Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities in South Korea

South Korea: Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities was 8.5% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
8.5%
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
137th
of 166 countries
All-time high
10.7%
in 2010
All-time low
8.5%
in 2023
Years of data
14
2010–2023

Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities in South Korea, 2010–2023

02.557.5102010201620232010: 10.7 %2011: 10.5 %2012: 10 %2013: 9.7 %2014: 9.5 %2015: 9.5 %2016: 9.3 %2017: 9.2 %2018: 9.1 %2019: 9.1 %2020: 9.1 %2021: 8.9 %2022: 8.8 %2023: 8.5 %

Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2023, reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities in South Korea stood at 8.5%. That is the lowest value across all 14 years on record.

That represents a change of down 3.4% on the previous year and down 12.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities in South Korea peaked at 10.7% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 8.5%, in 2023.

South Korea ranks 137th of 166 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 9.7% 9.1% 10.7% 10
2020s 8.8% 8.5% 9.1% 4

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 135 Latvia 8.7% compare
  2. 136 Japan 8.6% compare
  3. 138 Kazakhstan 8.5% compare
  4. 139 Moldova 8.4% compare
  5. 140 Armenia 8.4% compare

See the full ranking of 166 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities in South Korea?
Reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities in South Korea was 8.5% in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 10.7% in 2010.
What is the lowest reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 8.5% in 2023.
How does South Korea rank for reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities?
South Korea ranks 137th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
Is reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities
Unit
%
Source
UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
166 places, 2,131 data points, 2010–2023
Last refreshed

Percentage difference between the IHDI value and the HDI value.