Imports (% of GDP) — all countries

Imports (% of GDP) — South Korea

Imports (% of GDP) in South Korea in 2025 — 40.6%. Ranked 72 in the world out of 138. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 28.68 pp.

2025 40.6% +0.31 pp vs 2024
World rank 72of 138
Period maximum 50.4%2011
Period minimum 11.92%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Imports (% of GDP) — South Korea, 1960–2025020406019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 11.92%1962: 15.54%1964: 12.32%1966: 18.09%1968: 22.46%1970: 20.94%1972: 21.2%1974: 32.78%1976: 27.92%1978: 28.76%1980: 36.5%1982: 32.26%1984: 27.86%1986: 27.44%1988: 25.5%1990: 25.02%1992: 23.95%1994: 24.23%1996: 27.46%1998: 28.09%2000: 31.19%2002: 27.8%2004: 32.32%2006: 33.93%2008: 46.24%2010: 42.76%2012: 49.49%2014: 41.15%2016: 31.79%2018: 35.26%2020: 30.93%2022: 45.29%2024: 40.28%2025: 40.6%
Change over the period: +28.68 pp Annual average: 0.44 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Korea

South Korea 40.6%
World 28.5%
Eastern Asia computed 22.56%
Imports (% of GDP) — South Korea, by year South Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 40.6 +0.31 pp
2024 40.28 −0.65 pp
2023 40.94 −4.35 pp
2022 45.29 +9.32 pp
2021 35.97 +5.04 pp
2020 30.93 −3.48 pp
2019 34.41 −0.85 pp
2018 35.26 +0.91 pp
2017 34.34 +2.56 pp
2016 31.79 −2.63 pp
2015 34.42 −6.73 pp
2014 41.15 −3.79 pp
2013 44.93 −4.56 pp
2012 49.49 −0.91 pp
2011 50.4 +7.64 pp
2010 42.76 +3.14 pp
2009 39.61 −6.62 pp
2008 46.24 +10.95 pp
2007 35.28 +1.35 pp
2006 33.93 +1.89 pp
2005 32.04 −0.27 pp
2004 32.32 +3.34 pp
2003 28.98 +1.18 pp
2002 27.8 −1.77 pp
2001 29.56 −1.63 pp
2000 31.19 +4.81 pp
1999 26.38 −1.71 pp
1998 28.09 −0.33 pp
1997 28.42 +0.96 pp
1996 27.46 +1.16 pp
1995 26.31 +2.07 pp
1994 24.23 +1.67 pp
1993 22.56 −1.38 pp
1992 23.95 −1.36 pp
1991 25.3 +0.28 pp
1990 25.02 +0.17 pp
1989 24.85 −0.64 pp
1988 25.5 −1.93 pp
1987 27.43 −0.01 pp
1986 27.44 +2.23 pp
1985 25.21 −2.65 pp
1984 27.86 −1.58 pp
1983 29.44 −2.82 pp
1982 32.26 −4.3 pp
1981 36.56 +0.06 pp
1980 36.5 +6.12 pp
1979 30.39 +1.62 pp
1978 28.76 +1.31 pp
1977 27.45 −0.48 pp
1976 27.92 −2.94 pp
1975 30.86 −1.92 pp
1974 32.78 +5.49 pp
1973 27.29 +6.09 pp
1972 21.2 −1.59 pp
1971 22.79 +1.85 pp
1970 20.94 −1.32 pp
1969 22.26 −0.2 pp
1968 22.46 +2.94 pp
1967 19.52 +1.43 pp
1966 18.09 +3.85 pp
1965 14.23 +1.91 pp
1964 12.32 −2.27 pp
1963 14.59 −0.95 pp
1962 15.54 +1.64 pp
1961 13.9 +1.98 pp
1960 11.92

Eastern Asia, 2025

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

About the indicator

Imports of goods and services as a percent of GDP — a measure of how far an economy depends on supplies from abroad. High values are typical both of small open economies and of countries embedded in global supply chains, where imported components are processed and shipped back out.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.