International tourism, expenditures (current US$) in South Korea
South Korea: International tourism, expenditures (current US$) was 16.70 billion current US$ in 2020. ◆ Volatile
International tourism, expenditures in South Korea, 1995–2020
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for international tourism, expenditures in South Korea is 16.70 billion current US$, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 52.7% on the previous year and down 19.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, expenditures in South Korea peaked at 38.02 billion current US$ in 2018 and was at its lowest, 4.03 billion current US$, in 1998.
That places South Korea 8th out of 192 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
International tourism, expenditures (current US$) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 6.95 billion current US$ | — |
| 1996 | 8.29 billion current US$ | +19.3% |
| 1997 | 8.04 billion current US$ | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 4.03 billion current US$ | -49.9% |
| 1999 | 5.55 billion current US$ | +37.9% |
| 2000 | 7.95 billion current US$ | +43.0% |
| 2001 | 8.35 billion current US$ | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 11.44 billion current US$ | +37.0% |
| 2003 | 11.06 billion current US$ | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 13.51 billion current US$ | +22.1% |
| 2005 | 16.92 billion current US$ | +25.3% |
| 2006 | 20.95 billion current US$ | +23.8% |
| 2007 | 24.43 billion current US$ | +16.6% |
| 2008 | 21.45 billion current US$ | -12.2% |
| 2009 | 16.36 billion current US$ | -23.7% |
| 2010 | 20.79 billion current US$ | +27.1% |
| 2011 | 22.20 billion current US$ | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 22.93 billion current US$ | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 24.46 billion current US$ | +6.6% |
| 2014 | 26.14 billion current US$ | +6.9% |
| 2015 | 27.96 billion current US$ | +7.0% |
| 2016 | 29.82 billion current US$ | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 34.45 billion current US$ | +15.5% |
| 2018 | 38.02 billion current US$ | +10.4% |
| 2019 | 35.34 billion current US$ | -7.1% |
| 2020 | 16.70 billion current US$ | -52.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 16.70 billion current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.33 billion current US$, 12.5× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 16.70 billion current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 256.00 million current US$, 65.3× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.57 billion current US$ | 4.03 billion current US$ | 8.29 billion current US$ | 5 |
| 2000s | 15.24 billion current US$ | 7.95 billion current US$ | 24.43 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.21 billion current US$ | 20.79 billion current US$ | 38.02 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.70 billion current US$ | 16.70 billion current US$ | 16.70 billion current US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More private sector data for South Korea
- Merchandise trade 71.6% (2025)
- Food imports 6.5% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 62.1% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 631.89 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 183.44 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 1.7% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 88.0% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 709.33 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 149.31 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 13,724 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international tourism, expenditures in South Korea?
- International tourism, expenditures in South Korea was 16.70 billion current US$ in 2020, according to Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
- What is the highest international tourism, expenditures recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 38.02 billion current US$ in 2018.
- What is the lowest international tourism, expenditures recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.03 billion current US$ in 1998.
- How does South Korea rank for international tourism, expenditures?
- South Korea ranks 8th out of 192 countries with data for 2020.
- Is international tourism, expenditures rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism, published as part of International tourism, expenditures (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International tourism expenditures are expenditures of international outbound visitors in other countries, including payments to foreign carriers for international transport. These expenditures may include those by residents traveling abroad as same-day visitors, except in cases where these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include expenditures for passenger transport items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.