Health expenditure and financing per capita in South Korea
South Korea: Health expenditure and financing per capita was 4,253 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Health expenditure and financing per capita in South Korea, 1970–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for health expenditure and financing per capita in South Korea is 4,253, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 58.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, health expenditure and financing per capita in South Korea peaked at 4,253 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 79.4, in 1974.
South Korea ranks 24th of 59 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Health expenditure and financing per capita in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 100.86 | — |
| 1971 | 91.94 | -8.8% |
| 1972 | 89.56 | -2.6% |
| 1973 | 87.32 | -2.5% |
| 1974 | 79.4 | -9.1% |
| 1975 | 121.47 | +53.0% |
| 1976 | 137.92 | +13.5% |
| 1977 | 142.51 | +3.3% |
| 1978 | 169.3 | +18.8% |
| 1979 | 234.33 | +38.4% |
| 1980 | 242.27 | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 261.2 | +7.8% |
| 1982 | 276.63 | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 301.54 | +9.0% |
| 1984 | 314.55 | +4.3% |
| 1985 | 338.65 | +7.7% |
| 1986 | 366.6 | +8.3% |
| 1987 | 399.36 | +8.9% |
| 1988 | 464.66 | +16.4% |
| 1989 | 561.91 | +20.9% |
| 1990 | 604.78 | +7.6% |
| 1991 | 619.93 | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 667.39 | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 687.3 | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 693.79 | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 754.98 | +8.8% |
| 1996 | 837.97 | +11.0% |
| 1997 | 848.58 | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 824.52 | -2.8% |
| 1999 | 926.71 | +12.4% |
| 2000 | 971.33 | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 1,114 | +14.7% |
| 2002 | 1,115 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 1,305 | +17.0% |
| 2004 | 1,351 | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 1,456 | +7.8% |
| 2006 | 1,598 | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 1,692 | +5.9% |
| 2008 | 1,798 | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 1,972 | +9.7% |
| 2010 | 2,153 | +9.1% |
| 2011 | 2,204 | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 2,251 | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 2,355 | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 2,479 | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 2,684 | +8.3% |
| 2016 | 2,850 | +6.2% |
| 2017 | 3,009 | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 3,214 | +6.8% |
| 2019 | 3,478 | +8.2% |
| 2020 | 3,618 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 3,958 | +9.4% |
| 2022 | 4,220 | +6.6% |
| 2023 | 4,044 | -4.2% |
| 2024 | 4,212 | +4.2% |
| 2025 | 4,253 | +1.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 4,253 is below the median for high income countries, which is 4,536, 94% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 4,253 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4,253, 1.0× the median. (7 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Health expenditure and financing per capita in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | +53.0% | 79.4 | 121.47 |
| 1979 | +38.4% | 169.3 | 234.33 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 125.46 | 79.4 | 234.33 | 10 |
| 1980s | 352.74 | 242.27 | 561.91 | 10 |
| 1990s | 746.6 | 604.78 | 926.71 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,437 | 971.33 | 1,972 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,668 | 2,153 | 3,478 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,051 | 3,618 | 4,253 | 6 |
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 health expenditure and financing per capita in South Korea?
- Health expenditure and financing per capita in South Korea was 4,253 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest health expenditure and financing per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 4,253 in 2025.
- What is the lowest health expenditure and financing per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 79.4 in 1974.
- How does South Korea rank for health expenditure and financing per capita?
- South Korea ranks 24th out of 59 countries with data for 2025.
- Is health expenditure and financing per capita rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Health expenditure and financing per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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