Korea Health Spending
Current health expenditure as % of GDP SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS
Korea's health spending was 8.95% in 2025, ranked 43rd globally. This represents a 3.2% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2000–2025.
Overview
Korea's health spending stood at 8.95% in 2025, a rise of +0.27% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 8.95% by 2025. Korea ranked 43rd globally.
South Korea’s health‑spending share of gross domestic product has risen from 3.72 percent in 2000 to 8.95 percent in 2025, marking the highest level recorded over the 26‑year series and placing the country 43rd in the world in the latest year. The upward trajectory reflects sustained expansion of public and private financing, broader insurance coverage and a rapidly aging population that has heightened demand for chronic‑disease management and long‑term care. Compared with peers of similar rank, South Korea’s 2025 level of 8.95 percent is marginally above Tunisia’s 8.94 percent and just below Tonga’s 8.99 percent, indicating that its spending intensity is comparable to middle‑income economies that face comparable demographic pressures. The all‑time trough of 3.72 percent in 2000 occurred when the health system was still transitioning from a largely out‑of‑pocket model to universal coverage, underscoring the scale of reform undertaken in the intervening decades. Continued demographic aging and the adoption of high‑cost medical technologies are likely to sustain the upward trend, although policy measures that improve efficiency could moderate future growth.
Data & projection
| Year | Health Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 9.25% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 9.10% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 8.95% | - | - |
| 2025 | 8.95% | +0.27% | #43 |
| 2024 | 8.68% | +0.11% | #9 |
| 2023 | 8.57% | −0.29% | #141 |
| 2022 | 8.86% | +0.52% | #148 |
| 2021 | 8.34% | +0.32% | #127 |
| 2020 | 8.03% | +0.33% | #127 |
| 2019 | 7.69% | +0.55% | #133 |
| 2018 | 7.14% | +0.34% | #124 |
| 2017 | 6.80% | +0.16% | #116 |
| 2016 | 6.64% | +0.17% | #107 |
| 2015 | 6.46% | +0.22% | #105 |
| 2014 | 6.24% | +0.18% | #103 |
| 2013 | 6.07% | +0.11% | #101 |
| 2012 | 5.96% | +0.05% | #98 |
| 2011 | 5.90% | +0.11% | #98 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Korea matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2006. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw health spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Korea's health spending was 8.95% in 2025. Ranked 43rd globally. This represents a 3.2% increase from the previous year.
Korea's health spending peaked at 8.95% in 2025.
The lowest health spending in Korea was 3.72% in 2000.
Korea ranks 43rd globally in health spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Korea's health spending is projected to reach 8.95% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The health spending of Korea in 2025 was 8.95%. This ranks 43rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_korea_health-spending,
title = {Korea Health Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/korea/health-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}