Korea, Rep. — Health spending
Health Spending (% of GDP) for Korea, Rep., 2000–2024.
Health spending for Korea, Rep. was 8.68% in 2024, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 25 years, from 2000 to 2024. The highest recorded value was 8.86% in 2022. The lowest was 3.72% in 2000 (about 2.3× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 3.59% per year.
Korea, Rep. ranks 49 of 189 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 26%. The median for East Asia & Pacific is 5.94%, so Korea, Rep. sits above it. It peaked in 2022 and has fallen 2% since. Over the last decade (2014–2024) the figure moved up 39%. Within East Asia & Pacific it ranks 11 of 29 economies; Tonga (7.36%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 14% in 2003. That is 14% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 2000 level: doubled by 2019. Doubling roughly every 20 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 136th of 184 in 2000 → 87th of 188 in 2010 → 64th of 189 in 2020 → 14th of 22 in 2024.
Key figures
Full history — 2000 to 2024
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8.68% | +0.1 pp |
| 2023 | 8.57% | -0.3 pp |
| 2022 | 8.86% | +0.5 pp |
| 2021 | 8.34% | +0.3 pp |
| 2020 | 8.03% | +0.3 pp |
| 2019 | 7.69% | +0.6 pp |
| 2018 | 7.14% | +0.3 pp |
| 2017 | 6.8% | +0.2 pp |
| 2016 | 6.64% | +0.2 pp |
| 2015 | 6.46% | +0.2 pp |
| 2014 | 6.24% | +0.2 pp |
| 2013 | 6.07% | +0.1 pp |
| 2012 | 5.96% | +0.1 pp |
| 2011 | 5.9% | +0.1 pp |
| 2010 | 5.79% | +0.1 pp |
| 2009 | 5.69% | +0.4 pp |
| 2008 | 5.25% | +0.3 pp |
| 2007 | 4.96% | -0.0 pp |
| 2006 | 4.96% | +0.3 pp |
| 2005 | 4.65% | +0.2 pp |
| 2004 | 4.43% | -0.0 pp |
| 2003 | 4.47% | +0.6 pp |
| 2002 | 3.91% | -0.3 pp |
| 2001 | 4.17% | +0.5 pp |
| 2000 | 3.72% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Korea, Rep.’s Health spending in 2001?
4.17% (2001). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of GDP, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Korea, Rep.’s Health spending growing or shrinking?
Between 2000 and 2024 the series was growing overall: +133.4% in total — about 3.6% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2024: 8.68%; 2023: 8.57%; 2022: 8.86%; 2021: 8.34%; 2020: 8.03%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS — Health Spending (% of GDP). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.