Air passengers in South Korea
South Korea: Air passengers was 76.27 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in South Korea, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 76.27 million for air passengers in 2023.
The figure is up 62.8% on the previous year and up 39.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in South Korea peaked at 92.43 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1.21 million, in 1970.
That places South Korea 16th out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.21 million | — |
| 1971 | 1.46 million | +21.1% |
| 1972 | 1.64 million | +12.1% |
| 1973 | 2.21 million | +35.0% |
| 1974 | 1.92 million | -13.1% |
| 1975 | 2.05 million | +6.4% |
| 1976 | 2.08 million | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 2.47 million | +18.9% |
| 1978 | 3.10 million | +25.7% |
| 1979 | 3.73 million | +20.2% |
| 1980 | 3.57 million | -4.3% |
| 1981 | 4.19 million | +17.4% |
| 1982 | 4.20 million | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 4.86 million | +15.7% |
| 1984 | 5.35 million | +10.1% |
| 1985 | 6.20 million | +15.9% |
| 1986 | 7.21 million | +16.3% |
| 1987 | 8.33 million | +15.5% |
| 1988 | 9.83 million | +17.9% |
| 1989 | 13.16 million | +33.9% |
| 1990 | 15.68 million | +19.2% |
| 1991 | 16.91 million | +7.8% |
| 1992 | 19.77 million | +16.9% |
| 1993 | 21.43 million | +8.4% |
| 1994 | 24.93 million | +16.4% |
| 1995 | 29.35 million | +17.7% |
| 1996 | 33.00 million | +12.5% |
| 1997 | 35.51 million | +7.6% |
| 1998 | 27.11 million | -23.6% |
| 1999 | 30.87 million | +13.9% |
| 2000 | 34.33 million | +11.2% |
| 2001 | 33.71 million | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 34.83 million | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 33.37 million | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 34.51 million | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 33.89 million | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 34.84 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 36.66 million | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 36.08 million | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 34.17 million | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 36.99 million | +8.3% |
| 2011 | 39.91 million | +7.9% |
| 2012 | 39.97 million | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 54.53 million | +36.4% |
| 2014 | 58.29 million | +6.9% |
| 2015 | 66.09 million | +13.4% |
| 2016 | 76.86 million | +16.3% |
| 2017 | 82.82 million | +7.8% |
| 2018 | 88.16 million | +6.4% |
| 2019 | 92.43 million | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 30.03 million | -67.5% |
| 2021 | 34.02 million | +13.3% |
| 2022 | 46.85 million | +37.7% |
| 2023 | 76.27 million | +62.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 76.27 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.14 million, 8.3× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 76.27 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.05 million, 37.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -67.5% | 92.43 million | 30.03 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.19 million | 1.21 million | 3.73 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.69 million | 3.57 million | 13.16 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.46 million | 15.68 million | 35.51 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 34.64 million | 33.37 million | 36.66 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.61 million | 36.99 million | 92.43 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.79 million | 30.03 million | 76.27 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More reference data data for South Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in South Korea?
- Air passengers in South Korea was 76.27 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 92.43 million in 2019.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.21 million in 1970.
- How does South Korea rank for air passengers?
- South Korea ranks 16th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.