GDP per Capita (PPP): Korea, Republic of

Analysis# Korea, Republic of GDP per Capita (PPP) South Korea's GDP per capita (PPP) reached 67,554 international dollars in 2026, marking an all-time high and representing a remarkable 2,971% increase since 1980, when it stood at just 2,200 international dollars. The country has sustained consistent growth over nearly five decades, transforming from a lower-income economy into one of the world's wealthiest nations by this measure. The acceleration since 2017 deserves particular attention. In seven years, South Korea's GDP per capita (PPP) climbed from 43,156 to 67,554 international dollars—a 56% gain in less than a decade. Annual growth has remained robust throughout the 2020s despite global economic headwinds, with the country adding roughly 2,000-3,000 international dollars per year from 2021 onward. This trajectory suggests sustained economic strength and continued convergence toward the highest-income economies globally.