Portfolio investment, Debt securities (Assets, Positions, US dollar) in South Korea
South Korea: Portfolio investment, Debt securities (Assets, Positions, US dollar) was 277.00 billion US dollar in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Portfolio investment, Debt securities in South Korea, 1994–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in US dollar.
Analysis
In 2025, portfolio investment, debt securities in South Korea stood at 277.00 billion US dollar. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.8% on the previous year and up 242.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, portfolio investment, debt securities in South Korea peaked at 277.00 billion US dollar in 2025 and was at its lowest, 4.39 billion US dollar, in 1994.
That places South Korea 19th out of 161 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Portfolio investment, Debt securities (Assets, Positions, US dollar) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | US dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 4.39 billion US dollar | — |
| 1995 | 6.76 billion US dollar | +54.0% |
| 1996 | 13.25 billion US dollar | +96.1% |
| 1997 | 11.11 billion US dollar | -16.2% |
| 1998 | 8.53 billion US dollar | -23.2% |
| 1999 | 6.86 billion US dollar | -19.6% |
| 2000 | 4.49 billion US dollar | -34.5% |
| 2001 | 6.77 billion US dollar | +50.7% |
| 2002 | 9.76 billion US dollar | +44.1% |
| 2003 | 16.13 billion US dollar | +65.3% |
| 2004 | 24.08 billion US dollar | +49.3% |
| 2005 | 38.22 billion US dollar | +58.7% |
| 2006 | 60.95 billion US dollar | +59.5% |
| 2007 | 53.75 billion US dollar | -11.8% |
| 2008 | 27.23 billion US dollar | -49.3% |
| 2009 | 28.83 billion US dollar | +5.8% |
| 2010 | 30.30 billion US dollar | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 31.78 billion US dollar | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 38.57 billion US dollar | +21.4% |
| 2013 | 44.99 billion US dollar | +16.6% |
| 2014 | 62.43 billion US dollar | +38.8% |
| 2015 | 80.95 billion US dollar | +29.7% |
| 2016 | 127.92 billion US dollar | +58.0% |
| 2017 | 174.03 billion US dollar | +36.0% |
| 2018 | 204.04 billion US dollar | +17.2% |
| 2019 | 230.60 billion US dollar | +13.0% |
| 2020 | 244.95 billion US dollar | +6.2% |
| 2021 | 243.97 billion US dollar | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 220.38 billion US dollar | -9.7% |
| 2023 | 234.50 billion US dollar | +6.4% |
| 2024 | 245.55 billion US dollar | +4.7% |
| 2025 | 277.00 billion US dollar | +12.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 277.00 billion US dollar is above the median for high income countries, which is 34.64 billion US dollar, 8.0× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 277.00 billion US dollar is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.62 billion US dollar, 41.8× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.48 billion US dollar | 4.39 billion US dollar | 13.25 billion US dollar | 6 |
| 2000s | 27.02 billion US dollar | 4.49 billion US dollar | 60.95 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 102.56 billion US dollar | 30.30 billion US dollar | 230.60 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 244.39 billion US dollar | 220.38 billion US dollar | 277.00 billion US dollar | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More external debt data for South Korea
- Net financial flows, IDA 0 NFL, current US$ (2015)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per capita 0 NFL, current US$ per person (2015)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per unit of GDP 0 NFL, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Net financial flows, IBRD 0 NFL, current US$ (2016)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per square kilometre 0 NFL, current US$ per square kilometre (2015)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), annual growth rate 100 % change on previous year (2010)
- Net financial flows, IBRD (NFL, current US$), annual growth rate 100 % change on previous year (2014)
- Other investment, Debt instruments 309.08 billion US dollar (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar) 7.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments, Deposit taking corporations 188.50 billion US dollar (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is portfolio investment, debt securities in South Korea?
- Portfolio investment, debt securities in South Korea was 277.00 billion US dollar in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest portfolio investment, debt securities recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 277.00 billion US dollar in 2025.
- What is the lowest portfolio investment, debt securities recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.39 billion US dollar in 1994.
- How does South Korea rank for portfolio investment, debt securities?
- South Korea ranks 19th out of 161 countries with data for 2025.
- Is portfolio investment, debt securities rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 242.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Portfolio investment, Debt securities (Assets, Positions, US dollar). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The International Investment Position (IIP) is a statistical statement that shows at a point in time the value of financial assets of residents of an economy that are claims on nonresidents or are gold bullion held as reserve assets; and the liabilities of residents of an economy to nonresidents.