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Economy of Serbia vs South Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Serbia has a GDP of $100B compared to $1.87T for South Korea, ranking 76/197 and 13/197 by economy size, respectively.

Serbia has $42.4B in government debt (42.4% of GDP), compared to $978B (52.3% of GDP) in South Korea.

Serbia vs South Korea GDP by year

Serbia
South Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Serbia South Korea
2025 $99,953,324,473 $1,872,374,961,553
2024 $90,088,366,320 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $81,343,999,280 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $66,809,895,701 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $66,159,884,073 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $55,874,017,669 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $53,864,693,665 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $52,787,520,249 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $45,972,834,714 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $42,225,495,910 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $41,297,410,635 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $49,114,321,280 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $50,455,529,604 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $45,103,269,969 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $51,251,098,408 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $43,536,629,233 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $46,955,984,410 $983,065,242,417
2008 $54,220,641,202 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $44,888,028,946 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $33,298,057,362 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $28,334,256,181 $971,740,329,984
2004 $26,845,632,342 $823,251,107,639
2003 $23,593,044,418 $728,516,494,684
2002 $17,930,583,571 $650,014,391,470
2001 $13,599,378,662 $567,564,806,235
2000 $7,326,373,882 $597,487,173,479
1999 $20,878,694,851 $515,697,079,289
1998 $21,004,077,441 $397,297,216,492
1997 $27,153,408,995 $589,202,526,424
1996 $23,277,430,168 $631,196,863,758
1995 $17,921,892,655 $586,286,469,401
1994 - $479,181,794,217
1993 - $405,705,302,846
1992 - $366,921,291,825
1991 - $340,851,946,804
1990 - $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/serbia/south-korea | CC BY

GDP per capita in Serbia vs South Korea by year

Serbia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
South Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Serbia South Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $15,262 - $36,227 -
2024 $13,678 $32,832 $36,239 $61,051
2023 $12,282 $29,777 $35,674 $57,430
2022 $10,025 $26,143 $34,822 $55,509
2021 $9,681 $23,406 $37,518 $51,718
2020 $8,099 $21,013 $33,646 $47,881
2019 $7,756 $20,587 $33,827 $46,511
2018 $7,560 $18,469 $35,364 $45,511
2017 $6,548 $17,285 $33,297 $43,156
2016 $5,982 $16,455 $30,832 $41,673
2015 $5,820 $15,546 $30,172 $39,794
2014 $6,887 $15,296 $30,667 $37,032
2013 $7,040 $15,247 $28,449 $35,844
2012 $6,263 $14,506 $26,601 $35,062
2011 $7,082 $14,298 $26,175 $33,944
2010 $5,971 $13,320 $24,071 $33,120
2009 $6,414 $13,038 $19,937 $30,740
2008 $7,377 $13,123 $22,252 $31,211
2007 $6,081 $11,685 $25,078 $30,255
2006 $4,493 $10,463 $22,610 $27,972
2005 $3,808 $9,398 $20,167 $26,179
2004 $3,597 $8,715 $17,122 $24,658
2003 $3,154 $8,023 $15,212 $22,920
2002 $2,391 $7,563 $13,643 $22,173
2001 $1,812 $6,803 $11,981 $20,442
2000 $975 $6,416 $12,710 $19,237
1999 $2,769 $5,897 $11,063 $17,421
1998 $2,775 $6,460 $8,583 $15,500
1997 $3,574 $6,040 $12,822 $16,241
1996 $3,054 $5,434 $13,865 $15,164
1995 $2,349 $5,022 $13,002 $13,921
1994 - - $10,734 $12,551
1993 - - $9,180 $11,349
1992 - - $8,387 $10,468
1991 - - $7,873 $9,724
1990 - - $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/serbia/south-korea | CC BY

Serbia's GDP per capita is $15,262, ranking 69/197, compared to $36,227 in South Korea, ranking 33/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Serbia ranks 69th at $32,832, while South Korea ranks 33rd at $61,051.

Economic indicators

Serbia South Korea
Gross domestic product
$100B
2025
$1.87T
2025
GDP rank
76/197
2025
13/197
2025
GDP growth
2.03%
2024-2025
1.01%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$15,262
2025
$36,227
2025
GDP per capita rank
69/197
2025
33/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$32,832
2024
$61,051
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
69/197
2024
33/197
2024
Government debt
$42.4B
2025
$978B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
42.4%
2025
52.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$6,478
2025
$18,930
2025
Government debt per person rank
75/185
2025
34/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,492
2026
$25,661
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$4.06B
2011
$2.76T
2025
Number of millionaires n/a
1,317,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
49
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.7%
2023
25%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.5%
2023
2.9%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
43.2%
2025
24%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
3.89%
2024-2025
2.12%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
5.75%
2024
2.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
7.3%
2025
2.79%
2025
Population
6500256
51624449

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Serbia
Spending

Debt
South Korea
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Serbia South Korea
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 43.2% 42.4% 24% 52.3%
2024 42.2% 44.1% 22.5% 49.7%
2023 40.6% 45.7% 23.1% 50.5%
2022 41.4% 50.9% 26.7% 49.8%
2021 44.4% 53.6% 24.1% 48%
2020 46% 54.3% 23.7% 45.9%
2019 40.2% 49.5% 21.3% 39.7%
2018 39% 51.1% 19.3% 37.9%
2017 38.5% 55.3% 18.6% 38%
2016 40.3% 65% 18.5% 39.1%
2015 41% 67.1% 18.8% 38.8%
2014 42.9% 63.5% 18.8% 37.9%
2013 40.6% 61.2% 19% 36%
2012 43.3% 58% 18.8% 33.5%
2011 40% 46% 18.3% 31.7%
2010 41.2% 42.4% 17.9% 28.3%
2009 41.1% 35.3% 19.5% 28.8%
2008 43.7% 29.4% 19.1% 25.9%
2007 40.6% 30% 18.8% 26.3%
2006 41.3% 37% 18.7% 27%
2005 38.9% 50.1% 18.2% 24.9%
2004 37.8% 57.6% 18.5% 21.6%
2003 37.6% 64.4% 17.9% 19.1%
2002 38.6% 68.4% 15.9% 16.4%
2001 30.5% 95.9% 16.9% 16.6%
2000 28% 200.6% 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 (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1994, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, Serbia's government spending was $43.2B, accounting for 43.2% of its GDP, while South Korea spent $449B, or 24% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 42.4% in Serbia and 52.3% in South Korea, ranking 123/185 and 98/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Serbia

South Korea
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Serbia South Korea
2025 -2.21% -1.43%
2024 -1.73% -0.78%
2023 -1.21% -0.67%
2022 -0.14% -1.49%
2021 -3.16% -0.02%
2020 -6.91% -2.11%
2019 -0.004% 0.35%
2018 0.78% 2.42%
2017 1.32% 2.08%
2016 -1.08% 1.56%
2015 -3.25% 0.5%
2014 -5.61% 0.57%
2013 -4.79% 0.79%
2012 -6.11% 1.63%
2011 -3.75% 1.72%
2010 -3.35% 1.61%
2009 -3.3% 0.24%
2008 -4.25% 1.58%
2007 -0.8% 2.49%
2006 -0.9% 1.18%
2005 1.02% 0.95%
2004 0.06% 0.09%
2003 -2.39% 1.51%
2002 -2.33% 3.23%
2001 0.32% 2.42%
2000 -0.15% 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 (1995–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1953–1994, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, Serbia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $2.21B, equivalent to 2.21% of GDP. This compares to South Korea's deficit of $26.8B, or 1.43% of GDP.

Over the past 26 years, Serbia recorded a fiscal deficit in 21 of those years, while South Korea ran a deficit in 6 years. On average, Serbia posted an annual deficit equal to 2.07% of GDP, compared to surplus of 0.94% of GDP for South Korea.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Serbia

South Korea
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Serbia South Korea
2025 3.89% 2.12%
2024 4.67% 2.32%
2023 12.4% 3.6%
2022 12% 5.09%
2021 4.09% 2.5%
2020 1.58% 0.54%
2019 1.85% 0.38%
2018 1.96% 1.48%
2017 3.13% 1.94%
2016 1.12% 0.97%
2015 1.39% 0.71%
2014 2.08% 1.27%
2013 7.69% 1.3%
2012 7.33% 2.19%
2011 11.1% 4.03%
2010 6.14% 2.94%
2009 8.12% 2.76%
2008 12.4% 4.67%
2007 6.39% 2.53%
2006 11.7% 2.24%
2005 16.1% 2.75%
2004 11% 3.59%
2003 9.88% 3.51%
2002 19.5% 2.76%
2001 95% 4.07%
2000 71.1% 2.26%
1999 42.5% 0.81%
1998 30.2% 7.51%
1997 23.3% 4.44%

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

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

Over the past 29 years, Serbia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 15.2%, compared with 2.67% in South Korea. In 2025, inflation was 3.89% in Serbia and 2.12% in South Korea.

Top exports between countries

Serbia
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $38.3M
Chemicals & pharma $15.2M
Machinery & equipment $4.68M
Transport & tourism services $4.53M
Business & finance services $3.24M
Wood & paper products $3.03M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $2.22M
Textiles & consumer goods $224K
Precious metals & jewellery $152K
Metals $98K
South Korea
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $130M
Chemicals & pharma $26.1M
Raw materials & minerals $9.24M
Textiles & consumer goods $5.95M
Metals $3.32M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.01M
Precious metals & jewellery $561K
Wood & paper products $258K
Raw agricultural goods $89K
Miscellaneous $73K

Balance of trade

Serbia South Korea
Current account balance
-$4.9B
2025
$123B
2025
Current account balance ranking
164/190
2025
4/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-4.9%
2025
+6.57%
2025
Goods imports
$44B
2025
$581B
2025
Goods exports
$36.7B
2025
$719B
2025
Service imports
$14.6B
2025
$185B
2025
Service exports
$17.2B
2025
$150B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
58.6%
2025
40.6%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
54.3%
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.

Serbia South Korea
Economic freedom 65 73.7
Economic freedom ranking 68/197 24/197
Property rights 57.2 89.6
Government integrity 37.2 70.9
Judicial effectiveness 50.1 77.5
Tax burden 88 61.5
Government spending 48.2 82.6
Fiscal health 94.3 93.5
Business freedom 73.6 81.5
Labor freedom 61.8 55
Monetary freedom 73 79.3
Trade freedom 76.6 73
Investment freedom 70 60
Financial freedom 50 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Serbia
South Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Serbia South Korea
2026 65 73.7
2025 64.4 74
2024 62.7 73.1
2023 63.5 73.7
2022 65.2 74.6
2021 67.2 74
2020 66 74
2019 63.9 72.3
2018 62.5 73.8
2017 58.9 74.3
2016 62.1 71.7
2015 60 71.5
2014 59.4 71.2
2013 58.6 70.3
2012 58 69.9
2011 58 69.8
2010 56.9 69.9
2009 56.6 68.1
2008 - 68.6
2007 - 67.8
2006 - 67.5
2005 - 66.4
2004 - 67.8
2003 43.5 68.3
2002 46.6 69.5
2001 - 69.1
2000 - 69.7
1999 - 69.7
1998 - 73.3
1997 - 69.8
1996 - 73
1995 - 72

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Serbia is 65, ranking 68/197, 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

Serbia South Korea
Services, % of GDP
59.7%
2025
57.2%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
22.3%
2025
34.3%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3.29%
2025
1.46%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$88.3B
2025
$1.96T
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$31,780
2025
$64,210
2025
Total reserves including gold
$34.2B
2025
$437B
2025
Total reserves ranking
55/177
2025
9/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.6B
2025
$25.4B
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$5.59B
2024
$12.9B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$661M
2024
$49.7B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
12.2%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
19.7%
2023
14.4%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
23.4%
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/serbia/south-korea | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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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 (1953–1994, 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 (2023–2025, 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.

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.