Income share held by lowest 20% in South Korea

South Korea: Income share held by lowest 20% was 7.4% in 2021. ▬ Flat

Latest (2021)
7.4%
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
54th
of 121 countries
All-time high
7.5%
in 2014
All-time low
6.5%
in 2016
Years of data
11
2006–2021

Income share held by lowest 20% in South Korea, 2006–2021

024682006201320212006: 7.32008: 7.22010: 7.32012: 7.32014: 7.52016: 6.52017: 6.62018: 72019: 7.22020: 7.52021: 7.4

Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.

Analysis

The most recent figure for income share held by lowest 20% in South Korea is 7.4%, measured in 2021.

That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, income share held by lowest 20% in South Korea peaked at 7.5% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 6.5%, in 2016.

That places South Korea 54th out of 121 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 7.2% 7.2% 7.3% 2
2010s 7.1% 6.5% 7.5% 7
2020s 7.5% 7.4% 7.5% 2

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 53 Nigeria 7.5% compare
  2. 54 Portugal 7.4% compare
  3. 54 Rwanda 7.4% compare
  4. 54 Sri Lanka 7.4% compare
  5. 54 Switzerland 7.4% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More poverty & inequality data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is income share held by lowest 20% in South Korea?
Income share held by lowest 20% in South Korea was 7.4% in 2021, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
What is the highest income share held by lowest 20% recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 7.5% in 2014.
What is the lowest income share held by lowest 20% recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 6.5% in 2016.
How does South Korea rank for income share held by lowest 20%?
South Korea ranks 54th out of 121 countries with data for 2021.
Is income share held by lowest 20% rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Income share held by lowest 20%. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Income share held by lowest 20%
Source
World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,305 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.