Total shortfall from extreme poverty in South Korea
South Korea: Total shortfall from extreme poverty was 34.39 million international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Total shortfall from extreme poverty in South Korea, 2006–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 34.39 million international-$ in 2021 prices for total shortfall from extreme poverty in 2021.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and down 77.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total shortfall from extreme poverty in South Korea peaked at 154.15 million international-$ in 2021 prices in 2010 and was at its lowest, 33.24 million international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2020.
South Korea ranks 73rd 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 shortfall from extreme poverty in South Korea, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 124.67 million international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2008 | 123.77 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 154.15 million international-$ in 2021 prices | +24.6% |
| 2012 | 110.80 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -28.1% |
| 2014 | 94.19 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -15.0% |
| 2016 | 58.09 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -38.3% |
| 2017 | 55.41 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 45.02 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -18.8% |
| 2019 | 35.91 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -20.2% |
| 2020 | 33.24 million international-$ in 2021 prices | -7.4% |
| 2021 | 34.39 million international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 34.39 million international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for high income countries, which is 21.17 million international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.6× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 34.39 million international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 130.94 million international-$ in 2021 prices, 26% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 124.22 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 123.77 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 124.67 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
| 2010s | 79.08 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 35.91 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 154.15 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 7 |
| 2020s | 33.82 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 33.24 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 34.39 million international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 70 Paraguay 36.76 million international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 71 France 34.88 million international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 72 Serbia 34.83 million international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 74 Dominican Republic 30.99 million international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 75 North Macedonia 30.72 million international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 76 Bulgaria 29.62 million international-$ in 2021 prices 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 total shortfall from extreme poverty in South Korea?
- Total shortfall from extreme poverty in South Korea was 34.39 million international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total shortfall from extreme poverty recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 154.15 million international-$ in 2021 prices in 2010.
- What is the lowest total shortfall from extreme poverty recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.24 million international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020.
- How does South Korea rank for total shortfall from extreme poverty?
- South Korea ranks 73rd out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is total shortfall from extreme poverty rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 77.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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 shortfall from extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This is the amount of money that would be theoretically needed to lift the income or consumption of all people in poverty up to $3 per day. However, this is not a measure of the actual cost of eliminating poverty, since it does not take into account the costs involved in making the necessary transfers nor any changes in behavior they would bring about.