Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ in South Korea

South Korea: Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ was 54.25 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
54.25 international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
up 5.1%
World rank
18th
of 120 countries
All-time high
54.25 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2021
All-time low
33.64 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2006
Years of data
11
2006–2021

Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ in South Korea, 2006–2021

02040602006201320212006: 33.6 international-$ in 2021 prices2008: 34.3 international-$ in 2021 prices2010: 34.9 international-$ in 2021 prices2012: 37.3 international-$ in 2021 prices2014: 38.9 international-$ in 2021 prices2016: 44.8 international-$ in 2021 prices2017: 46.5 international-$ in 2021 prices2018: 47.8 international-$ in 2021 prices2019: 49.9 international-$ in 2021 prices2020: 51.6 international-$ in 2021 prices2021: 54.3 international-$ in 2021 prices

Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.

Analysis

The most recent figure for median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ in South Korea is 54.25 international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.1% on the previous year and up 55.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ in South Korea peaked at 54.25 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021 and was at its lowest, 33.64 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2006.

South Korea ranks 18th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 33.98 international-$ in 2021 prices 33.64 international-$ in 2021 prices 34.31 international-$ in 2021 prices 2
2010s 42.87 international-$ in 2021 prices 34.89 international-$ in 2021 prices 49.88 international-$ in 2021 prices 7
2020s 52.93 international-$ in 2021 prices 51.61 international-$ in 2021 prices 54.25 international-$ in 2021 prices 2

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 16 Sweden 55.6 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  2. 17 United Kingdom 54.55 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  3. 19 Cyprus 52.14 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
  4. 21 Slovenia 49.24 international-$ in 2021 prices compare

See the full ranking of 120 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ in South Korea?
Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ in South Korea was 54.25 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 median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 54.25 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021.
What is the lowest median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 33.64 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2006.
How does South Korea rank for median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$?
South Korea ranks 18th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
Is median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 55.5%. 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 Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$
Unit
international-$ in 2021 prices
Source
World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
120 places, 2,148 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

Value of income or consumption per day below which 50% of the population live.