Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per in South Korea
South Korea: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per was 6.56 million current US$ per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
6.56 million current US$ per square kilometre
Change on year
down 11.7%
World rank
17th
of 204 countries
All-time high
7.43 million current US$ per square kilometre
in 2022
All-time low
2,985 current US$ per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per in South Korea, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current US$ per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per in South Korea is 6.56 million current US$ per square kilometre, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 11.7% on the previous year and up 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per in South Korea peaked at 7.43 million current US$ per square kilometre in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2,985 current US$ per square kilometre, in 1961.
That places South Korea 17th out of 204 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 imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current US$ per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2,985 current US$ per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 4,138 current US$ per square kilometre | +38.7% |
| 1963 | 5,568 current US$ per square kilometre | +34.5% |
| 1964 | 3,972 current US$ per square kilometre | -28.7% |
| 1965 | 4,451 current US$ per square kilometre | +12.1% |
| 1966 | 7,226 current US$ per square kilometre | +62.4% |
| 1967 | 9,978 current US$ per square kilometre | +38.1% |
| 1968 | 15,039 current US$ per square kilometre | +50.7% |
| 1969 | 18,686 current US$ per square kilometre | +24.2% |
| 1970 | 20,278 current US$ per square kilometre | +8.5% |
| 1971 | 24,386 current US$ per square kilometre | +20.3% |
| 1972 | 25,434 current US$ per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 43,015 current US$ per square kilometre | +69.1% |
| 1974 | 67,193 current US$ per square kilometre | +56.2% |
| 1975 | 72,666 current US$ per square kilometre | +8.1% |
| 1976 | 89,176 current US$ per square kilometre | +22.7% |
| 1977 | 111,437 current US$ per square kilometre | +25.0% |
| 1978 | 153,956 current US$ per square kilometre | +38.2% |
| 1979 | 206,580 current US$ per square kilometre | +34.2% |
| 1980 | 220,361 current US$ per square kilometre | +6.7% |
| 1981 | 257,084 current US$ per square kilometre | +16.7% |
| 1982 | 238,053 current US$ per square kilometre | -7.4% |
| 1983 | 257,201 current US$ per square kilometre | +8.0% |
| 1984 | 297,956 current US$ per square kilometre | +15.8% |
| 1985 | 298,560 current US$ per square kilometre | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 309,288 current US$ per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 399,674 current US$ per square kilometre | +29.2% |
| 1988 | 501,208 current US$ per square kilometre | +25.4% |
| 1989 | 581,320 current US$ per square kilometre | +16.0% |
| 1990 | 670,428 current US$ per square kilometre | +15.3% |
| 1991 | 830,894 current US$ per square kilometre | +23.9% |
| 1992 | 831,816 current US$ per square kilometre | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 861,174 current US$ per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 1.05 million current US$ per square kilometre | +21.7% |
| 1995 | 1.38 million current US$ per square kilometre | +32.0% |
| 1996 | 1.54 million current US$ per square kilometre | +11.1% |
| 1997 | 1.49 million current US$ per square kilometre | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 966,787 current US$ per square kilometre | -35.2% |
| 1999 | 1.24 million current US$ per square kilometre | +28.3% |
| 2000 | 1.66 million current US$ per square kilometre | +34.0% |
| 2001 | 1.46 million current US$ per square kilometre | -12.3% |
| 2002 | 1.56 million current US$ per square kilometre | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 1.85 million current US$ per square kilometre | +18.1% |
| 2004 | 2.32 million current US$ per square kilometre | +25.5% |
| 2005 | 2.70 million current US$ per square kilometre | +16.3% |
| 2006 | 3.19 million current US$ per square kilometre | +18.4% |
| 2007 | 3.68 million current US$ per square kilometre | +15.3% |
| 2008 | 4.49 million current US$ per square kilometre | +21.9% |
| 2009 | 3.33 million current US$ per square kilometre | -25.8% |
| 2010 | 4.37 million current US$ per square kilometre | +31.4% |
| 2011 | 5.39 million current US$ per square kilometre | +23.3% |
| 2012 | 5.34 million current US$ per square kilometre | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 5.29 million current US$ per square kilometre | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 5.39 million current US$ per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 4.48 million current US$ per square kilometre | -17.0% |
| 2016 | 4.16 million current US$ per square kilometre | -7.1% |
| 2017 | 4.84 million current US$ per square kilometre | +16.3% |
| 2018 | 5.46 million current US$ per square kilometre | +12.9% |
| 2019 | 5.13 million current US$ per square kilometre | -6.1% |
| 2020 | 4.76 million current US$ per square kilometre | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 6.27 million current US$ per square kilometre | +31.7% |
| 2022 | 7.43 million current US$ per square kilometre | +18.5% |
| 2023 | 6.56 million current US$ per square kilometre | -11.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8,005 current US$ per square kilometre | 2,985 current US$ per square kilometre | 18,686 current US$ per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 81,412 current US$ per square kilometre | 20,278 current US$ per square kilometre | 206,580 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 336,070 current US$ per square kilometre | 220,361 current US$ per square kilometre | 581,320 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.09 million current US$ per square kilometre | 670,428 current US$ per square kilometre | 1.54 million current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.62 million current US$ per square kilometre | 1.46 million current US$ per square kilometre | 4.49 million current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.98 million current US$ per square kilometre | 4.16 million current US$ per square kilometre | 5.46 million current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.25 million current US$ per square kilometre | 4.76 million current US$ per square kilometre | 7.43 million current US$ per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 14 Switzerland 9.21 million current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 15 Aruba 8.52 million current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 16 San Marino 7.20 million current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 18 United Arab Emirates 5.52 million current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 19 Barbados 4.94 million current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 20 Germany 4.20 million current US$ per square kilometre compare
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$), annual growth rate 3.76 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per in South Korea?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per in South Korea was 6.56 million current US$ per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 7.43 million current US$ per square kilometre in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,985 current US$ per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does South Korea rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per?
- South Korea ranks 17th out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy Staff estimates, World Bank (WB)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.