Domestic general government health expenditure (% of GDP) (Domestic) in South Korea
South Korea: Domestic general government health expenditure (% of GDP) (Domestic) was 4.9% 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 GDP.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 4.9% for domestic general government health expenditure in 2024.
The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 44.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic general government health expenditure in South Korea peaked at 5.5% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2000.
That places South Korea 54th out of 193 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 (% of GDP) (Domestic) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.9% | — |
| 2001 | 2.3% | +20.0% |
| 2002 | 2.1% | -5.2% |
| 2003 | 2.2% | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 2.4% | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 2.6% | +10.5% |
| 2007 | 2.7% | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 2.8% | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 3.1% | +11.6% |
| 2010 | 3.2% | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 3.2% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 3.2% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 3.3% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 3.4% | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 3.5% | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 3.7% | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | +6.6% |
| 2019 | 4.4% | +9.8% |
| 2020 | 4.7% | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 5.1% | +8.7% |
| 2022 | 5.5% | +8.8% |
| 2023 | 5.0% | -9.1% |
| 2024 | 4.9% | -2.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 4.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.3%, 93% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 4.9% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.4%, 1.5× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.4% | 1.9% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.6% | 3.2% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 4.7% | 5.5% | 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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is domestic general government health expenditure in South Korea?
- Domestic general government health expenditure in South Korea was 4.9% 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 5.5% in 2022.
- What is the lowest domestic general government health expenditure recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2000.
- How does South Korea rank for domestic general government health expenditure?
- South Korea ranks 54th 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 44.2%. 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 GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Public expenditure on health from domestic sources as a share of the economy as measured by GDP.