Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) … Primary Percent GDP in South Korea
South Korea: Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) … Primary Percent GDP was -0.8382 in 2030. ◆ Volatile
Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government in South Korea, 1996–2030
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
In 2030, primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government in South Korea stood at -0.8382.
That represents a change of up 17.3% on the previous year and up 67.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government in South Korea peaked at 2.72 in 1997 and was at its lowest, -2.56, in 2020.
That places South Korea 114th out of 188 countries with data for 2030, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) … Primary Percent GDP in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2.69 | — |
| 1997 | 2.72 | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 1.7 | -37.4% |
| 1999 | 2.11 | +23.7% |
| 2000 | 2.53 | +20.2% |
| 2001 | 1.43 | -43.4% |
| 2002 | 2.04 | +42.2% |
| 2003 | 0.4886 | -76.0% |
| 2004 | -0.6563 | -234.3% |
| 2005 | 0.4499 | -168.6% |
| 2006 | 0.5689 | +26.5% |
| 2007 | 1.76 | +209.0% |
| 2008 | 1.14 | -35.4% |
| 2009 | -0.4274 | -137.7% |
| 2010 | 0.897 | -309.9% |
| 2011 | 1.02 | +14.0% |
| 2012 | 1.2 | +17.0% |
| 2013 | 0.3662 | -69.4% |
| 2014 | 0.1635 | -55.4% |
| 2015 | 0.1813 | +10.9% |
| 2016 | 1.29 | +611.7% |
| 2017 | 1.75 | +35.6% |
| 2018 | 2.03 | +16.1% |
| 2019 | -0.1357 | -106.7% |
| 2020 | -2.56 | +1784.3% |
| 2021 | -0.3989 | -84.4% |
| 2022 | -1.73 | +333.5% |
| 2023 | -0.7422 | -57.1% |
| 2024 | -0.7023 | -5.4% |
| 2025 | -1.57 | +124.2% |
| 2026 | -1.33 | -15.6% |
| 2027 | -1.35 | +1.8% |
| 2028 | -1.22 | -9.9% |
| 2029 | -1.01 | -16.9% |
| 2030 | -0.8382 | -17.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's -0.8382 is below the median for high income countries, which is -0.7398, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- South Korea's -0.8382 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -1.01, 83% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) … Primary Percent GDP in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -1784.3% | -0.1357 | -2.56 |
| 2016 | +611.7% | 0.1813 | 1.29 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.3 | 1.7 | 2.72 | 4 |
| 2000s | 0.9316 | -0.6563 | 2.53 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8764 | -0.1357 | 2.03 | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.26 | -2.56 | -0.3989 | 10 |
| 2030s | -0.8382 | -0.8382 | -0.8382 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More external debt data for South Korea
- Net financial flows, IBRD 0 NFL, current US$ (2025)
- 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, 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)
- Other investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar) 5,980 US dollar per person (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 -0.8382 in 2030, 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 2.72 in 1997.
- What is the lowest primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.56 in 2020.
- How does South Korea rank for primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government?
- South Korea ranks 114th out of 188 countries with data for 2030.
- Is primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), general government rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.2%. 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, Percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fiscal Monitor (FM) 2025 October