Reported passenger kilometers in South Korea
South Korea: Reported passenger kilometers was 100.38 billion passenger-kilometers in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
100.38 billion passenger-kilometers
Change on year
up 8.9%
World rank
5th
of 63 countries
All-time high
100.38 billion passenger-kilometers
in 2019
All-time low
8.75 billion passenger-kilometers
in 1971
Years of data
50
1970–2019
Reported passenger kilometers in South Korea, 1970–2019
Source: OECD (2023); OECD (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in passenger-kilometers.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 100.38 billion passenger-kilometers for reported passenger kilometers in 2019. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
The figure is up 8.9% on the previous year and up 80.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reported passenger kilometers in South Korea peaked at 100.38 billion passenger-kilometers in 2019 and was at its lowest, 8.75 billion passenger-kilometers, in 1971.
That places South Korea 5th out of 63 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Reported passenger kilometers in South Korea, year by year
| Year | passenger-kilometers | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9.82 billion passenger-kilometers | — |
| 1971 | 8.75 billion passenger-kilometers | -10.9% |
| 1972 | 10.06 billion passenger-kilometers | +15.0% |
| 1973 | 10.27 billion passenger-kilometers | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 11.28 billion passenger-kilometers | +9.9% |
| 1975 | 13.27 billion passenger-kilometers | +17.6% |
| 1976 | 14.69 billion passenger-kilometers | +10.7% |
| 1977 | 17.65 billion passenger-kilometers | +20.1% |
| 1978 | 20.84 billion passenger-kilometers | +18.1% |
| 1979 | 22.29 billion passenger-kilometers | +7.0% |
| 1980 | 22.57 billion passenger-kilometers | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 22.79 billion passenger-kilometers | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 22.34 billion passenger-kilometers | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 23.24 billion passenger-kilometers | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 24.19 billion passenger-kilometers | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 27.07 billion passenger-kilometers | +11.9% |
| 1986 | 30.79 billion passenger-kilometers | +13.7% |
| 1987 | 32.42 billion passenger-kilometers | +5.3% |
| 1988 | 34.53 billion passenger-kilometers | +6.5% |
| 1989 | 36.74 billion passenger-kilometers | +6.4% |
| 1990 | 41.09 billion passenger-kilometers | +11.8% |
| 1991 | 45.36 billion passenger-kilometers | +10.4% |
| 1992 | 47.76 billion passenger-kilometers | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 46.86 billion passenger-kilometers | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 45.25 billion passenger-kilometers | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 43.34 billion passenger-kilometers | -4.2% |
| 1996 | 42.44 billion passenger-kilometers | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 41.76 billion passenger-kilometers | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 44.12 billion passenger-kilometers | +5.6% |
| 1999 | 46.85 billion passenger-kilometers | +6.2% |
| 2000 | 49.56 billion passenger-kilometers | +5.8% |
| 2001 | 59.15 billion passenger-kilometers | +19.4% |
| 2002 | 51.93 billion passenger-kilometers | -12.2% |
| 2003 | 50.98 billion passenger-kilometers | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 52.75 billion passenger-kilometers | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 54.64 billion passenger-kilometers | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 55.53 billion passenger-kilometers | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 55.73 billion passenger-kilometers | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 56.77 billion passenger-kilometers | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 55.49 billion passenger-kilometers | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 58.38 billion passenger-kilometers | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 63.04 billion passenger-kilometers | +8.0% |
| 2012 | 70.08 billion passenger-kilometers | +11.2% |
| 2013 | 66.35 billion passenger-kilometers | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 67.86 billion passenger-kilometers | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 68.37 billion passenger-kilometers | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 86.87 billion passenger-kilometers | +27.1% |
| 2017 | 89.96 billion passenger-kilometers | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 92.19 billion passenger-kilometers | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 100.38 billion passenger-kilometers | +8.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 100.38 billion passenger-kilometers is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.56 billion passenger-kilometers, 15.3× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 100.38 billion passenger-kilometers is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.68 billion passenger-kilometers, 17.7× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.89 billion passenger-kilometers | 8.75 billion passenger-kilometers | 22.29 billion passenger-kilometers | 10 |
| 1980s | 27.67 billion passenger-kilometers | 22.34 billion passenger-kilometers | 36.74 billion passenger-kilometers | 10 |
| 1990s | 44.48 billion passenger-kilometers | 41.09 billion passenger-kilometers | 47.76 billion passenger-kilometers | 10 |
| 2000s | 54.25 billion passenger-kilometers | 49.56 billion passenger-kilometers | 59.15 billion passenger-kilometers | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.35 billion passenger-kilometers | 58.38 billion passenger-kilometers | 100.38 billion passenger-kilometers | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 2 India 1.16 trillion passenger-kilometers compare
- 3 Japan 289.89 billion passenger-kilometers compare
- 4 France 117.85 billion passenger-kilometers compare
- 6 Russia 78.57 billion passenger-kilometers compare
- 7 Germany 57.53 billion passenger-kilometers compare
- 8 United Kingdom 51.15 billion passenger-kilometers compare
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 reported passenger kilometers in South Korea?
- Reported passenger kilometers in South Korea was 100.38 billion passenger-kilometers in 2019, according to OECD (2023); OECD (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest reported passenger kilometers recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 100.38 billion passenger-kilometers in 2019.
- What is the lowest reported passenger kilometers recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.75 billion passenger-kilometers in 1971.
- How does South Korea rank for reported passenger kilometers?
- South Korea ranks 5th out of 63 countries with data for 2019.
- Is reported passenger kilometers rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 80.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2023); OECD (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Reported passenger kilometers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of kilometers traveled by passengers by rail.