South Korea GDP Growth Rate
Quarter-on-quarter change in real (inflation-adjusted) GDP, seasonally adjusted.
GDP Growth Rate in South Korea decreased to 0.63 percent in Q2 2026 from 1.83 percent in Q1 2026.
South Korea GDP Growth Rate — History
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South Korea GDP Growth Rate — analysis in simple words
Latest reading
GDP Growth Rate in South Korea decreased to 0.63 percent in Q2 2026 from 1.83 percent in Q1 2026.
Over the last three quarters it rose once and fell twice.
Recent trend
A year earlier (Q2 2025) it was 0.65%, so the latest figure is 0.02 percentage points lower.
Over the past five years the average was 0.55%, with a range from -0.40% to 1.83%. The latest value is above that five-year average.
Historical context
This data series starts in Q2 1960 and has 265 quarterly observations. The latest reading is higher than 23% of all of them.
The highest value on record is 8.37% (Q3 1969) and the lowest is -6.71% (Q1 1998). The long-run average is 1.68%.
Compared with other countries
Among 45 economies with recent data, South Korea ranks 21st from the top. The median across all these economies is 0.60%, so South Korea is above the typical country.
Among 18 major economies tracked on this site it ranks 8th.
Within East Asia & Pacific (6 economies with data) it ranks 3rd; the regional median is 0.53%.
Statistics
- Latest
- 0.63%Q2 2026
- Previous
- 1.83%
- 5-year average
- 0.55%
- Long-run average
- 1.68%since Q2 1960
- All-time high
- 8.37%Q3 1969
- All-time low
- -6.71%Q1 1998
- Observations
- 265Quarterly
Recent Data
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 2026 | 0.63% | ▼ −1.20 pp |
| Q1 2026 | 1.83% | ▲ +1.94 pp |
| Q4 2025 | -0.11% | ▼ −1.47 pp |
| Q3 2025 | 1.36% | ▲ +0.71 pp |
| Q2 2025 | 0.65% | ▲ +0.82 pp |
| Q1 2025 | -0.17% | ▼ −0.41 pp |
| Q4 2024 | 0.24% | ▲ +0.18 pp |
| Q3 2024 | 0.06% | ▲ +0.21 pp |
| Q2 2024 | -0.15% | ▼ −1.16 pp |
| Q1 2024 | 1.01% | ▲ +0.28 pp |
| Q4 2023 | 0.73% | ▼ −0.23 pp |
| Q3 2023 | 0.96% | ▲ +0.27 pp |
| Q2 2023 | 0.69% | ▲ +0.46 pp |
| Q1 2023 | 0.22% | ▲ +0.62 pp |
| Q4 2022 | -0.40% | ▼ −0.66 pp |
| Q3 2022 | 0.26% | ▼ −0.74 pp |
| Q2 2022 | 1.00% | ▲ +0.53 pp |
| Q1 2022 | 0.47% | ▼ −1.29 pp |
| Q4 2021 | 1.75% | ▲ +1.77 pp |
| Q3 2021 | -0.02% | ▼ −1.37 pp |
| Q2 2021 | 1.36% | ▼ −0.24 pp |
| Q1 2021 | 1.59% | ▲ +0.08 pp |
| Q4 2020 | 1.51% | ▼ −0.75 pp |
| Q3 2020 | 2.26% | ▲ +4.90 pp |
| Q2 2020 | -2.64% | ▼ −1.27 pp |
| Q1 2020 | -1.37% | ▼ −2.32 pp |
| Q4 2019 | 0.95% | ▲ +0.68 pp |
| Q3 2019 | 0.27% | ▼ −1.08 pp |
| Q2 2019 | 1.35% | ▲ +1.32 pp |
| Q1 2019 | 0.03% |
GDP Growth Rate — South Korea vs Peers
Latest available reading for each economy (periods may differ). South Korea highlighted.
More South Korea indicators
Understanding GDP Growth Rate — a simple guide
What it measures
The percentage change in real (inflation-adjusted) GDP compared with the previous quarter, after removing normal seasonal patterns.
How it is calculated
(Real GDP this quarter ÷ real GDP last quarter − 1) × 100, using seasonally adjusted data.
If seasonally adjusted real GDP was 100 last quarter and 101.5 this quarter, quarterly growth is 1.5%.
Strong quarterly growth means the economy is expanding quickly right now.
Negative growth means output fell from the previous quarter; two such quarters in a row are often called a recession.
Why it matters for the economy and markets
Quarterly growth is the earliest official reading of how fast an economy is expanding or shrinking. Markets react strongly when it differs from expectations, because it changes the outlook for company profits, jobs and interest rates.
How to read it
Quarterly rates are small numbers — 0.5% in one quarter is roughly 2% a year. Two quarters of negative growth in a row is a common (informal) definition of a recession. First estimates are often revised.
What to look at alongside it
Annual GDP growth, industrial production, retail sales and the leading indicator.
Key terms
- QoQ
- Quarter-on-quarter: compared with the previous quarter.
- Seasonally adjusted
- Data corrected for regular seasonal patterns so quarters can be compared.
Data source
OECD — Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (series OECD QNA GDP QoQ), quarterly data from Q2 1960 to Q2 2026. Values are shown exactly as published by the source and may be revised later.
How to use the chart
Use the 5Y / 10Y / 25Y / Max buttons to change the time range, or drag the slider under the chart. Hover (or tap) on the line to see the exact value for any period. Dashed lines and hatched bars are IMF projections, not actual data. The “Download CSV” button gives you the full data series.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current gdp growth rate of South Korea?
What is the highest and lowest gdp growth rate of South Korea?
What does gdp growth rate measure?
Data are sourced from official international organisations (IMF, World Bank, BIS) and national authorities, and are shown for educational and informational purposes only. They are not investment advice and no recommendation is made. Figures may be revised by the source; IMF figures for the current and future years are projections. This page was last updated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.