows as countries’ median income grows.