South Korea GDP Growth Rate

Last Release

Sep 30, 2025

Actual

1.2

Units In

0.6

Frequency

Quarterly

Next Release

Mar 04, 2026

Time to Release

2 Months 29 Days 22 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
7.8 Dec 1970	-7 Mar 1998	1.66 %	1960-2025	The Bank of Korea

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.

Latest Updates

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%.