Poverty: Share of population living on less than $10 a day in South Korea
South Korea: Poverty: Share of population living on less than $10 a day was 0.8% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Poverty: Share of population living on less than $10 a day in South Korea, 2006–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for poverty: share of population living on less than $10 a day in South Korea is 0.8%, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 14.3% on the previous year and down 78.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty: share of population living on less than $10 a day in South Korea peaked at 4.1% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 2020.
That places South Korea 106th out of 120 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Poverty: Share of population living on less than $10 a day in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 4.1% | — |
| 2008 | 3.8% | -7.3% |
| 2010 | 3.8% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 3.5% | -7.9% |
| 2014 | 2.7% | -22.9% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | -22.2% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | -9.5% |
| 2018 | 1.4% | -26.3% |
| 2019 | 0.9% | -35.7% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | -22.2% |
| 2021 | 0.8% | +14.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.8%, 45% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.8% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 31.1%, 3% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.9% | 3.8% | 4.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 2.3% | 0.9% | 3.8% | 7 |
| 2020s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 2 |
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 poverty: share of population living on less than $10 a day in South Korea?
- Poverty: share of population living on less than $10 a day in South Korea was 0.8% in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest poverty: share of population living on less than $10 a day recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 4.1% in 2006.
- What is the lowest poverty: share of population living on less than $10 a day recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2020.
- How does South Korea rank for poverty: share of population living on less than $10 a day?
- South Korea ranks 106th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is poverty: share of population living on less than $10 a day rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 78.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Poverty: Share of population living on less than $10 a day. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $10 per day.