International tourism, expenditures for travel items (current US$) in South Korea
South Korea: International tourism, expenditures for travel items (current US$) was 16.16 billion current US$ in 2020. ◆ Volatile
International tourism, expenditures for travel items in South Korea, 1995–2020
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 16.16 billion current US$ for international tourism, expenditures for travel items in 2020.
The figure is down 50.6% on the previous year and down 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, expenditures for travel items in South Korea peaked at 35.13 billion current US$ in 2018 and was at its lowest, 3.47 billion current US$, in 1998.
That places South Korea 6th out of 191 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
International tourism, expenditures for travel items (current US$) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 6.34 billion current US$ | — |
| 1996 | 7.48 billion current US$ | +18.0% |
| 1997 | 6.99 billion current US$ | -6.6% |
| 1998 | 3.47 billion current US$ | -50.3% |
| 1999 | 4.88 billion current US$ | +40.7% |
| 2000 | 7.13 billion current US$ | +46.1% |
| 2001 | 7.62 billion current US$ | +6.8% |
| 2002 | 10.46 billion current US$ | +37.4% |
| 2003 | 10.10 billion current US$ | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 12.35 billion current US$ | +22.2% |
| 2005 | 15.41 billion current US$ | +24.7% |
| 2006 | 18.81 billion current US$ | +22.1% |
| 2007 | 21.96 billion current US$ | +16.7% |
| 2008 | 19.06 billion current US$ | -13.2% |
| 2009 | 15.04 billion current US$ | -21.1% |
| 2010 | 18.77 billion current US$ | +24.8% |
| 2011 | 19.92 billion current US$ | +6.1% |
| 2012 | 20.64 billion current US$ | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 21.65 billion current US$ | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 23.19 billion current US$ | +7.1% |
| 2015 | 25.27 billion current US$ | +9.0% |
| 2016 | 27.24 billion current US$ | +7.8% |
| 2017 | 31.69 billion current US$ | +16.3% |
| 2018 | 35.13 billion current US$ | +10.9% |
| 2019 | 32.74 billion current US$ | -6.8% |
| 2020 | 16.16 billion current US$ | -50.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 16.16 billion current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.16 billion current US$, 13.9× the median. (69 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 16.16 billion current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 173.00 million current US$, 93.4× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.83 billion current US$ | 3.47 billion current US$ | 7.48 billion current US$ | 5 |
| 2000s | 13.79 billion current US$ | 7.13 billion current US$ | 21.96 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.62 billion current US$ | 18.77 billion current US$ | 35.13 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.16 billion current US$ | 16.16 billion current US$ | 16.16 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 for travel items in South Korea?
- International tourism, expenditures for travel items in South Korea was 16.16 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 for travel items recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 35.13 billion current US$ in 2018.
- What is the lowest international tourism, expenditures for travel items recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.47 billion current US$ in 1998.
- How does South Korea rank for international tourism, expenditures for travel items?
- South Korea ranks 6th out of 191 countries with data for 2020.
- Is international tourism, expenditures for travel items rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.9%. 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 for travel items (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. The goods and services are purchased by, or on behalf of, the traveler or provided, without a quid pro quo, for the traveler to use or give away. These may include expenditures by residents traveling abroad as same-day visitors, except in cases where these are so important as to justify a separate classification. Excluded is the international carriage of travelers, which is covered in passenger travel items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.