International tourism, receipts for passenger transport items in South Korea
South Korea: International tourism, receipts for passenger transport items was 1.25 billion current US$ in 2020. ▲ Rising
International tourism, receipts for passenger transport items in South Korea, 1995–2020
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for international tourism, receipts for passenger transport items in South Korea is 1.25 billion current US$, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is down 72.8% on the previous year and down 69.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, receipts for passenger transport items in South Korea peaked at 5.46 billion current US$ in 2012 and was at its lowest, 1.25 billion current US$, in 2020.
South Korea ranks 17th of 163 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
International tourism, receipts for passenger transport items in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 1.52 billion current US$ | — |
| 1996 | 1.47 billion current US$ | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 1.59 billion current US$ | +7.9% |
| 1998 | 1.35 billion current US$ | -14.6% |
| 1999 | 1.50 billion current US$ | +10.4% |
| 2000 | 1.69 billion current US$ | +13.2% |
| 2001 | 1.53 billion current US$ | -9.3% |
| 2002 | 1.69 billion current US$ | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 1.65 billion current US$ | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 2.16 billion current US$ | +31.0% |
| 2005 | 2.48 billion current US$ | +15.2% |
| 2006 | 2.72 billion current US$ | +9.5% |
| 2007 | 3.15 billion current US$ | +15.8% |
| 2008 | 3.71 billion current US$ | +17.6% |
| 2009 | 3.49 billion current US$ | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 4.05 billion current US$ | +16.1% |
| 2011 | 4.97 billion current US$ | +22.6% |
| 2012 | 5.46 billion current US$ | +9.9% |
| 2013 | 5.07 billion current US$ | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 4.93 billion current US$ | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 3.91 billion current US$ | -20.6% |
| 2016 | 4.04 billion current US$ | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 3.81 billion current US$ | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 4.54 billion current US$ | +19.2% |
| 2019 | 4.59 billion current US$ | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 1.25 billion current US$ | -72.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.25 billion current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 261.50 million current US$, 4.8× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.25 billion current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 87.00 million current US$, 14.3× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.49 billion current US$ | 1.35 billion current US$ | 1.59 billion current US$ | 5 |
| 2000s | 2.43 billion current US$ | 1.53 billion current US$ | 3.71 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.54 billion current US$ | 3.81 billion current US$ | 5.46 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.25 billion current US$ | 1.25 billion current US$ | 1.25 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, receipts for passenger transport items in South Korea?
- International tourism, receipts for passenger transport items in South Korea was 1.25 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, receipts for passenger transport items recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.46 billion current US$ in 2012.
- What is the lowest international tourism, receipts for passenger transport items recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.25 billion current US$ in 2020.
- How does South Korea rank for international tourism, receipts for passenger transport items?
- South Korea ranks 17th out of 163 countries with data for 2020.
- Is international tourism, receipts for passenger transport items rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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, receipts for passenger transport items (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International tourism receipts for passenger transport items are expenditures by international inbound visitors for all services provided in the international transportation by resident carriers. Also included are passenger services performed within an economy by nonresident carriers. Excluded are passenger services provided to nonresidents by resident carriers within the resident economies; these are included in travel items. In addition to the services covered by passenger fares--including fares that are a part of package tours but excluding cruise fares, which are included in travel--passenger services include such items as charges for excess baggage, vehicles, or other personal accompanying effects and expenditures for food, drink, or other items for which passengers make expenditures while on board carriers. Data are in current U.S. dollars.