Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in South Korea
South Korea: Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) was 0.1% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Proportion of population below international poverty line in South Korea, 2006–2021
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of population below international poverty line in South Korea is 0.1%, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of down 80.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population below international poverty line in South Korea peaked at 0.5% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2020.
South Korea ranks 110th of 133 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Proportion of population below international poverty line (%) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 0.5% | — |
| 2008 | 0.5% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | -40.0% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | -33.3% |
| 2017 | 0.2% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -50.0% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | +0.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.4%, 25% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.9%, 11% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 7 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 110 Belgium 0.1% compare
- 110 France 0.1% compare
- 110 Iceland 0.1% compare
- 110 Ireland 0.1% compare
- 110 Jordan 0.1% compare
- 110 Luxembourg 0.1% compare
- 110 Netherlands (Kingdom of the) 0.1% compare
- 110 Republic of Korea 0.1% compare
- 110 Republic of Moldova 0.1% compare
- 110 Russian Federation 0.1% compare
- 110 Moldova 0.1% compare
- 110 Russia 0.1% 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 proportion of population below international poverty line in South Korea?
- Proportion of population below international poverty line in South Korea was 0.1% in 2021, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 0.5% in 2006.
- What is the lowest proportion of population below international poverty line recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2020.
- How does South Korea rank for proportion of population below international poverty line?
- South Korea ranks 110th out of 133 countries with data for 2021.
- Is proportion of population below international poverty line rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 80.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of population below international poverty line (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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