Number of new cars sold, by type in South Korea
South Korea: Number of new cars sold, by type was 217,000 cars in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of new cars sold, by type in South Korea, 2010–2025
Source: International Energy Agency. Global EV Outlook 2025. – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in cars.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 217,000 cars for number of new cars sold, by type in 2025. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 69.7% on the previous year and up 6,377.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of new cars sold, by type in South Korea peaked at 217,000 cars in 2025 and was at its lowest, 61 cars, in 2010.
South Korea ranks 9th of 58 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of new cars sold, by type in South Korea, year by year
| Year | cars | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 61 cars | — |
| 2011 | 270 cars | +342.6% |
| 2012 | 510 cars | +88.9% |
| 2013 | 600 cars | +17.6% |
| 2014 | 1,300 cars | +116.7% |
| 2015 | 3,350 cars | +157.7% |
| 2016 | 5,030 cars | +50.1% |
| 2017 | 14,670 cars | +191.7% |
| 2018 | 59,400 cars | +304.9% |
| 2019 | 35,700 cars | -39.9% |
| 2020 | 39,700 cars | +11.2% |
| 2021 | 91,000 cars | +129.2% |
| 2022 | 131,000 cars | +44.0% |
| 2023 | 132,000 cars | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 127,900 cars | -3.1% |
| 2025 | 217,000 cars | +69.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 217,000 cars is above the median for high income countries, which is 42,000 cars, 5.2× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 217,000 cars is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 108,650 cars, 2.0× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 12,089 cars | 61 cars | 59,400 cars | 10 |
| 2020s | 123,100 cars | 39,700 cars | 217,000 cars | 6 |
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 number of new cars sold, by type in South Korea?
- Number of new cars sold, by type in South Korea was 217,000 cars in 2025, according to International Energy Agency. Global EV Outlook 2025. – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of new cars sold, by type recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 217,000 cars in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of new cars sold, by type recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 61 cars in 2010.
- How does South Korea rank for number of new cars sold, by type?
- South Korea ranks 9th out of 58 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of new cars sold, by type rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6,377.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency. Global EV Outlook 2025. – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of new cars sold, by type. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 16 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Electric cars include fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrids.