Merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$) in South Korea
South Korea: Merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$) was 632.29 billion current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
632.29 billion current US$
Change on year
down 7.5%
World rank
8th
of 206 countries
All-time high
683.31 billion current US$
in 2022
All-time low
30.10 million current US$
in 1960
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Merchandise exports by the reporting economy in South Korea, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise exports by the reporting economy in South Korea is 632.29 billion current US$, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.5% on the previous year and up 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports by the reporting economy in South Korea peaked at 683.31 billion current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 30.10 million current US$, in 1960.
That places South Korea 8th out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 30.10 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 37.80 million current US$ | +25.6% |
| 1962 | 48.60 million current US$ | +28.6% |
| 1963 | 72.50 million current US$ | +49.2% |
| 1964 | 113.40 million current US$ | +56.4% |
| 1965 | 165.00 million current US$ | +45.5% |
| 1966 | 236.70 million current US$ | +43.5% |
| 1967 | 309.80 million current US$ | +30.9% |
| 1968 | 446.70 million current US$ | +44.2% |
| 1969 | 607.10 million current US$ | +35.9% |
| 1970 | 815.50 million current US$ | +34.3% |
| 1971 | 1.04 billion current US$ | +27.6% |
| 1972 | 1.56 billion current US$ | +50.3% |
| 1973 | 3.08 billion current US$ | +97.0% |
| 1974 | 4.20 billion current US$ | +36.3% |
| 1975 | 4.59 billion current US$ | +9.2% |
| 1976 | 7.58 billion current US$ | +65.2% |
| 1977 | 9.93 billion current US$ | +31.1% |
| 1978 | 12.46 billion current US$ | +25.5% |
| 1979 | 14.86 billion current US$ | +19.3% |
| 1980 | 16.66 billion current US$ | +12.1% |
| 1981 | 20.10 billion current US$ | +20.7% |
| 1982 | 20.63 billion current US$ | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 23.25 billion current US$ | +12.7% |
| 1984 | 28.15 billion current US$ | +21.1% |
| 1985 | 29.00 billion current US$ | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 33.61 billion current US$ | +15.9% |
| 1987 | 46.17 billion current US$ | +37.4% |
| 1988 | 59.15 billion current US$ | +28.1% |
| 1989 | 58.72 billion current US$ | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 61.73 billion current US$ | +5.1% |
| 1991 | 69.94 billion current US$ | +13.3% |
| 1992 | 75.07 billion current US$ | +7.3% |
| 1993 | 81.52 billion current US$ | +8.6% |
| 1994 | 95.31 billion current US$ | +16.9% |
| 1995 | 124.10 billion current US$ | +30.2% |
| 1996 | 128.50 billion current US$ | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 135.90 billion current US$ | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 132.40 billion current US$ | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 143.18 billion current US$ | +8.1% |
| 2000 | 171.44 billion current US$ | +19.7% |
| 2001 | 149.35 billion current US$ | -12.9% |
| 2002 | 161.16 billion current US$ | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 192.36 billion current US$ | +19.4% |
| 2004 | 252.54 billion current US$ | +31.3% |
| 2005 | 282.67 billion current US$ | +11.9% |
| 2006 | 323.74 billion current US$ | +14.5% |
| 2007 | 368.48 billion current US$ | +13.8% |
| 2008 | 416.79 billion current US$ | +13.1% |
| 2009 | 352.08 billion current US$ | -15.5% |
| 2010 | 457.80 billion current US$ | +30.0% |
| 2011 | 546.75 billion current US$ | +19.4% |
| 2012 | 542.68 billion current US$ | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 551.40 billion current US$ | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 563.25 billion current US$ | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 518.48 billion current US$ | -7.9% |
| 2016 | 488.61 billion current US$ | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 561.24 billion current US$ | +14.9% |
| 2018 | 605.45 billion current US$ | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 542.42 billion current US$ | -10.4% |
| 2020 | 512.51 billion current US$ | -5.5% |
| 2021 | 644.21 billion current US$ | +25.7% |
| 2022 | 683.31 billion current US$ | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 632.29 billion current US$ | -7.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 632.29 billion current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 42.11 billion current US$, 15.0× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 632.29 billion current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.00 billion current US$, 126.5× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 206.77 million current US$ | 30.10 million current US$ | 607.10 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.01 billion current US$ | 815.50 million current US$ | 14.86 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 33.54 billion current US$ | 16.66 billion current US$ | 59.15 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 104.77 billion current US$ | 61.73 billion current US$ | 143.18 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 267.06 billion current US$ | 149.35 billion current US$ | 416.79 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 537.81 billion current US$ | 457.80 billion current US$ | 605.45 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 618.08 billion current US$ | 512.51 billion current US$ | 683.31 billion current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More private sector data for South Korea
- Merchandise trade 71.6% (2025)
- Food imports 6.3% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 60.1% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 631.89 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 1.6% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 87.3% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 709.33 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 13,724 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3788 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 3.76 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports by the reporting economy in South Korea?
- Merchandise exports by the reporting economy in South Korea was 632.29 billion current US$ in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports by the reporting economy recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 683.31 billion current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports by the reporting economy recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.10 million current US$ in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for merchandise exports by the reporting economy?
- South Korea ranks 8th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports by the reporting economy rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise exports by the reporting economy are the total merchandise exports by the reporting economy to the rest of the world, as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database. Data are in current US$.