Japan vs South Korea: Threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax)
Japan
1,032 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2020
South Korea
1,153 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2021
Japan rank
21st
South Korea rank
18th
Threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax) over time
- Japan
- South Korea
How they compare
South Korea currently reports 1,153 international-$ in 2021 prices against 1,032 international-$ in 2021 prices in Japan, a difference of 121 international-$ in 2021 prices.
That makes South Korea's figure about 1.1 times Japan's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 9 shared years of data; in 2008 it was Japan ahead.
Japan ranks 21st and South Korea ranks 18th of 47 countries.
Across the 3 decades both report, Japan averaged higher in 2 and South Korea in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Japan | South Korea | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,005 international-$ in 2021 prices | 763.26 international-$ in 2021 prices | 241.72 international-$ in 2021 prices | Japan |
| 2010s | 1,041 international-$ in 2021 prices | 894.08 international-$ in 2021 prices | 146.6 international-$ in 2021 prices | Japan |
| 2020s | 1,032 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1,136 international-$ in 2021 prices | 104.21 international-$ in 2021 prices | South Korea |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax), Japan or South Korea?
- South Korea, at 1,153 international-$ in 2021 prices against 1,032 international-$ in 2021 prices in Japan as of 2021.
- What is the difference in threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax) between Japan and South Korea?
- 121 international-$ in 2021 prices, with South Korea ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Japan and South Korea?
- 9 years are reported by both, from 2008 to 2020.
- How do Japan and South Korea rank globally for threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax)?
- Japan ranks 21st and South Korea ranks 18th of 47 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Threshold income per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile (after tax). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Level of income per month below which 10% of the population falls.