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China vs South Korea GDP
China has held the lead throughout the published window. In 1960 South Korea stood at roughly 7% of China’s GDP; today the figure is about 10%, and the pair was closest in 1993 (91%).
| Year | China | South Korea | South Korea as % of China |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 59,846,235,024.73 | 3,973,069,306.93 | 7% |
| 1970 | 92,752,930,873.19 | 9,085,001,793.56 | 10% |
| 1980 | 191,487,500,000 | 66,547,970,350.62 | 35% |
| 1990 | 361,560,229,445.51 | 292,064,221,388.99 | 81% |
| 2000 | 1,223,754,919,971.05 | 597,487,173,479.11 | 49% |
| 2010 | 6,192,564,874,453.29 | 1,192,830,015,737.68 | 19% |
| 2020 | 14,996,414,166,715.1 | 1,744,070,276,373.34 | 12% |
| 2025 | 19,498,039,388,042.6 | 1,872,374,961,553.15 | 10% |
Frequently asked questions
When did China pass South Korea in GDP?
It has not come to that. China has posted the larger GDP in every published year (1960–2025).
How do China and Korea, Rep. compare today?
China is ahead: 19,498,039,388,042.6 against 1,872,374,961,553.15 — the trailing economy stands at about 10% of the leader.
Are these GDP figures nominal or adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — current US$ — with no inflation restatement, no PPP conversion and no interpolation for missing years.
Full series
Every published year for both economies, with charts, downloads and citations: