Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in South Korea
South Korea: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South was 1.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in South Korea, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in South Korea stood at 1.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.9% on the previous year and down 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in South Korea peaked at 1.7% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1963.
South Korea ranks 148th of 205 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.2% | — |
| 1961 | 0.3% | +24.4% |
| 1962 | 0.3% | -9.9% |
| 1963 | 0.0% | -85.1% |
| 1964 | 0.5% | +1161.8% |
| 1965 | 0.1% | -75.2% |
| 1966 | 0.1% | -38.4% |
| 1967 | 0.1% | +59.3% |
| 1968 | 1.0% | +738.4% |
| 1969 | 0.8% | -20.7% |
| 1970 | 0.3% | -55.6% |
| 1971 | 0.4% | +23.5% |
| 1972 | 0.2% | -57.9% |
| 1973 | 0.3% | +62.3% |
| 1974 | 0.3% | +19.9% |
| 1975 | 0.6% | +63.2% |
| 1976 | 0.4% | -27.7% |
| 1977 | 0.2% | -44.3% |
| 1978 | 0.3% | +34.3% |
| 1979 | 0.5% | +80.9% |
| 1980 | 0.3% | -36.8% |
| 1981 | 0.4% | +22.4% |
| 1982 | 0.7% | +73.5% |
| 1983 | 1.4% | +90.8% |
| 1984 | 1.5% | +5.7% |
| 1985 | 1.1% | -25.3% |
| 1986 | 0.8% | -25.9% |
| 1987 | 0.9% | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 0.7% | -21.0% |
| 1989 | 0.8% | +17.0% |
| 1990 | 0.7% | -5.7% |
| 1991 | 1.0% | +37.7% |
| 1992 | 0.9% | -10.2% |
| 1993 | 0.9% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 0.9% | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 0.9% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 0.9% | +5.0% |
| 1997 | 0.9% | -3.3% |
| 1998 | 0.9% | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 0.9% | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | -5.7% |
| 2001 | 1.1% | +27.8% |
| 2002 | 1.0% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 0.9% | -18.2% |
| 2004 | 1.0% | +15.8% |
| 2005 | 1.0% | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 1.3% | +37.5% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | +12.4% |
| 2008 | 1.7% | +15.0% |
| 2009 | 1.5% | -14.5% |
| 2010 | 1.5% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 1.7% | +15.8% |
| 2012 | 1.6% | -9.1% |
| 2013 | 1.4% | -11.0% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | -15.7% |
| 2015 | 1.1% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 1.2% | +6.9% |
| 2017 | 1.2% | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 1.3% | +7.7% |
| 2019 | 1.3% | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 1.2% | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | +22.4% |
| 2022 | 1.4% | -5.1% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | -13.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.3%, 95% of the median. (73 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.0%, 1.2× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | +1161.8% | 0.0% | 0.5% |
| 1968 | +738.4% | 0.1% | 1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.3% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.3% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.2% | 0.8% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 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 imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in South Korea?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in South Korea was 1.2% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.7% in 2008.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1963.
- How does South Korea rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south?
- South Korea ranks 148th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.3%. 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 imports from low- and middle-income economies in South Asia (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South Asia are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the South Asia region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.