Skip to content

Economy of Croatia vs South Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Croatia has a GDP of $105B compared to $1.87T for South Korea, ranking 73/197 and 13/197 by economy size, respectively.

Croatia has $58.7B in government debt (55.9% of GDP), compared to $978B (52.3% of GDP) in South Korea.

Croatia vs South Korea GDP by year

Croatia
South Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Croatia South Korea
2025 $105,060,182,186 $1,872,374,961,553
2024 $92,981,894,168 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $85,621,337,533 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $71,196,460,237 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $69,002,262,505 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $57,959,824,238 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $61,467,261,345 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $61,668,280,700 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $56,182,225,079 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $52,650,804,052 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $50,999,271,059 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $59,607,109,597 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $59,846,869,999 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $57,547,495,860 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $62,889,150,894 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $58,975,127,201 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $62,315,450,611 $983,065,242,417
2008 $68,473,103,477 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $59,290,547,254 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $49,583,643,048 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $45,012,776,906 $971,740,329,984
2004 $41,836,096,243 $823,251,107,639
2003 $35,244,797,329 $728,516,494,684
2002 $26,757,633,353 $650,014,391,470
2001 $23,067,071,478 $567,564,806,235
2000 $22,134,069,750 $597,487,173,479
1999 $23,776,940,769 $515,697,079,289
1998 $25,889,813,449 $397,297,216,492
1997 $24,175,272,572 $589,202,526,424
1996 $24,151,469,717 $631,196,863,758
1995 $22,772,224,146 $586,286,469,401
1994 $15,062,911,617 $479,181,794,217
1993 $11,259,647,874 $405,705,302,846
1992 $10,621,169,291 $366,921,291,825
1991 $18,760,386,775 $340,851,946,804
1990 $25,650,213,280 $292,064,221,389
1989 - $254,236,243,100
1988 - $205,477,530,605
1987 - $152,240,393,646
1986 - $119,965,960,795
1985 - $103,764,281,281
1984 - $99,749,645,089
1983 - $89,621,208,322
1982 - $79,921,300,447
1981 - $74,287,368,087
1980 - $66,547,970,351
1979 - $68,083,884,298
1978 - $52,824,793,388
1977 - $39,064,462,810
1976 - $30,371,074,380
1975 - $22,126,033,058
1974 - $19,860,929,977
1973 - $14,067,523,813
1972 - $10,990,490,570
1971 - $10,005,257,131
1970 - $9,085,001,794
1969 - $7,743,940,189
1968 - $6,167,109,472
1967 - $4,895,076,718
1966 - $3,957,064,541
1965 - $3,141,131,708
1964 - $3,476,789,682
1963 - $4,007,692,308
1962 - $2,826,923,077
1961 - $2,427,244,761
1960 - $3,973,069,307

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/south-korea | CC BY

GDP per capita in Croatia vs South Korea by year

Croatia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
South Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Croatia South Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $27,104 - $36,227 -
2024 $24,050 $49,551 $36,239 $61,051
2023 $22,183 $47,760 $35,674 $57,430
2022 $18,466 $42,125 $34,822 $55,509
2021 $17,789 $36,930 $37,518 $51,718
2020 $14,808 $31,594 $33,646 $47,881
2019 $15,564 $33,064 $33,827 $46,511
2018 $15,460 $29,789 $35,364 $45,511
2017 $13,902 $27,888 $33,297 $43,156
2016 $12,820 $25,803 $30,832 $41,673
2015 $12,284 $23,750 $30,172 $39,794
2014 $14,187 $22,706 $30,667 $37,032
2013 $14,135 $22,430 $28,449 $35,844
2012 $13,508 $21,619 $26,601 $35,062
2011 $14,692 $21,191 $26,175 $33,944
2010 $13,730 $20,139 $24,071 $33,120
2009 $14,475 $20,358 $19,937 $30,740
2008 $15,888 $21,018 $22,252 $31,211
2007 $13,756 $19,568 $25,078 $30,255
2006 $11,501 $17,629 $22,610 $27,972
2005 $10,443 $15,451 $20,167 $26,179
2004 $9,719 $14,686 $17,122 $24,658
2003 $8,190 $13,692 $15,212 $22,920
2002 $6,220 $12,775 $13,643 $22,173
2001 $5,365 $11,653 $11,981 $20,442
2000 $4,954 $10,675 $12,710 $19,237
1999 $5,269 $9,943 $11,063 $17,421
1998 $5,712 $9,890 $8,583 $15,500
1997 $5,331 $9,536 $12,822 $16,241
1996 $5,300 $8,806 $13,865 $15,164
1995 $4,929 $8,052 $13,002 $13,921
1994 $3,238 $7,337 $10,734 $12,551
1993 $2,448 $6,861 $9,180 $11,349
1992 $2,321 $7,326 $8,387 $10,468
1991 $4,001 $7,918 $7,873 $9,724
1990 $5,369 $9,526 $6,813 $8,567
1989 - - $5,989 -
1988 - - $4,889 -
1987 - - $3,658 -
1986 - - $2,911 -
1985 - - $2,543 -
1984 - - $2,469 -
1983 - - $2,246 -
1982 - - $2,032 -
1981 - - $1,918 -
1980 - - $1,746 -
1979 - - $1,814 -
1978 - - $1,429 -
1977 - - $1,073 -
1976 - - $847 -
1975 - - $627 -
1974 - - $572 -
1973 - - $412 -
1972 - - $328 -
1971 - - $304 -
1970 - - $281.8 -
1969 - - $245.5 -
1968 - - $200 -
1967 - - $162.5 -
1966 - - $134.4 -
1965 - - $109.4 -
1964 - - $124.2 -
1963 - - $147 -
1962 - - $106.6 -
1961 - - $94.2 -
1960 - - $158.8 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/south-korea | CC BY

Croatia's GDP per capita is $27,104, ranking 49/197, compared to $36,227 in South Korea, ranking 33/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Croatia ranks 46th at $49,551, while South Korea ranks 33rd at $61,051.

Economic indicators

Croatia South Korea
Gross domestic product
$105B
2025
$1.87T
2025
GDP rank
73/197
2025
13/197
2025
GDP growth
3.4%
2024-2025
1.01%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$27,104
2025
$36,227
2025
GDP per capita rank
49/197
2025
33/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$49,551
2024
$61,051
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
46/197
2024
33/197
2024
Government debt
$58.7B
2025
$978B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
55.9%
2025
52.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$15,144
2025
$18,930
2025
Government debt per person rank
44/185
2025
34/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$20,376
2026
$25,661
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$37.9B
2025
$2.76T
2025
Number of millionaires n/a
1,317,000
2026
Number of billionaires
1
2026
49
2026
Income share by richest 10%
23.3%
2023
25%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2023
2.9%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
49.3%
2025
24%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
3.69%
2024-2025
2.12%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
2.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
4.9%
2025
2.79%
2025
Population
3849788
51624449

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Croatia
Spending

Debt
South Korea
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Croatia South Korea
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 49.3% 55.9% 24% 52.3%
2024 48% 57.4% 22.5% 49.7%
2023 46.3% 60.9% 23.1% 50.5%
2022 45% 68.5% 26.7% 49.8%
2021 48.2% 78.2% 24.1% 48%
2020 53.8% 86.5% 23.7% 45.9%
2019 44.4% 70.9% 21.3% 39.7%
2018 45% 72.8% 19.3% 37.9%
2017 44.1% 76.2% 18.6% 38%
2016 45.9% 79.3% 18.5% 39.1%
2015 47.6% 82.8% 18.8% 38.8%
2014 48.7% 83.2% 18.8% 37.9%
2013 48% 79.5% 19% 36%
2012 47.3% 68.9% 18.8% 33.5%
2011 48.6% 63.1% 18.3% 31.7%
2010 48.2% 56.8% 17.9% 28.3%
2009 49.3% 47.9% 19.5% 28.8%
2008 46.3% 38.9% 19.1% 25.9%
2007 46.4% 37.1% 18.8% 26.3%
2006 44.6% 38.4% 18.7% 27%
2005 46.5% 40.9% 18.2% 24.9%
2004 49% 40% 18.5% 21.6%
2003 49.6% 37.8% 17.9% 19.1%
2002 49.2% 36.5% 15.9% 16.4%
2001 50.6% 36.6% 16.9% 16.6%
2000 54.6% 35.4% 16% 16.1%
1999 58.9% 30% 16.1% 15.8%
1998 56.8% 23.3% 16% 13.8%
1997 51.7% 22.5% 13.9% 9.69%
1996 52.1% - 14% 7.81%
1995 50.3% - 13.5% 8.48%
1994 45.4% - 15.4% 9.63%
1993 35.9% - 15.1% 10.9%
1992 37.1% - 15.5% 11.6%
1991 - - 15.4% 11.9%
1990 - - 15.2% 12.8%
1989 - - 15% 12.4%
1988 - - 13.9% 12.7%
1987 - - 14.3% 15.3%
1986 - - 14.9% 14.5%
1985 - - 15.5% 16.2%
1984 - - 15.6% 16.9%
1983 - - 16% 19.3%
1982 - - 17.8% 20.5%
1981 - - 16.3% 18.8%
1980 - - 16.8% 18.6%
1979 - - 16.3% 15.7%
1978 - - 15.7% 18.4%
1977 - - 17.7% 20.1%
1976 - - 17% 20.4%
1975 - - 18.8% 21.5%
1974 - - 16.1% 18.6%
1973 - - 14.2% 17.9%
1972 - - 18.5% 18.3%
1971 - - 18.5% 14.5%
1970 - - 17.5% 6.95%
1969 - - 19.8% 2.63%
1968 - - 18.5% 2.76%
1967 - - 16.7% 3.74%
1966 - - 16% 4.44%
1965 - - 13.1% 6.14%
1964 - - 12.1% 6.57%
1963 - - 15.4% 9.21%
1962 - - 22.3% 13%
1961 - - 21.2% 13.4%
1960 - - 17.9% 13.7%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1997, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, Croatia's government spending was $51.8B, accounting for 49.3% of its GDP, while South Korea spent $449B, or 24% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 55.9% in Croatia and 52.3% in South Korea, ranking 87/185 and 98/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Croatia

South Korea
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Croatia South Korea
2025 -2.89% -1.43%
2024 -1.95% -0.78%
2023 -0.79% -0.67%
2022 0.14% -1.49%
2021 -2.57% -0.02%
2020 -7.24% -2.11%
2019 2.32% 0.35%
2018 0.22% 2.42%
2017 0.81% 2.08%
2016 -1.04% 1.56%
2015 -3.53% 0.5%
2014 -5.19% 0.57%
2013 -5.51% 0.79%
2012 -5.46% 1.63%
2011 -7.51% 1.72%
2010 -6.45% 1.61%
2009 -7.15% 0.24%
2008 -2.33% 1.58%
2007 -2.27% 2.49%
2006 -2% 1.18%
2005 -3.24% 0.95%
2004 -6.09% 0.09%
2003 -5.03% 1.51%
2002 -4.9% 3.23%
2001 -4.79% 2.42%
2000 -9.2% 3.91%
1999 -11.1% 1.15%
1998 -6.36% 1.09%
1997 -4.93% 2.31%
1996 -4.41% 2.3%
1995 -4.23% 2.16%
1994 -0.82% 2.06%
1993 -2.67% 3.21%
1992 -5.69% 2.42%
1991 - 1.94%
1990 - 2.98%
1989 - 2.27%
1988 - 2.85%
1987 - 1.7%
1986 - 0.8%
1985 - 0.47%
1984 - 0.78%
1983 - 1.05%
1982 - -0.41%
1981 - 0.99%
1980 - 0.46%
1979 - 0.47%
1978 - -0.27%
1977 - -1.81%
1976 - -0.87%
1975 - -3.68%
1974 - -2.78%
1973 - -1.72%
1972 - -4.33%
1971 - -1.3%
1970 - -0.52%
1969 - -2.85%
1968 - -2.36%
1967 - -2.87%
1966 - -4.27%
1965 - -3.43%
1964 - -4.1%
1963 - -4.32%
1962 - -7.82%
1961 - -9.48%
1960 - -5.18%
1959 - -6.52%
1958 - -10%
1957 - -10.1%
1956 - -10.8%
1955 - -10.6%
1954 - -10.3%
1953 - -4.14%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1953–1994, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, Croatia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $3.04B, equivalent to 2.89% of GDP. This compares to South Korea's deficit of $26.8B, or 1.43% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Croatia recorded a fiscal deficit in 30 of those years, while South Korea ran a deficit in 6 years. On average, Croatia posted an annual deficit equal to 3.94% of GDP, compared to surplus of 1.21% of GDP for South Korea.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Croatia

South Korea
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Croatia South Korea
2025 3.69% 2.12%
2024 2.97% 2.32%
2023 7.94% 3.6%
2022 10.8% 5.09%
2021 2.55% 2.5%
2020 0.15% 0.54%
2019 0.77% 0.38%
2018 1.5% 1.48%
2017 1.13% 1.94%
2016 -1.12% 0.97%
2015 -0.46% 0.71%
2014 -0.22% 1.27%
2013 2.22% 1.3%
2012 3.41% 2.19%
2011 2.27% 4.03%
2010 1.03% 2.94%
2009 2.38% 2.76%
2008 6.08% 4.67%
2007 2.9% 2.53%
2006 3.19% 2.24%
2005 3.32% 2.75%
2004 2.06% 3.59%
2003 1.77% 3.51%
2002 1.67% 2.76%
2001 3.78% 4.07%
2000 4.61% 2.26%
1999 4.02% 0.81%
1998 6.4% 7.51%
1997 4.17% 4.44%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/south-korea | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Croatia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.93%, compared with 2.67% in South Korea. In 2025, inflation was 3.69% in Croatia and 2.12% in South Korea.

Top exports between countries

Croatia
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $7M
Animal & marine products $5.52M
Transport & tourism services $5.12M
Precious metals & jewellery $3.7M
Business & finance services $2.16M
IT & IP services $974K
Chemicals & pharma $679K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $536K
Textiles & consumer goods $480K
Raw agricultural goods $281K
South Korea
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $48.3M
Chemicals & pharma $35.3M
Metals $22.2M
Raw materials & minerals $19.2M
Textiles & consumer goods $1.89M
Animal & marine products $1.85M
Wood & paper products $502K
Weapons & explosives $360K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $259K
Miscellaneous $10K

Balance of trade

Croatia South Korea
Current account balance
-$1.93B
2024
$123B
2025
Current account balance ranking
141/190
2024
4/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.08%
2024
+6.57%
2025
Goods imports
$42.5B
2024
$581B
2025
Goods exports
$21.9B
2024
$719B
2025
Service imports
$8.42B
2024
$185B
2025
Service exports
$24.8B
2024
$150B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53%
2025
40.6%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
48%
2025
45.8%
2025

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Croatia South Korea
Economic freedom 67.5 73.7
Economic freedom ranking 56/197 24/197
Property rights 81.1 89.6
Government integrity 52.6 70.9
Judicial effectiveness 71.7 77.5
Tax burden 70 61.5
Government spending 34.9 82.6
Fiscal health 92.2 93.5
Business freedom 79.6 81.5
Labor freedom 58.9 55
Monetary freedom 69.9 79.3
Trade freedom 79.4 73
Investment freedom 60 60
Financial freedom 60 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Croatia
South Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Croatia South Korea
2026 67.5 73.7
2025 68.7 74
2024 67.2 73.1
2023 66.4 73.7
2022 67.6 74.6
2021 63.6 74
2020 62.2 74
2019 61.4 72.3
2018 61 73.8
2017 59.4 74.3
2016 59.1 71.7
2015 61.5 71.5
2014 60.4 71.2
2013 61.3 70.3
2012 60.9 69.9
2011 61.1 69.8
2010 59.2 69.9
2009 55.1 68.1
2008 54.1 68.6
2007 53.4 67.8
2006 53.6 67.5
2005 51.9 66.4
2004 53.1 67.8
2003 53.3 68.3
2002 51.1 69.5
2001 50.7 69.1
2000 53.6 69.7
1999 53.1 69.7
1998 51.7 73.3
1997 46.7 69.8
1996 48 73
1995 - 72

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/south-korea | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Croatia is 67.5, ranking 56/197, compared to 73.7 for South Korea, ranking 24/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Croatia South Korea
Services, % of GDP
60.9%
2025
57.2%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
19%
2025
34.3%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.83%
2025
1.46%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$98.3B
2025
$1.96T
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$50,410
2025
$64,210
2025
Total reserves including gold
$4.22B
2025
$437B
2025
Total reserves ranking
110/177
2025
9/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.74B
2024
$25.4B
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$4.54B
2024
$12.9B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$2.79B
2024
$49.7B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
20.3%
2024
14.4%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.6%
2025
29.1%
2025

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/south-korea | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1953–1997, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2011–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.