Domestic general government health expenditure in South Korea
South Korea: Domestic general government health expenditure was 15.5% 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 general government expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for domestic general government health expenditure in South Korea is 15.5%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 32.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic general government health expenditure in South Korea peaked at 15.6% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 7.5%, in 2003.
South Korea ranks 40th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8.3% | — |
| 2001 | 9.3% | +12.3% |
| 2002 | 8.9% | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 7.5% | -16.2% |
| 2004 | 8.3% | +10.9% |
| 2005 | 8.9% | +7.0% |
| 2006 | 9.6% | +8.0% |
| 2007 | 10.1% | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 9.8% | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 10.1% | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 11.3% | +11.9% |
| 2011 | 11.1% | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 11.0% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 11.5% | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 11.7% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 12.1% | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 12.7% | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 13.2% | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 13.7% | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 13.9% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 13.0% | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 14.3% | +10.3% |
| 2022 | 14.9% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 15.6% | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 15.5% | -0.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 15.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 14.1%, 1.1× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 15.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.3%, 1.7× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.1% | 7.5% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.2% | 11.0% | 13.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.7% | 13.0% | 15.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 37 Maldives 15.6% compare
- 38 Netherlands 15.6% compare
- 39 Thailand 15.6% compare
- 41 Dominican Republic 15.4% compare
- 42 Marshall Islands 15.2% compare
- 43 Andorra 15.2% compare
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 15.5% 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 15.6% in 2023.
- What is the lowest domestic general government health expenditure recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.5% in 2003.
- How does South Korea rank for domestic general government health expenditure?
- South Korea ranks 40th 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 32.0%. 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 general government expenditure). 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 total public expenditure. It indicates the priority of the government to spend on health from own domestic public resources.