South Korea GDP per Capita Forecast at $39,164 for 2026, Up 7.6 Percent

South Korea's GDP per capita is projected to rise 7.6 percent this year to $39,164, Yonhap reported. The increase of $2,750 from 2025 would mark the strongest annual gain since the 11.5 percent jump recorded in 2021. The estimate applies the government's revised 12.3 percent nominal GDP growth forecast to the 2025 total of 2,676.7 trillion won.

That calculation produces a 2026 nominal GDP of 3,005.9 trillion won. Division by the country's population of 51.6 million yields the per capita figure under an assumed average exchange rate of 1,487.19 won per dollar. Analysts noted that a stronger won averaging 1,456.1 won per dollar would push the per capita total above $40,000.

The projection comes amid robust exports led by memory chips. Historical data show the measure stood at $35,359 in 2018, fell to $33,652 in 2020 during the pandemic, then recovered to $36,327 in 2024 and $36,414 in 2025. Gross national income per capita reached $36,850 last year.

Last week the government set goals that include a 3 percent potential growth rate, a place among the world's top four exporters, and GNI per capita of $50,000. Kang Gi-lyong, a senior finance ministry official, said during a recent press briefing that the export and per capita GNI targets remain highly achievable by 2030 if current trends hold and policy support is maintained.