Affordability of cigarettes in South Korea
South Korea: Affordability of cigarettes was 1.1% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Affordability of cigarettes in South Korea, 2012–2022
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for affordability of cigarettes in South Korea is 1.1%, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 12.5% on the previous year and up 20.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, affordability of cigarettes in South Korea peaked at 1.3% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2014.
South Korea ranks 167th of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.3% | 4 |
| 2020s | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 164 Guyana 1.2% compare
- 165 Kazakhstan 1.2% compare
- 166 United States 1.1% compare
- 168 Switzerland 1.0% compare
- 169 Andorra 0.9% compare
- 170 Belarus 0.8% compare
More reference data data for South Korea
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.1 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7164 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.8996 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 2.24 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.9115 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 135 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is affordability of cigarettes in South Korea?
- Affordability of cigarettes in South Korea was 1.1% in 2022, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest affordability of cigarettes recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.3% in 2016.
- What is the lowest affordability of cigarettes recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2014.
- How does South Korea rank for affordability of cigarettes?
- South Korea ranks 167th out of 176 countries with data for 2022.
- Is affordability of cigarettes rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Affordability of cigarettes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The price of 100 packs of cigarettes as a share of GDP per capita. This price is based on the most-sold brand of cigarettes in a given country and includes taxes. Lower values indicate that cigarettes are more affordable.