Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions in South Korea
South Korea: Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions was 1.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions in South Korea, 1961–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions in South Korea is 1.0%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 49.7% on the previous year and down 65.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions in South Korea peaked at 15.0% in 1973 and was at its lowest, -4.9%, in 1998.
South Korea ranks 173rd of 212 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions in South Korea, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 6.9% | — |
| 1962 | 3.9% | -43.3% |
| 1963 | 9.0% | +129.7% |
| 1964 | 9.4% | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 7.3% | -22.4% |
| 1966 | 12.0% | +64.2% |
| 1967 | 9.2% | -23.8% |
| 1968 | 13.2% | +44.5% |
| 1969 | 14.6% | +10.3% |
| 1970 | 10.2% | -30.3% |
| 1971 | 10.7% | +4.8% |
| 1972 | 7.3% | -31.1% |
| 1973 | 15.0% | +104.1% |
| 1974 | 9.6% | -35.6% |
| 1975 | 7.9% | -17.8% |
| 1976 | 13.3% | +67.2% |
| 1977 | 12.4% | -6.7% |
| 1978 | 11.1% | -10.6% |
| 1979 | 8.7% | -21.1% |
| 1980 | -1.5% | -117.4% |
| 1981 | 7.4% | -585.7% |
| 1982 | 8.5% | +14.4% |
| 1983 | 13.5% | +59.0% |
| 1984 | 10.6% | -21.0% |
| 1985 | 7.9% | -25.4% |
| 1986 | 11.5% | +44.9% |
| 1987 | 12.9% | +12.1% |
| 1988 | 12.1% | -5.9% |
| 1989 | 7.2% | -40.9% |
| 1990 | 10.0% | +39.9% |
| 1991 | 10.9% | +8.5% |
| 1992 | 6.4% | -41.6% |
| 1993 | 7.0% | +10.1% |
| 1994 | 9.4% | +34.0% |
| 1995 | 9.7% | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 8.0% | -17.9% |
| 1997 | 6.3% | -21.4% |
| 1998 | -4.9% | -178.6% |
| 1999 | 11.6% | -335.2% |
| 2000 | 9.2% | -20.8% |
| 2001 | 4.7% | -48.6% |
| 2002 | 7.7% | +63.9% |
| 2003 | 3.1% | -60.3% |
| 2004 | 5.2% | +68.6% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | -15.9% |
| 2006 | 5.2% | +20.3% |
| 2007 | 5.8% | +11.4% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | -48.6% |
| 2009 | 0.8% | -72.7% |
| 2010 | 7.0% | +751.6% |
| 2011 | 3.7% | -47.2% |
| 2012 | 2.5% | -30.9% |
| 2013 | 3.3% | +29.2% |
| 2014 | 3.2% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | -9.2% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | +8.6% |
| 2017 | 3.4% | +8.3% |
| 2018 | 3.2% | -7.5% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | -27.2% |
| 2020 | -0.7% | -130.3% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | -758.8% |
| 2022 | 2.7% | -40.9% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | -42.0% |
| 2024 | 2.0% | +26.6% |
| 2025 | 1.0% | -49.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.1%, 47% of the median. (83 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.6%, 28% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +758.8% | -0.7% | 4.6% |
| 2010 | +751.6% | 0.8% | 7.0% |
| 1981 | +585.7% | -1.5% | 7.4% |
| 1999 | +335.2% | -4.9% | 11.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.5% | 3.9% | 14.6% | 9 |
| 1970s | 10.6% | 7.3% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.0% | -1.5% | 13.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.4% | -4.9% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.9% | 0.8% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 2.3% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.9% | -0.7% | 4.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More climate change data for South Korea
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.1 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7164 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.8996 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate -0.1285 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1214 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.8117 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate -78.08 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions in South Korea?
- Annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions in South Korea was 1.0% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 15.0% in 1973.
- What is the lowest annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.9% in 1998.
- How does South Korea rank for annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions?
- South Korea ranks 173rd out of 212 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 65.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage change in gross domestic product (GDP) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.