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Economy of South Korea vs Tuvalu compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

South Korea has a GDP of $1.88T compared to $62.3M for Tuvalu, ranking 12/197 and 196/197 by economy size, respectively.

South Korea has $934B in government debt (49.8% of GDP), compared to $4.15M (6.96% of GDP) in Tuvalu.

South Korea vs Tuvalu GDP by year

South Korea
Tuvalu
1x
Year GDP, current $
South Korea Tuvalu
2024 $1,875,388,209,407 -
2023 $1,844,800,934,392 $62,280,312
2022 $1,799,363,116,867 $59,065,982
2021 $1,942,313,560,966 $60,196,406
2020 $1,744,070,276,373 $51,746,594
2019 $1,751,045,752,055 $54,123,199
2018 $1,824,251,454,307 $48,015,260
2017 $1,710,196,756,713 $45,276,595
2016 $1,579,150,518,945 $41,629,064
2015 $1,539,212,301,136 $36,811,936
2014 $1,556,252,422,020 $38,760,983
2013 $1,434,669,686,502 $38,615,891
2012 $1,335,343,586,438 $39,345,579
2011 $1,307,103,477,219 $39,196,957
2010 $1,192,830,015,738 $32,105,408
2009 $983,065,242,417 $28,076,984
2008 $1,091,580,692,542 $31,874,435
2007 $1,220,911,904,593 $28,450,169
2006 $1,095,175,538,508 $24,096,875
2005 $971,740,329,984 $22,909,980
2004 $823,251,107,639 $22,798,275
2003 $728,516,494,684 $19,456,338
2002 $650,014,391,470 $16,842,673
2001 $567,564,806,235 $13,964,732
2000 $597,487,173,479 $15,073,976
1999 $515,697,079,289 $14,800,503
1998 $397,297,216,492 $13,795,146
1997 $589,202,526,424 $13,734,210
1996 $631,196,863,758 $13,338,597
1995 $586,286,469,401 $11,922,614
1994 $479,181,794,217 $11,772,611
1993 $405,705,302,846 $10,414,400
1992 $366,921,291,825 $10,535,028
1991 $340,851,946,804 $10,127,314
1990 $292,064,221,389 $9,542,901
1989 $254,236,243,100 $8,454,523
1988 $205,477,530,605 $7,011,059
1987 $152,240,393,646 $5,020,513
1986 $119,965,960,795 $4,574,706
1985 $103,764,281,281 $3,862,852
1984 $99,749,645,089 $4,481,978
1983 $89,621,208,322 $4,152,550
1982 $79,921,300,447 $4,118,945
1981 $74,287,368,087 $4,773,018
1980 $66,547,970,351 $4,206,128
1979 $68,083,884,298 $4,065,659
1978 $52,824,793,388 $3,798,782
1977 $39,064,462,810 $3,669,420
1976 $30,371,074,380 $3,919,072
1975 $22,126,033,058 $4,014,748
1974 $19,860,929,977 $4,122,329
1973 $14,067,523,813 $3,411,915
1972 $10,990,490,570 $2,968,458
1971 $10,005,257,131 $2,716,990
1970 $9,085,001,794 $2,585,956
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/south-korea/tuvalu | CC BY

GDP per capita in South Korea vs Tuvalu by year

South Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Tuvalu
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
South Korea Tuvalu
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $36,239 $61,051 - -
2023 $35,674 $57,430 $6,345 $6,151
2022 $34,822 $55,509 $5,911 $5,661
2021 $37,518 $51,718 $5,905 $5,353
2020 $33,646 $47,881 $4,976 $5,122
2019 $33,827 $46,511 $5,115 $5,210
2018 $35,364 $45,511 $4,466 $4,432
2017 $33,297 $43,156 $4,166 $4,227
2016 $30,832 $41,673 $3,809 $4,031
2015 $30,172 $39,794 $3,358 $3,776
2014 $30,667 $37,032 $3,529 $3,419
2013 $28,449 $35,844 $3,510 $3,277
2012 $26,601 $35,062 $3,598 $3,170
2011 $26,175 $33,944 $3,636 $3,176
2010 $24,071 $33,120 $3,025 $2,945
2009 $19,937 $30,740 $2,684 $3,082
2008 $22,252 $31,211 $3,088 $3,291
2007 $25,078 $30,255 $2,794 $3,034
2006 $22,610 $27,972 $2,396 $2,787
2005 $20,167 $26,179 $2,305 $2,728
2004 $17,122 $24,658 $2,323 $2,765
2003 $15,212 $22,920 $2,007 $2,770
2002 $13,643 $22,173 $1,750 $2,915
2001 $11,981 $20,442 $1,457 $2,596
2000 $12,710 $19,237 $1,579 $2,597
1999 $11,063 $17,421 $1,559 $2,543
1998 $8,583 $15,500 $1,460 $2,560
1997 $12,822 $16,241 $1,461 $2,204
1996 $13,865 $15,164 $1,428 $1,982
1995 $13,002 $13,921 $1,285 $2,083
1994 $10,734 $12,551 $1,279 $2,165
1993 $9,180 $11,349 $1,141 $1,939
1992 $8,387 $10,468 $1,166 $1,837
1991 $7,873 $9,724 $1,134 $1,769
1990 $6,813 $8,567 $1,085 $1,676
1989 $5,989 - $976 -
1988 $4,889 - $823 -
1987 $3,658 - $600 -
1986 $2,911 - $557 -
1985 $2,543 - $480 -
1984 $2,469 - $567 -
1983 $2,246 - $533 -
1982 $2,032 - $537 -
1981 $1,918 - $634 -
1980 $1,746 - $571 -
1979 $1,814 - $566 -
1978 $1,429 - $546 -
1977 $1,073 - $549 -
1976 $847 - $612 -
1975 $627 - $656 -
1974 $572 - $708 -
1973 $412 - $601 -
1972 $328 - $522 -
1971 $304 - $478 -
1970 $281.8 - $457 -
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/south-korea/tuvalu | CC BY

South Korea's GDP per capita is $36,239, ranking 31/197, compared to $6,345 in Tuvalu, ranking 110/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), South Korea ranks 33rd at $61,051, while Tuvalu ranks 152nd at $6,151.

Economic indicators

South Korea Tuvalu
Gross domestic product
$1.88T
2024
$62.3M
2023
GDP rank
12/197
2024
196/197
2023
GDP growth
2%
2023-2024
3.85%
2022-2023
GDP per capita
$36,239
2024
$6,345
2023
GDP per capita rank
31/197
2024
110/197
2023
GDP per capita, PPP
$61,051
2024
$6,151
2023
GDP per capita PPP rank
33/197
2024
152/197
2023
Government debt
$934B
2024
$4.15M
2023
Debt-to-GDP ratio
49.8%
2024
6.96%
2024
Government debt per person
$18,052
2024
$423
2023
Government debt per person rank
33/185
2024
171/185
2023
Average annual personal income after taxes
$27,215
2026
$4,233
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.56T
2024
n/a
Number of millionaires
1,301,000
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
30
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2021
30.8%
2010
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2021
2.7%
2010
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
118.4%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.32%
2023-2024
1.2%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
2.5%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
2.78%
2024
7.32%
2022
Population
51649918
9341

Spending and national debt comparison by year

South Korea
Spending

Debt
Tuvalu
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
South Korea Tuvalu
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 22.5% 49.8% 118.4% 6.96%
2023 23.1% 50.5% 138.8% 6.67%
2022 26.7% 49.8% 115.3% 6.33%
2021 24.1% 48% 113.8% 11.3%
2020 23.7% 45.9% 119.5% 12.1%
2019 21.3% 39.7% 113.6% 11.6%
2018 19.3% 37.9% 125.6% 11.8%
2017 18.6% 38% 106.4% 12%
2016 18.5% 39.1% 119.6% 11.5%
2015 18.8% 38.8% 116.9% 14.4%
2014 18.8% 37.9% 96.8% 16.4%
2013 19% 36% 80.2% 17.8%
2012 18.8% 33.5% 76.8% 19.3%
2011 18.3% 31.7% 77.2% 19.1%
2010 17.9% 28.3% 93.9% 21.1%
2009 19.5% 28.8% 100% 20.6%
2008 19.1% 25.9% 85.8% 19.8%
2007 18.8% 26.3% 88.6% 32.4%
2006 18.7% 27% 98.5% 37.5%
2005 18.2% 24.9% 82.1% 37.4%
2004 18.5% 21.6% 74.1% -
2003 17.9% 19.1% - -
2002 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/south-korea/tuvalu | CC BY

In 2024, South Korea's government spending was $423B, accounting for 22.5% of its GDP, while Tuvalu spent $86.4M, or 118.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 49.8% in South Korea and 6.96% in Tuvalu, ranking 110/185 and 182/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
South Korea

Tuvalu
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
South Korea Tuvalu
2024 -0.78% -8.23%
2023 -0.67% 15.3%
2022 -1.49% -14.6%
2021 -0.02% -13.3%
2020 -2.11% 13.7%
2019 0.35% -1.07%
2018 2.42% 30.3%
2017 2.08% 2.09%
2016 1.56% 27.5%
2015 0.5% 14.7%
2014 0.57% 3.26%
2013 0.79% 26%
2012 1.63% 9.58%
2011 1.72% -8.8%
2010 1.61% -23.4%
2009 0.24% -13.5%
2008 1.58% -17.2%
2007 2.49% -18.6%
2006 1.18% -36.8%
2005 0.95% -12.8%
2004 0.09% -3.6%
2003 1.51% -
2002 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/south-korea/tuvalu | CC BY

In 2023, South Korea's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $12.3B, equivalent to 0.67% of GDP. This compares to Tuvalu's surplus of $9.55M, or 15.3% of GDP.

Over the past 20 years, South Korea recorded a fiscal deficit in 4 of those years, while Tuvalu ran a deficit in 11 years. On average, South Korea posted an annual surplus equal to 0.77% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.06% of GDP for Tuvalu.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
South Korea

Tuvalu
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
South Korea Tuvalu
2024 2.32% 1.2%
2023 3.6% 7.2%
2022 5.09% 12.2%
2021 2.5% 6.7%
2020 0.54% 1.6%
2019 0.38% 3.5%
2018 1.48% 2.2%
2017 1.94% 4.1%
2016 0.97% 3.5%
2015 0.71% 3.1%
2014 1.27% 1.1%
2013 1.3% 2%
2012 2.19% 1.4%
2011 4.03% 0.5%
2010 2.94% -1.9%
2009 2.76% -0.3%
2008 4.67% 10.4%
2007 2.53% 2.3%
2006 2.24% 4.2%
2005 2.75% 3.2%
2004 3.59% 2.4%
2003 3.51% 2.9%
2002 2.76% 5.1%
2001 4.07% 1.5%
2000 2.26% -
1999 0.81% -
1998 7.51% -
1997 4.44% -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2001–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Over the past 24 years, South Korea has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.51%, compared with 3.34% in Tuvalu. In 2024, inflation was 2.32% in South Korea and 1.2% in Tuvalu.

Top exports between countries

South Korea
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $2.5M
Machinery & equipment $1.55M
Metals $594K
Raw materials & minerals $368K
Chemicals & pharma $75K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $44K
Wood & paper products $30K
Raw agricultural goods $23K
Miscellaneous $1K
Tuvalu
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

South Korea Tuvalu
Current account balance
$99B
2024
$2.71M
2022
Current account balance ranking
7/190
2024
77/190
2022
Current account balance, % of GDP
+5.28%
2024
+4.59%
2022
Goods imports
$596B
2024
$24.2M
2022
Goods exports
$696B
2024
$184K
2022
Service imports
$163B
2024
$33.1M
2022
Service exports
$139B
2024
$2.05M
2022
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
40.3%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
44.4%
2024
8.22%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

South Korea Tuvalu
Economic freedom 73.7 60
Economic freedom ranking 24/197 99/197
Property rights 89.6 n/a
Government integrity 70.9 n/a
Judicial effectiveness 77.5 n/a
Tax burden 61.5 n/a
Government spending 82.6 n/a
Fiscal health 93.5 n/a
Business freedom 81.5 n/a
Labor freedom 55 n/a
Monetary freedom 79.3 n/a
Trade freedom 73 n/a
Investment freedom 60 n/a
Financial freedom 60 n/a

Other economic metrics

South Korea Tuvalu
Services, % of GDP
57.5%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
33.9%
2024
7.02%
2015
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.46%
2024
15.9%
2015
GNI, Atlas method
$1.9T
2024
$86M
2023
GNI per capita, PPP
$61,930
2024
$8,320
2023
Total reserves including gold
$418B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
8/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
$33.4B
2024
$0
2022
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$15.2B
2024
$258K
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$48.6B
2024
$0
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
14.4%
2020
26.3%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
30%
2024
n/a

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/south-korea/tuvalu | CC BY

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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. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  6. TradeMap (2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  8. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  9. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

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.