Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government in South Korea
South Korea: Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government was -29.09 trillion in 2031. ◆ Volatile
Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government in South Korea, 1995–2031
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
South Korea recorded -29.09 trillion for primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government in 2031.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and down 228.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government in South Korea peaked at 40.78 trillion in 2018 and was at its lowest, -52.65 trillion, in 2020.
That places South Korea 23rd out of 24 countries with data for 2031, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 11.71 trillion | — |
| 1996 | 13.64 trillion | +16.4% |
| 1997 | 15.23 trillion | +11.7% |
| 1998 | 9.47 trillion | -37.8% |
| 1999 | 12.91 trillion | +36.3% |
| 2000 | 17.09 trillion | +32.5% |
| 2001 | 10.50 trillion | -38.6% |
| 2002 | 16.56 trillion | +57.8% |
| 2003 | 4.24 trillion | -74.4% |
| 2004 | -6.19 trillion | -245.9% |
| 2005 | 4.48 trillion | -172.4% |
| 2006 | 5.95 trillion | +32.9% |
| 2007 | 19.94 trillion | +235.2% |
| 2008 | 13.65 trillion | -31.5% |
| 2009 | -5.37 trillion | -139.3% |
| 2010 | 12.37 trillion | -330.6% |
| 2011 | 14.82 trillion | +19.8% |
| 2012 | 18.01 trillion | +21.6% |
| 2013 | 5.75 trillion | -68.1% |
| 2014 | 2.68 trillion | -53.4% |
| 2015 | 3.16 trillion | +17.8% |
| 2016 | 23.65 trillion | +649.4% |
| 2017 | 33.84 trillion | +43.1% |
| 2018 | 40.78 trillion | +20.5% |
| 2019 | -2.77 trillion | -106.8% |
| 2020 | -52.65 trillion | +1800.8% |
| 2021 | -8.86 trillion | -83.2% |
| 2022 | -40.18 trillion | +353.4% |
| 2023 | -17.88 trillion | -55.5% |
| 2024 | -17.96 trillion | +0.4% |
| 2025 | -39.62 trillion | +120.7% |
| 2026 | -40.01 trillion | +1.0% |
| 2027 | -36.51 trillion | -8.7% |
| 2028 | -34.67 trillion | -5.0% |
| 2029 | -29.05 trillion | -16.2% |
| 2030 | -29.27 trillion | +0.8% |
| 2031 | -29.09 trillion | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.59 trillion | 9.47 trillion | 15.23 trillion | 5 |
| 2000s | 8.09 trillion | -6.19 trillion | 19.94 trillion | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.23 trillion | -2.77 trillion | 40.78 trillion | 10 |
| 2020s | -31.74 trillion | -52.65 trillion | -8.86 trillion | 10 |
| 2030s | -29.18 trillion | -29.27 trillion | -29.09 trillion | 2 |
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 primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government in South Korea?
- Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government in South Korea was -29.09 trillion in 2031, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 40.78 trillion in 2018.
- What is the lowest primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -52.65 trillion in 2020.
- How does South Korea rank for primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government?
- South Korea ranks 23rd out of 24 countries with data for 2031.
- Is primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 228.2%. 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 Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government, Domestic currency (9/26/2025). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The World Economic Outlook (WEO) database is created during the biannual WEO exercise, which begins in January and June of each year and results in the April and September/October WEO publication. Selected series from the publication are available in a database format.