Subsidies and other transfers in South Korea

South Korea: Subsidies and other transfers was 68.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
68.5%
Change on year
down 4.9%
World rank
17th
of 152 countries
All-time high
72.0%
in 2022
All-time low
2.5%
in 1987
Years of data
37
1987–2023

Subsidies and other transfers in South Korea, 1987–2023

0204060801987200520231987: 2.5 % of expense1988: 4.2 % of expense1989: 5.6 % of expense1990: 56.2 % of expense1991: 57 % of expense1992: 57.4 % of expense1993: 59.1 % of expense1994: 60.7 % of expense1995: 62.9 % of expense1996: 63.2 % of expense1997: 63.9 % of expense1998: 53.2 % of expense1999: 54.9 % of expense2000: 53.4 % of expense2001: 55.8 % of expense2002: 55.3 % of expense2003: 54.4 % of expense2004: 50.2 % of expense2005: 51.8 % of expense2006: 52.7 % of expense2007: 61.5 % of expense2008: 60.2 % of expense2009: 56.9 % of expense2010: 58.1 % of expense2011: 58.6 % of expense2012: 59.1 % of expense2013: 62.5 % of expense2014: 62.3 % of expense2015: 61.8 % of expense2016: 62.2 % of expense2017: 63.3 % of expense2018: 66.6 % of expense2019: 69.1 % of expense2020: 70 % of expense2021: 70.1 % of expense2022: 72 % of expense2023: 68.5 % of expense

Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of expense.

Analysis

The most recent figure for subsidies and other transfers in South Korea is 68.5%, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.9% on the previous year and up 9.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, subsidies and other transfers in South Korea peaked at 72.0% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 1987.

That places South Korea 17th out of 152 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.

Subsidies and other transfers in South Korea, year by year

Annual values for Subsidies and other transfers (% of expense) in South Korea, 1987 to 2023.
Year % of expense Change
1987 2.5%
1988 4.2% +69.5%
1989 5.6% +35.4%
1990 56.2% +896.2%
1991 57.0% +1.4%
1992 57.4% +0.6%
1993 59.1% +3.1%
1994 60.7% +2.6%
1995 62.9% +3.5%
1996 63.2% +0.6%
1997 63.9% +1.0%
1998 53.2% -16.7%
1999 54.9% +3.3%
2000 53.4% -2.8%
2001 55.8% +4.5%
2002 55.3% -0.9%
2003 54.4% -1.7%
2004 50.2% -7.7%
2005 51.8% +3.2%
2006 52.7% +1.8%
2007 61.5% +16.7%
2008 60.2% -2.1%
2009 56.9% -5.4%
2010 58.1% +2.0%
2011 58.6% +0.9%
2012 59.1% +0.8%
2013 62.5% +5.8%
2014 62.3% -0.3%
2015 61.8% -0.8%
2016 62.2% +0.6%
2017 63.3% +1.8%
2018 66.6% +5.2%
2019 69.1% +3.7%
2020 70.0% +1.3%
2021 70.1% +0.1%
2022 72.0% +2.8%
2023 68.5% -4.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 4.1% 2.5% 5.6% 3
1990s 58.9% 53.2% 63.9% 10
2000s 55.2% 50.2% 61.5% 10
2010s 62.4% 58.1% 69.1% 10
2020s 70.2% 68.5% 72.0% 4

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 14 Kazakhstan 69.0% compare
  2. 15 Canada 68.9% compare
  3. 16 Argentina 68.8% compare
  4. 18 Moldova 66.0% compare
  5. 19 Norway 64.3% compare
  6. 20 Estonia 64.3% compare

See the full ranking of 192 places →

More public sector data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is subsidies and other transfers in South Korea?
Subsidies and other transfers in South Korea was 68.5% in 2023, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
What is the highest subsidies and other transfers recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 72.0% in 2022.
What is the lowest subsidies and other transfers recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 1987.
How does South Korea rank for subsidies and other transfers?
South Korea ranks 17th out of 152 countries with data for 2023.
Is subsidies and other transfers rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
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 Subsidies and other transfers (% of expense). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Subsidies and other transfers in South Korea. Statizoid, drawing on Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/subsidies-and-other-transfers-percent-of-expense/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Subsidies and other transfers (% of expense)
Unit
% of expense
Source
Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
192 places, 4,500 data points, 1972–2024
Last refreshed

Subsidies are current unrequited payments that government units, including nonresident government units, make to enterprises on the basis of the levels of their production activities or the quantities or values of the goods or services that they produce, sell, export or import. This indicator is expressed as percentage of total expenses which is any decrease in net worth resulting from a transaction.