Name: South Korea GDP Growth Rate
Creator: TRADING ECONOMICS
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Keywords: South Korea,GDP Growth Rate,data,chart,actual,historical,values,calendar,forecast,graph,2025,2026,2027

South Korea’s economy contracted by 0.2% QoQ in the three months to December 2025, compared with an earlier estimate of a 0.3% contraction and reversing a 1.3% expansion in Q3. It marked the first quarterly contraction since the first quarter of 2025, driven by softer domestic demand and a decline in non-semiconductor exports. Private consumption rose 0.3%, as spending on services increased while expenditures on goods declined. Government consumption grew 1.3%, supported by higher spending on health care benefits. Construction investment fell 3.5%, as both building construction and civil engineering activity declined. Facilities investment dropped 1.7%, led by lower spending on transportation equipment. Exports decreased 1.7%, weighed down by declines in motor vehicles and machinery & equipment. Imports fell 1.5%, reflecting lower purchases of natural gas and motor vehicles. On an annual basis, the economy expanded 3% in Q4, exceeding forecasts of 2.5%. source: The Bank of Korea

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Korea contracted 0.20 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 over the previous quarter. GDP Growth Rate in South Korea averaged 1.65 percent from 1960 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 7.80 percent in the fourth quarter of 1970 and a record low of -7.00 percent in the first quarter of 1998. This page provides - South Korea GDP Growth Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. South Korea GDP Growth Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Korea contracted 0.20 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 over the previous quarter. GDP Growth Rate in South Korea is expected to be 1.30 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Korea GDP Growth Rate is projected to trend around 0.40 percent in 2027 and 0.50 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.

Related	Last	Previous	Unit	Reference
GDP Growth Rate YoY	1.60	1.80	percent	Dec 2025
GDP Constant Prices	582662.50	583601.00	KRW Billion	Dec 2025
GDP Growth Rate	-0.20	1.30	percent	Dec 2025
Gross Fixed Capital Formation	157290.70	160825.20	KRW Billion	Dec 2025
Gross National Product	590035.70	581942.60	KRW Billion	Dec 2025

South Korea GDP Growth Rate

South Korea has an export oriented economy and is the world's leading producer of displays and memory semiconductors and the second largest producer of ships. Services account for the highest percentage of GDP (around 57 percent of GDP). Within services the most important ones are public administration (6 percent ); education (5.3 percent); information and communication (5 percent); and business activities (4.6 percent of GDP). A strong manufacturing industry which has turned South Korea into a major exporter accounts for 32 percent of GDP.

	Actual	Previous	Highest	Lowest	Dates	Unit	Frequency
	-0.20	1.30	7.80	-7.00	1960 - 2025	percent	Quarterly	SA

Compare: GDP Growth Rate by Country

News Stream

South Korea Q4 GDP Revised Upward to -0.2%

South Korea’s economy contracted by 0.2% QoQ in the three months to December 2025, compared with an earlier estimate of a 0.3% contraction and reversing a 1.3% expansion in Q3. It marked the first quarterly contraction since the first quarter of 2025, driven by softer domestic demand and a decline in non-semiconductor exports. Private consumption rose 0.3%, as spending on services increased while expenditures on goods declined. Government consumption grew 1.3%, supported by higher spending on health care benefits. Construction investment fell 3.5%, as both building construction and civil engineering activity declined. Facilities investment dropped 1.7%, led by lower spending on transportation equipment. Exports decreased 1.7%, weighed down by declines in motor vehicles and machinery & equipment. Imports fell 1.5%, reflecting lower purchases of natural gas and motor vehicles. On an annual basis, the economy expanded 3% in Q4, exceeding forecasts of 2.5%.

2026-03-09

South Korea Q4 GDP Unexpectedly Contracts

South Korea’s economy contracted by 0.3% QoQ in the three months to December 2025, reversing a 1.3% expansion in Q3 and missing expectations for a 0.1% increase. It marked the sharpest quarterly contraction in three years, driven by weakening domestic demand and a 1% decline in non semiconductor exports. Private consumption rose 0.3%, supported by higher spending on services such as healthcare, though goods consumption fell, led by motor vehicles. Government consumption increased 0.6%, mainly reflecting higher healthcare benefit outlays. Construction investment dropped 3.9%, with both building construction and civil engineering weakening, while facilities investment fell 1.8% due to lower spending on transportation equipment. Exports declined 2.1%, dragged down by motor vehicles and machinery and equipment, while imports fell 1.7% amid lower purchases of natural gas and motor vehicles. On a year on year basis, the economy expanded 1.5% in Q4, undershooting forecasts of 1.8%.

2026-01-21

South Korea Q3 GDP Growth Revised Slightly Higher

South Korea’s economy grew 1.3% QoQ in the three months to September 2025, a touch above the earlier estimate of 1.2% and the strongest pace in nearly four years, supported by firm exports and resilient private consumption. Household spending rose 1.3% as outlays increased for both goods such as motor vehicles and communication equipment and services such as restaurants and health services. Government consumption also climbed 1.3%, driven by higher spending on goods and health care benefits. Construction investment increased 0.6%, led by gains in civil engineering, while facilities investment expanded 2.6% on stronger machinery purchases including semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Exports grew 2.1% on solid semiconductor and motor vehicle shipments, and imports rose 2.0% on higher inflows of machinery, equipment and vehicles. On an annual basis, the economy expanded 1.8% in Q3, slightly above the initial estimate of 1.7%.

2025-12-03