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
Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ 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
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.
Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ in South Korea, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 33.64 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2008 | 34.31 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 34.89 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 37.31 international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.9% |
| 2014 | 38.89 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 44.77 international-$ in 2021 prices | +15.1% |
| 2017 | 46.53 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 47.84 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 49.88 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 51.61 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 54.25 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 54.25 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for high income countries, which is 49.01 international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 54.25 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 13.36 international-$ in 2021 prices, 4.1× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
- 15 Malta 56.03 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 16 Sweden 55.6 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 17 United Kingdom 54.55 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 19 Cyprus 52.14 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 20 Ireland 50.49 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 21 Slovenia 49.24 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 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Value of income or consumption per day below which 50% of the population live.