Domestic private health expenditure (% of current health expenditure) in South Korea
South Korea: Domestic private health expenditure (% of current health expenditure) was 43.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Domestic private 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
South Korea recorded 43.4% for domestic private health expenditure in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.8% on the previous year and down 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic private health expenditure in South Korea peaked at 49.7% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 37.7%, in 2022.
South Korea ranks 75th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Domestic private health expenditure (% of current health expenditure) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 49.4% | — |
| 2001 | 45.8% | -7.2% |
| 2002 | 45.2% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 49.7% | +9.9% |
| 2004 | 49.2% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 48.8% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 46.9% | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 45.1% | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 46.6% | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 45.0% | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 44.7% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 45.5% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 45.7% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 45.3% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 45.5% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 45.7% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 45.0% | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 44.3% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 43.5% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 42.4% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 41.8% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 39.2% | -6.4% |
| 2022 | 37.7% | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 41.4% | +10.0% |
| 2024 | 43.4% | +4.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 43.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 26.8%, 1.6× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 43.4% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 20.6%, 2.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 47.2% | 45.0% | 49.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.7% | 42.4% | 45.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.7% | 37.7% | 43.4% | 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 private health expenditure in South Korea?
- Domestic private health expenditure in South Korea was 43.4% in 2024, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest domestic private health expenditure recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 49.7% in 2003.
- What is the lowest domestic private health expenditure recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.7% in 2022.
- How does South Korea rank for domestic private health expenditure?
- South Korea ranks 75th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is domestic private health expenditure rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 private 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 private sources. Domestic private sources include funds from households, corporations and non-profit organizations. Such expenditures can be either prepaid to voluntary health insurance or paid directly to healthcare providers.