In 2023, South Korea's gross national income (GNI) per capita was approximately ***** million South Korean won, while North Korea's GNI per capita was about **** million won. South Korea's GNI per capita was almost ** times higher than that of North Korea.

Key information about South Korea Household Income per Capita

• South Korea Annual Household Income per Capita reached 19,208.928 USD in Dec 2024, compared with the previous value of 19,230.954 USD in Dec 2023.
• South Korea Annual Household Income per Capita data is updated yearly, available from Dec 2003 to Dec 2024, with an averaged value of 14,290.376 USD.
• The data reached an all-time high of 19,230.954 USD in Dec 2023 and a record low of 7,685.194 USD in Dec 2003.
• In the latest reports, Retail Sales of South Korea dropped 0.473 % YoY in May 2023.

CEIC calculates Annual Household Income per Capita from quarterly Monthly Household Income multiplied by 3 and quarterly Average Household Size and converts it into USD. Statistics Korea provides Household Income in local currency and Average Household Size. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Household Income excludes single person and farm households. Household Income per Capita prior to 2019 is based on old methodology.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in North Korea was worth 18 billion US dollars in 2019, according to official data from the World Bank. The GDP value of North Korea represents 0.02 percent of the world economy. This dataset provides - North Korea GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2024, around ** percent of North Korean refugees in South Korea stated that they received between *** and ***** million South Korean won. That year, the average monthly wages of North Korean refugees amounted to about *** million won. While this represented a slight increase from the previous year, it remains below the average for South Koreans, which was approximately *** million won per month in the same year.

In 2023, the median household disposable income in South Korea amounted to around ***** million South Korean won, showing a steady increase over the past few years. The median disposable income of South Korean households has steadily increased over the past few years.

The Gross Domestic Product per capita in South Korea was last recorded at 34121.02 US dollars in 2023. The GDP per Capita in South Korea is equivalent to 270 percent of the world's average. This dataset provides - South Korea GDP per capita - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2023, the average annual wage in South Korea fell to 47,715 U.S. dollars after adjusting for purchasing power parity (PPP). The average salary in South Korea showed a general trend of positive growth within the given period. The monthly wage was projected to reach over 5,400 U.S. dollars in 2040, the highest value among the surveyed countries. Work-life balance South Korea has some of the longest working hours in the world. Although working hours in the country have decreased over the past decade, measures such as flexible working hours have been implemented to promote a better work-life balance. Nevertheless, South Korea still ranks among the top five countries with the longest working hours in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Many South Koreans tend to prefer working for a company that offers a good work-life balance rather than a company that offers a higher salary. This preference is especially strong among parents. Women in the job market While the employment rate of South Korean women has increased steadily over the past decade, the gender pay gap persists. On average, female workers earned about 65 percent of their male counterparts’ income. The average monthly salary in South Korea was around 4.26 million South Korean won for men and about 2.78 million won for women that year.

North Korea KP: Imports: High-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports data was reported at 2.174 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.942 % for 2015. North Korea KP: Imports: High-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports data is updated yearly, averaging 39.012 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 61.032 % in 1983 and a record low of 2.174 % in 2016. North Korea KP: Imports: High-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Imports. Merchandise imports from high-income economies are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from high-income economies according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.; ; World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.; Weighted average;

North Korea KP: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Middle East & North Africa data was reported at 0.040 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.025 % for 2015. North Korea KP: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Middle East & North Africa data is updated yearly, averaging 0.520 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 25.558 % in 2006 and a record low of 0.008 % in 2003. North Korea KP: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Middle East & North Africa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Imports. Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle East and North Africa are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the Middle East and North Africa region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.; ; World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.; Weighted average;

In 2023, South Korea's nominal gross domestic product (GDP) reached approximately ***** trillion South Korean won, while North Korea's amounted to about **** trillion South Korean won. Consequently, South Korea's nominal GDP was approximately ** times larger than that of North Korea during that year. Moreover, North Korea's GDP growth has been notably slower than that of South Korea.North Korea's economic development North Korea's economy is centered around its capital city and military, with particular emphasis on the expansion of its nuclear capabilities in recent decades. Roughly ** percent of foreign trade has been with China in the past decade, from which it imports mainly intermediate goods and raw materials. Food shortages, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, are a recurring issue for North Korea, as poor harvests, international sanctions, and a downturn in inter-Korean trade have created sourcing problems. The full extent of this issue remains unknown, but it is estimated that almost **** the population is undernourished. Kaesong Industrial ComplexThe Kaesong Industrial Complex project began in 2000 and was a crucial part of South Korea's efforts to improve relations with North Korea. It aimed to foster cooperation between the two Koreas and promote stability in the region. The industrial park, located in Kaesong, North Korea, was intended to provide a platform for small and medium-sized South Korean companies. South Korea would provide the necessary capital and infrastructure, while North Korean workers would be tasked with manufacturing products, aiming to stimulate economic growth on both sides of the border. Unfortunately, the complex was affected by tensions between the two Koreas and shut down in 2016. It has not been reopened since.

North Korea: Income, profits, and capital gains taxes: percent of revenue: The latest value from is percent, unavailable from percent in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 percent, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for North Korea from to is percent. The minimum value, percent, was reached in while the maximum of percent was recorded in .

North Korea KP: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Latin America & The Caribbean data was reported at 0.235 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.352 % for 2015. North Korea KP: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Latin America & The Caribbean data is updated yearly, averaging 2.313 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.199 % in 1999 and a record low of 0.171 % in 1981. North Korea KP: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Latin America & The Caribbean data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank.WDI: Imports. Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Latin America and the Caribbean are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the Latin America and the Caribbean region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.; ; World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.; Weighted average;

The Gross Domestic Product per capita in South Korea was last recorded at 49995.49 US dollars in 2023, when adjusted by purchasing power parity (PPP). The GDP per Capita, in South Korea, when adjusted by Purchasing Power Parity is equivalent to 281 percent of the world's average. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - South Korea GDP per capita PPP - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

In 2023, South Korea's per capita disposable income amounted to around ***** million South Korean won, up from about ***** million won in the previous year. Per capita net disposable income in South Korea has risen steadily in recent years.

Wages in South Korea increased to 4830873 KRW/Month in the first quarter of 2025 from 4491305 KRW/Month in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - South Korea Total Wages - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

North Korea gni per capita for was $0.00, a 0% increase from .

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</ul>GNI per capita (formerly GNP per capita) is the gross national income, converted to U.S. dollars using the World Bank Atlas method, divided by the midyear population. GNI is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad. GNI, calculated in national currency, is usually converted to U.S. dollars at official exchange rates for comparisons across economies, although an alternative rate is used when the official exchange rate is judged to diverge by an exceptionally large margin from the rate actually applied in international transactions. To smooth fluctuations in prices and exchange rates, a special Atlas method of conversion is used by the World Bank. This applies a conversion factor that averages the exchange rate for a given year and the two preceding years, adjusted for differences in rates of inflation between the country, and through 2000, the G-5 countries (France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States). From 2001, these countries include the Euro area, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

North Korea: External debt, percent of Gross National Income: The latest value from is percent, unavailable from percent in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 percent, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for North Korea from to is percent. The minimum value, percent, was reached in while the maximum of percent was recorded in .

North Korea KP: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Europe & Central Asia data was reported at 1.980 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.429 % for 2015. North Korea KP: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Europe & Central Asia data is updated yearly, averaging 2.480 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.617 % in 1996 and a record low of 0.249 % in 1991. North Korea KP: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Europe & Central Asia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Imports. Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Europe and Central Asia are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the Europe and Central Asia region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.; ; World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.; Weighted average;

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the average monthly income of South Korean households amounted to about **** million South Korean won, up from about **** million South Korean won in the same quarter of the previous year. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, household income dropped *** percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2021, but recovered by the end of the year.

In 2024, the average salary of South Korean employees, which includes fixed salary and overtime pay, amounted to around **** million South Korean won, a slight increase from the previous year. Average salary levels in South Korea have risen steadily over the past decade. Working conditions in South Korea The working conditions in South Korea have also generally improved in recent years. For example, the average monthly working hours of employees have steadily declined. At the same time, an increasing number of wage and salary workers have taken advantage of flexible work arrangements, such as flextime or working from home. However, there is still room for improvement in some areas – working hours are still very long compared to the international average, and working from home is not as widespread in small and medium-sized enterprises as in large companies. Working from home Between 2019 and 2023, the number of employees working from home increased significantly, rising more than sevenfold. This surge was primarily driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as the pandemic gradually subsided and restrictions eased, the number of individuals working remotely has declined.