Transport services (% of commercial service imports) in South Korea
South Korea: Transport services (% of commercial service imports) was 19.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Transport services in South Korea, 1976–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of commercial service imports.
Analysis
In 2025, transport services in South Korea stood at 19.5%. That is the lowest value across all 50 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.4% on the previous year and down 26.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, transport services in South Korea peaked at 56.3% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 19.5%, in 2025.
That places South Korea 151st out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 50 years of available data.
Transport services (% of commercial service imports) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of commercial service imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 54.4% | — |
| 1977 | 43.8% | -19.5% |
| 1978 | 37.4% | -14.7% |
| 1979 | 47.7% | +27.6% |
| 1980 | 56.3% | +18.2% |
| 1981 | 47.4% | -15.8% |
| 1982 | 43.2% | -8.8% |
| 1983 | 42.6% | -1.5% |
| 1984 | 39.6% | -6.9% |
| 1985 | 45.1% | +13.8% |
| 1986 | 48.0% | +6.6% |
| 1987 | 49.5% | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 44.5% | -10.2% |
| 1989 | 39.6% | -11.0% |
| 1990 | 40.1% | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 41.5% | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 42.2% | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 43.2% | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 39.9% | -7.6% |
| 1995 | 38.9% | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 36.0% | -7.5% |
| 1997 | 36.8% | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 39.8% | +8.2% |
| 1999 | 38.6% | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 34.7% | -10.2% |
| 2001 | 35.4% | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 32.6% | -7.9% |
| 2003 | 35.3% | +8.3% |
| 2004 | 36.4% | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 35.3% | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 34.2% | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 35.3% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 38.6% | +9.3% |
| 2009 | 29.4% | -23.7% |
| 2010 | 31.6% | +7.4% |
| 2011 | 30.2% | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 29.2% | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 27.9% | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 28.0% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 26.6% | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 26.0% | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 24.2% | -6.7% |
| 2018 | 23.2% | -4.3% |
| 2019 | 22.3% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 22.0% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 23.1% | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 24.8% | +7.3% |
| 2023 | 21.7% | -12.4% |
| 2024 | 21.1% | -3.0% |
| 2025 | 19.5% | -7.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 19.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 20.2%, 97% of the median. (72 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 19.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 29.5%, 66% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 45.8% | 37.4% | 54.4% | 4 |
| 1980s | 45.6% | 39.6% | 56.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 39.7% | 36.0% | 43.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 34.7% | 29.4% | 38.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.9% | 22.3% | 31.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.0% | 19.5% | 24.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 148 Kosovo 20.0% compare
- 148 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 20.0% compare
- 150 New Zealand 19.9% compare
- 152 Philippines 19.5% compare
- 153 Cyprus 19.3% compare
- 154 Dominica 19.2% compare
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 transport services in South Korea?
- Transport services in South Korea was 19.5% in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest transport services recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 56.3% in 1980.
- What is the lowest transport services recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.5% in 2025.
- How does South Korea rank for transport services?
- South Korea ranks 151st out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is transport services rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Transport services (% of commercial service imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Transport is the process of carriage of people and objects from one location to another as well as related supporting and auxiliary services. Also included are postal and courier services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service imports which are commercial services provided by non-residents to residents.