Productivity vs. GDP per capita in South Korea
South Korea: Productivity vs. GDP per capita was 53.61 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Productivity vs. GDP per capita in South Korea, 1953–2023
Source: Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices per hour.
Analysis
The most recent figure for productivity vs. gdp per capita in South Korea is 53.61 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and up 39.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, productivity vs. gdp per capita in South Korea peaked at 54.24 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.67 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour, in 1953.
South Korea ranks 25th of 130 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.81 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 1.67 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 1.9 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 7 |
| 1960s | 2.07 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 1.77 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 2.54 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.63 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 2.81 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 6.19 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.4 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 5.87 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 12.47 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.86 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 13.93 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 24.5 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.72 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 25.21 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 37.67 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.53 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 38.42 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 49.54 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.35 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 51.98 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 54.24 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 22 Taiwan 60.85 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 23 Saudi Arabia 59.88 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 24 Turkey 56.52 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 26 Bahrain 52.47 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 27 United Arab Emirates 52.13 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 28 Hong Kong 51.52 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
More work & labour data for South Korea
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 64.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 30.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 21.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 25.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 77.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 71.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 56.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is productivity vs. gdp per capita in South Korea?
- Productivity vs. gdp per capita in South Korea was 53.61 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2023, according to Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest productivity vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 54.24 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2022.
- What is the lowest productivity vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.67 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 1953.
- How does South Korea rank for productivity vs. gdp per capita?
- South Korea ranks 25th out of 130 countries with data for 2023.
- Is productivity vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Productivity vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Productivity is calculated as GDP divided by the total number of hours worked in the economy. This data is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.