Real interest rate — all countries

Real interest rate — South Korea

Real interest rate in South Korea in 2025 — 1.03%. Ranked 57 in the world out of 67. Since 1996, the indicator has fallen by 5.78 pp.

2025 1.03% +0.4 pp vs 2024
World rank 57of 67
Period maximum 10.89%1999
Period minimum -0.29%2021

Trend over time

1996–2025 · % per annum

Real interest rate — South Korea, 1996–2025-5051015199619992002200520082011201420172020202320251996: 6.81%1997: 7.72%1998: 10.32%1999: 10.89%2000: 7.54%2001: 4.03%2002: 3.65%2003: 2.58%2004: 2.56%2005: 4.41%2006: 6.16%2007: 3.94%2008: 4.11%2009: 2.07%2010: 2.72%2011: 4.43%2012: 4.05%2013: 3.53%2014: 3.18%2015: 0.3%2016: 1.28%2017: 1.43%2018: 3.08%2019: 4.1%2020: 1.2%2021: -0.29%2022: 2.44%2023: 3.09%2024: 0.63%2025: 1.03%
Change over the period: −5.78 pp Annual average: -0.2 pp
Real interest rate — South Korea, by year South Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 1.03 +0.4 pp
2024 0.63 −2.45 pp
2023 3.09 +0.65 pp
2022 2.44 +2.73 pp
2021 -0.29 −1.48 pp
2020 1.2 −2.9 pp
2019 4.1 +1.02 pp
2018 3.08 +1.65 pp
2017 1.43 +0.15 pp
2016 1.28 +0.98 pp
2015 0.3 −2.88 pp
2014 3.18 −0.35 pp
2013 3.53 −0.52 pp
2012 4.05 −0.37 pp
2011 4.43 +1.71 pp
2010 2.72 +0.64 pp
2009 2.07 −2.03 pp
2008 4.11 +0.17 pp
2007 3.94 −2.22 pp
2006 6.16 +1.76 pp
2005 4.41 +1.85 pp
2004 2.56 −0.02 pp
2003 2.58 −1.07 pp
2002 3.65 −0.38 pp
2001 4.03 −3.52 pp
2000 7.54 −3.35 pp
1999 10.89 +0.58 pp
1998 10.32 +2.6 pp
1997 7.72 +0.91 pp
1996 6.81

Eastern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The lending interest rate adjusted for inflation by the GDP deflator. It shows the real cost of borrowed funds for the economy. Negative values mean that inflation erodes debt faster than interest accrues on it — a situation that favors borrowers and works against lenders and depositors.

Important: There are no aggregates for country groups: a weight by the volume of credit is needed, and we do not have it. The rate is already net of inflation, so negative values are normal — they mean borrowing costs less than inflation erodes.

Source: World Economic Outlook (IMF), license IMF open data.