Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in South Korea
South Korea: Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile was 736.85 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▲ Rising
Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in South Korea, 2006–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
In 2021, threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in South Korea stood at 736.85 international-$ in 2021 prices. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 55.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in South Korea peaked at 736.85 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021 and was at its lowest, 450.62 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2006.
That places South Korea 21st out of 120 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in South Korea, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 450.62 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2008 | 453.6 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 474.27 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 498.73 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 530.75 international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.4% |
| 2016 | 547.47 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 574.84 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 622.18 international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.2% |
| 2019 | 666.37 international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.1% |
| 2020 | 719.44 international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.0% |
| 2021 | 736.85 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 736.85 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for high income countries, which is 697.69 international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 736.85 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 188.81 international-$ in 2021 prices, 3.9× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 452.11 international-$ in 2021 prices | 450.62 international-$ in 2021 prices | 453.6 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
| 2010s | 559.23 international-$ in 2021 prices | 474.27 international-$ in 2021 prices | 666.37 international-$ in 2021 prices | 7 |
| 2020s | 728.14 international-$ in 2021 prices | 719.44 international-$ in 2021 prices | 736.85 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 18 Sweden 793.64 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 19 United States 788.73 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 20 United Kingdom 770.23 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 22 Taiwan 734.22 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 23 Czechia 658.52 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 24 Italy 619 international-$ in 2021 prices 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 threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in South Korea?
- Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in South Korea was 736.85 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 736.85 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021.
- What is the lowest threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 450.62 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2006.
- How does South Korea rank for threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile?
- South Korea ranks 21st out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Level of income or consumption per month below which 10% of the population falls.