Domestic general government health expenditure in South Korea
South Korea: Domestic general government health expenditure was 56.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Domestic general government health expenditure in South Korea, 2000–2024
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for domestic general government health expenditure in South Korea is 56.6%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and up 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic general government health expenditure in South Korea peaked at 62.3% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 50.3%, in 2003.
South Korea ranks 96th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Domestic general government health expenditure in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 50.6% | — |
| 2001 | 54.2% | +7.0% |
| 2002 | 54.8% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 50.3% | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 50.8% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 51.2% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 53.1% | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 54.9% | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 53.4% | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 55.0% | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 55.3% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 54.5% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 54.3% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 54.7% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 54.5% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 54.3% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 55.0% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 55.7% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 56.5% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 57.6% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 58.2% | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 60.8% | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 62.3% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 58.6% | -6.0% |
| 2024 | 56.6% | -3.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 56.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 73.1%, 77% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 56.6% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 60.9%, 93% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 52.8% | 50.3% | 55.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.3% | 54.3% | 57.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.3% | 56.6% | 62.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is domestic general government health expenditure in South Korea?
- Domestic general government health expenditure in South Korea was 56.6% in 2024, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest domestic general government health expenditure recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 62.3% in 2022.
- What is the lowest domestic general government health expenditure recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.3% in 2003.
- How does South Korea rank for domestic general government health expenditure?
- South Korea ranks 96th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is domestic general government health expenditure rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Domestic general government health expenditure (% of current health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from domestic public sources for health. Domestic public sources include domestic revenue as internal transfers and grants, transfers, subsidies to voluntary health insurance beneficiaries, non-profit institutions serving households (NPISH) or enterprise financing schemes as well as compulsory prepayment and social health insurance contributions. They do not include external resources spent by governments on health.