Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Total population living in extreme poverty by world region was 51,770 people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Republic of Korea, 2006–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2021, total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Republic of Korea stood at 51,770 people. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 79.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Republic of Korea peaked at 250,999 people in 2012 and was at its lowest, 51,770 people, in 2021.
Republic of Korea ranks 79th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 242,191 people | — |
| 2008 | 245,274 people | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 247,771 people | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 250,999 people | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 152,240 people | -39.3% |
| 2016 | 102,436 people | -32.7% |
| 2017 | 102,724 people | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 103,170 people | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 103,530 people | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 51,836 people | -49.9% |
| 2021 | 51,770 people | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 243,732 people | 242,191 people | 245,274 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 151,839 people | 102,436 people | 250,999 people | 7 |
| 2020s | 51,803 people | 51,770 people | 51,836 people | 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 total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Republic of Korea?
- Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Republic of Korea was 51,770 people in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 250,999 people in 2012.
- What is the lowest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 51,770 people in 2021.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for total population living in extreme poverty by world region?
- Republic of Korea ranks 79th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is total population living in extreme poverty by world region rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 79.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Total population living in extreme poverty by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.