Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in South Korea
South Korea: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) was -45.65 trillion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in South Korea, 1972–2024
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
South Korea recorded -45.65 trillion current LCU for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 53 years on record.
The figure is down 85.8% on the previous year and down 392.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in South Korea peaked at 45.86 trillion current LCU in 2018 and was at its lowest, -45.65 trillion current LCU, in 2024.
That places South Korea 153rd out of 156 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | -166.00 billion current LCU | — |
| 1973 | -13.00 billion current LCU | -92.2% |
| 1974 | -27.00 billion current LCU | +107.7% |
| 1975 | -36.00 billion current LCU | +33.3% |
| 1976 | 33.00 billion current LCU | -191.7% |
| 1977 | 154.00 billion current LCU | +366.7% |
| 1978 | 327.00 billion current LCU | +112.3% |
| 1979 | 221.00 billion current LCU | -32.4% |
| 1980 | 271.00 billion current LCU | +22.6% |
| 1981 | 560.00 billion current LCU | +106.6% |
| 1982 | -132.00 billion current LCU | -123.6% |
| 1983 | 856.00 billion current LCU | -748.5% |
| 1984 | 729.00 billion current LCU | -14.8% |
| 1985 | 587.00 billion current LCU | -19.5% |
| 1986 | 892.00 billion current LCU | +52.0% |
| 1987 | 1.71 trillion current LCU | +92.2% |
| 1988 | 3.44 trillion current LCU | +100.5% |
| 1989 | 2.19 trillion current LCU | -36.4% |
| 1990 | 3.08 trillion current LCU | +41.1% |
| 1991 | 1.20 trillion current LCU | -61.1% |
| 1992 | 3.03 trillion current LCU | +152.6% |
| 1993 | 5.74 trillion current LCU | +89.5% |
| 1994 | 7.22 trillion current LCU | +25.8% |
| 1995 | 9.77 trillion current LCU | +35.2% |
| 1996 | 11.67 trillion current LCU | +19.5% |
| 1997 | 12.97 trillion current LCU | +11.2% |
| 1998 | 6.07 trillion current LCU | -53.2% |
| 1999 | 7.02 trillion current LCU | +15.6% |
| 2000 | 26.39 trillion current LCU | +275.8% |
| 2001 | 17.73 trillion current LCU | -32.8% |
| 2002 | 26.26 trillion current LCU | +48.1% |
| 2003 | 13.10 trillion current LCU | -50.1% |
| 2004 | 813.46 billion current LCU | -93.8% |
| 2005 | 7.88 trillion current LCU | +868.8% |
| 2006 | 10.38 trillion current LCU | +31.8% |
| 2007 | 22.61 trillion current LCU | +117.8% |
| 2008 | 16.82 trillion current LCU | -25.6% |
| 2009 | 203.45 billion current LCU | -98.8% |
| 2010 | 19.40 trillion current LCU | +9435.4% |
| 2011 | 22.53 trillion current LCU | +16.2% |
| 2012 | 17.14 trillion current LCU | -23.9% |
| 2013 | 19.31 trillion current LCU | +12.6% |
| 2014 | 15.60 trillion current LCU | -19.2% |
| 2015 | 12.68 trillion current LCU | -18.7% |
| 2016 | 32.68 trillion current LCU | +157.8% |
| 2017 | 34.72 trillion current LCU | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 45.86 trillion current LCU | +32.1% |
| 2019 | 718.84 billion current LCU | -98.4% |
| 2020 | -39.55 trillion current LCU | -5602.3% |
| 2021 | -16.07 trillion current LCU | -59.4% |
| 2022 | -40.62 trillion current LCU | +152.8% |
| 2023 | -24.56 trillion current LCU | -39.5% |
| 2024 | -45.65 trillion current LCU | +85.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's -45.65 trillion current LCU is below the median for high income countries, which is -2.76 billion current LCU, 16558.8× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Korea's -45.65 trillion current LCU is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -24.64 million current LCU, 1852424.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +9435.4% | 203.45 billion current LCU | 19.40 trillion current LCU |
| 2020 | -5602.3% | 718.84 billion current LCU | -39.55 trillion current LCU |
| 2005 | +868.8% | 813.46 billion current LCU | 7.88 trillion current LCU |
| 1983 | +748.5% | -132.00 billion current LCU | 856.00 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 61.62 billion current LCU | -166.00 billion current LCU | 327.00 billion current LCU | 8 |
| 1980s | 1.11 trillion current LCU | -132.00 billion current LCU | 3.44 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.78 trillion current LCU | 1.20 trillion current LCU | 12.97 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.22 trillion current LCU | 203.45 billion current LCU | 26.39 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.06 trillion current LCU | 718.84 billion current LCU | 45.86 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -33.29 trillion current LCU | -45.65 trillion current LCU | -16.07 trillion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More public sector data for South Korea
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- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
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- Democracy 7 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
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Frequently asked questions
- What is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in South Korea?
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in South Korea was -45.65 trillion current LCU in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 45.86 trillion current LCU in 2018.
- What is the lowest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -45.65 trillion current LCU in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-)?
- South Korea ranks 153rd out of 156 countries with data for 2024.
- Is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 392.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (–) equals government revenue minus expense, minus net investment in nonfinancial assets. It is also equal to the net result of transactions in financial assets and liabilities. Net lending/net borrowing is a summary measure indicating the extent to which government is either putting financial resources at the disposal of other sectors in the economy or abroad, or utilizing the financial resources generated by other sectors in the economy or from abroad. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.