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
Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities in South Korea, 2010–2023
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.
Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 10.7% | — |
| 2011 | 10.5% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 10.0% | -4.5% |
| 2013 | 9.7% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 9.5% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 9.5% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 9.3% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 9.2% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 9.1% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 9.1% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 9.1% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 8.9% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 8.8% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 8.5% | -3.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 8.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.9%, 96% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 8.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 16.0%, 53% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 9.7% | 9.1% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.8% | 8.5% | 9.1% | 4 |
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 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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CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Percentage difference between the IHDI value and the HDI value.