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Economy of Kazakhstan vs South Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Kazakhstan has a GDP of $291B compared to $1.88T for South Korea, ranking 48/197 and 12/197 by economy size, respectively.

Kazakhstan has $71.1B in government debt (24.4% of GDP), compared to $934B (49.8% of GDP) in South Korea.

Kazakhstan vs South Korea GDP by year

Kazakhstan
South Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Kazakhstan South Korea
2024 $291,480,274,649 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $261,840,101,060 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $225,496,328,925 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $197,112,255,361 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $171,082,365,861 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $181,667,184,855 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $179,339,977,690 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $166,805,788,827 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $137,278,320,084 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $184,388,404,706 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $221,415,613,595 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $236,634,603,409 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $207,998,568,866 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $192,626,464,617 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $148,047,348,241 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $115,308,686,941 $983,065,242,417
2008 $133,441,648,852 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $104,849,915,058 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $81,003,864,630 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $57,123,671,734 $971,740,329,984
2004 $43,151,647,003 $823,251,107,639
2003 $30,833,692,900 $728,516,494,684
2002 $24,636,598,527 $650,014,391,470
2001 $22,152,689,180 $567,564,806,235
2000 $18,291,990,662 $597,487,173,479
1999 $16,870,817,182 $515,697,079,289
1998 $22,135,245,507 $397,297,216,492
1997 $22,165,932,063 $589,202,526,424
1996 $21,035,357,937 $631,196,863,758
1995 $20,374,302,652 $586,286,469,401
1994 $21,250,792,886 $479,181,794,217
1993 $23,409,260,880 $405,705,302,846
1992 $24,917,355,372 $366,921,291,825
1991 $24,923,076,923 $340,851,946,804
1990 $26,932,016,270 $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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Kazakhstan vs South Korea by year

Kazakhstan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
South Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Kazakhstan South Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $14,155 $40,891 $36,239 $61,051
2023 $12,879 $38,515 $35,674 $57,430
2022 $11,255 $35,895 $34,822 $55,509
2021 $9,984 $32,946 $37,518 $51,718
2020 $8,782 $29,040 $33,646 $47,881
2019 $9,457 $28,689 $33,827 $46,511
2018 $9,472 $25,096 $35,364 $45,511
2017 $8,943 $23,973 $33,297 $43,156
2016 $7,476 $23,023 $30,832 $41,673
2015 $10,196 $22,484 $30,172 $39,794
2014 $12,428 $23,958 $30,667 $37,032
2013 $13,478 $23,754 $28,449 $35,844
2012 $12,019 $21,367 $26,601 $35,062
2011 $11,287 $20,160 $26,175 $33,944
2010 $8,793 $18,642 $24,071 $33,120
2009 $6,938 $17,389 $19,937 $30,740
2008 $8,124 $17,278 $22,252 $31,211
2007 $6,449 $16,581 $25,078 $30,255
2006 $5,030 $14,966 $22,610 $27,972
2005 $3,577 $13,226 $20,167 $26,179
2004 $2,722 $11,777 $17,122 $24,658
2003 $1,958 $10,532 $15,212 $22,920
2002 $1,574 $9,504 $13,643 $22,173
2001 $1,422 $8,568 $11,981 $20,442
2000 $1,180 $7,418 $12,710 $19,237
1999 $1,092 $6,626 $11,063 $17,421
1998 $1,415 $6,284 $8,583 $15,500
1997 $1,382 $6,178 $12,822 $16,241
1996 $1,281 $5,836 $13,865 $15,164
1995 $1,218 $5,595 $13,002 $13,921
1994 $1,247 $5,860 $10,734 $12,551
1993 $1,355 $6,477 $9,180 $11,349
1992 $1,438 $6,945 $8,387 $10,468
1991 $1,442 $7,193 $7,873 $9,724
1990 $1,570 $7,874 $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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Kazakhstan's GDP per capita is $14,155, ranking 71/197, compared to $36,239 in South Korea, ranking 31/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Kazakhstan ranks 58th at $40,891, while South Korea ranks 33rd at $61,051.

Economic indicators

Kazakhstan South Korea
Gross domestic product
$291B
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank
48/197
2024
12/197
2024
GDP growth
5%
2023-2024
2%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$14,155
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank
71/197
2024
31/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$40,891
2024
$61,051
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
58/197
2024
33/197
2024
Government debt
$71.1B
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
24.4%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$3,450
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank
95/185
2024
33/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$7,486
2026
$27,215
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$62.8B
2024
$1.56T
2024
Number of millionaires
44,307
2025
1,301,000
2025
Number of billionaires
6
2025
30
2025
Income share by richest 10%
24.8%
2021
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
4.3%
2021
2.9%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
20.7%
2024
22.5%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
8.7%
2023-2024
2.32%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
18%
2025
2.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
4.86%
2022
2.78%
2024
Population
21161809
51649918

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Kazakhstan
Spending

Debt
South Korea
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Kazakhstan South Korea
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 20.7% 24.4% 22.5% 49.8%
2023 23.4% 23% 23.1% 50.5%
2022 21.7% 23.5% 26.7% 49.8%
2021 22.1% 25.1% 24.1% 48%
2020 24.5% 26.4% 23.7% 45.9%
2019 20.2% 19.9% 21.3% 39.7%
2018 18.8% 20.3% 19.3% 37.9%
2017 24.1% 19.9% 18.6% 38%
2016 21.5% 19.7% 18.5% 39.1%
2015 22.9% 21.9% 18.8% 38.8%
2014 21.3% 14.5% 18.8% 37.9%
2013 19.8% 12.6% 19% 36%
2012 21.9% 12.1% 18.8% 33.5%
2011 21.2% 10.2% 18.3% 31.7%
2010 22.5% 10.7% 17.9% 28.3%
2009 23.5% 10.2% 19.5% 28.8%
2008 27.1% 6.77% 19.1% 25.9%
2007 23.7% 4.09% 18.8% 26.3%
2006 19.8% 6.68% 18.7% 27%
2005 22% 8.1% 18.2% 24.9%
2004 21.3% 11.4% 18.5% 21.6%
2003 21.4% 15% 17.9% 19.1%
2002 20.5% 17.6% 15.9% 16.4%
2001 - - 16.9% 16.6%
2000 - - 16% 16.1%
1999 - - 16.1% 15.8%
1998 - - 16% 13.8%
1997 - - 13.9% 9.69%
1996 - - 14% 7.81%
1995 - - 13.5% 8.48%
1994 - - 15.4% 9.63%
1993 - - 15.1% 10.9%
1992 - - 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 (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1994, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Kazakhstan's government spending was $60.3B, accounting for 20.7% of its GDP, while South Korea spent $423B, or 22.5% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 24.4% in Kazakhstan and 49.8% in South Korea, ranking 167/185 and 110/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Kazakhstan

South Korea
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Kazakhstan South Korea
2024 -1.6% -0.78%
2023 -1.52% -0.67%
2022 0.11% -1.49%
2021 -4.97% -0.02%
2020 -7.04% -2.11%
2019 -0.57% 0.35%
2018 2.58% 2.42%
2017 -4.27% 2.08%
2016 -4.5% 1.56%
2015 -6.26% 0.5%
2014 2.48% 0.57%
2013 4.95% 0.79%
2012 4.43% 1.63%
2011 5.81% 1.72%
2010 1.47% 1.61%
2009 -1.33% 0.24%
2008 1.23% 1.58%
2007 5.13% 2.49%
2006 7.65% 1.18%
2005 6.08% 0.95%
2004 3.29% 0.09%
2003 4% 1.51%
2002 1.92% 3.23%
2001 - 2.42%
2000 - 3.91%
1999 - 1.15%
1998 - 1.09%
1997 - 2.31%
1996 - 2.3%
1995 - 2.16%
1994 - 2.06%
1993 - 3.21%
1992 - 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 (1995–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1953–1994, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Kazakhstan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $4.66B, equivalent to 1.6% of GDP. This compares to South Korea's deficit of $14.7B, or 0.78% of GDP.

Over the past 23 years, Kazakhstan recorded a fiscal deficit in 9 of those years, while South Korea ran a deficit in 5 years. On average, Kazakhstan posted an annual surplus equal to 0.83% of GDP, compared to surplus of 0.85% of GDP for South Korea.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Kazakhstan

South Korea
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Kazakhstan South Korea
2024 8.7% 2.32%
2023 14.5% 3.6%
2022 15% 5.09%
2021 8% 2.5%
2020 6.8% 0.54%
2019 5.3% 0.38%
2018 6% 1.48%
2017 7.5% 1.94%
2016 14.6% 0.97%
2015 6.8% 0.71%
2014 6.6% 1.27%
2013 5.8% 1.3%
2012 5.1% 2.19%
2011 8.4% 4.03%
2010 7.1% 2.94%
2009 7.3% 2.76%
2008 17.2% 4.67%
2007 10.8% 2.53%
2006 8.6% 2.24%
2005 7.4% 2.75%
2004 7% 3.59%
2003 6.4% 3.51%
2002 6% 2.76%
2001 8.4% 4.07%
2000 13.2% 2.26%
1999 8.3% 0.81%
1998 7.1% 7.51%
1997 17.4% 4.44%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the past 28 years, Kazakhstan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 8.98%, compared with 2.68% in South Korea. In 2024, inflation was 8.7% in Kazakhstan and 2.32% in South Korea.

Top exports between countries

Kazakhstan
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $1.14B
Metals $104M
Machinery & equipment $8.68M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $390K
Chemicals & pharma $246K
Textiles & consumer goods $174K
Animal & marine products $104K
Raw agricultural goods $49K
Wood & paper products $39K
Precious metals & jewellery $31K
South Korea
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $2.04B
Chemicals & pharma $157M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $51.7M
Raw materials & minerals $49.3M
Metals $28.2M
Textiles & consumer goods $19M
Raw agricultural goods $2.15M
Miscellaneous $1.42M
Wood & paper products $1.04M
Precious metals & jewellery $500K

Balance of trade

Kazakhstan South Korea
Current account balance
-$7.94B
2024
$99B
2024
Current account balance ranking
173/190
2024
7/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.72%
2024
+5.28%
2024
Goods imports
$61.8B
2024
$596B
2024
Goods exports
$79B
2024
$696B
2024
Service imports
$13B
2024
$163B
2024
Service exports
$11.8B
2024
$139B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
25.6%
2024
40.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
31.6%
2024
44.4%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Kazakhstan South Korea
Economic freedom 64.2 73.7
Economic freedom ranking 75/197 24/197
Property rights 54.9 89.6
Government integrity 40.7 70.9
Judicial effectiveness 33.8 77.5
Tax burden 91.2 61.5
Government spending 85.6 82.6
Fiscal health 97.2 93.5
Business freedom 64.9 81.5
Labor freedom 63.5 55
Monetary freedom 64.3 79.3
Trade freedom 74.4 73
Investment freedom 50 60
Financial freedom 50 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Kazakhstan
South Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Kazakhstan South Korea
2026 64.2 73.7
2025 63.8 74
2024 62 73.1
2023 62.1 73.7
2022 64.4 74.6
2021 71.1 74
2020 69.6 74
2019 65.4 72.3
2018 69.1 73.8
2017 69 74.3
2016 63.6 71.7
2015 63.3 71.5
2014 63.7 71.2
2013 63 70.3
2012 63.6 69.9
2011 62.1 69.8
2010 61 69.9
2009 60.1 68.1
2008 61.1 68.6
2007 59.6 67.8
2006 60.2 67.5
2005 53.9 66.4
2004 49.7 67.8
2003 52.3 68.3
2002 52.4 69.5
2001 51.8 69.1
2000 50.4 69.7
1999 47.3 69.7
1998 41.7 73.3
1997 - 69.8
1996 - 73
1995 - 72

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Kazakhstan is 64.2, ranking 75/197, 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

Kazakhstan South Korea
Services, % of GDP
57.9%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
32.1%
2024
33.9%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3.88%
2024
1.46%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$249B
2024
$1.9T
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$37,590
2024
$61,930
2024
Total reserves including gold
$45.8B
2024
$418B
2024
Total reserves ranking
43/177
2024
8/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$3.9B
2024
$33.4B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.98B
2024
$15.2B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$1.92B
2024
$48.6B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
17.3%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
5%
2024
14.4%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.2%
2024
30%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

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

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1953–1994, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2023–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

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.