Korea, Rep.: Discrepancy in expenditure estimate of GDP (current LCU)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Korea, Rep.'s discrepancy in expenditure estimate of GDP (current LCU) rose 1.41 trillion on 2024 (from -479 billion to 926.1 billion).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −18.93 billion and a typical year strayed about 320.21 billion from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 4.4 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 1.41 trillion in 2025 and the biggest yearly fall was 857.8 billion in 2001. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 7% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, Korea, Rep. had the 6th highest value of the 130 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Korea, Rep. in the 2025 ranking

• Uganda — 3rd of 130: 17.76 trillion
• Cambodia — 4th of 130: 6.93 trillion
• Russian Federation — 5th of 130: 2.24 trillion
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — 7th of 130: 404.76 billion
• Cameroon — 8th of 130: 309.25 billion
• Kenya — 9th of 130: 155.51 billion

What this measures

Although the SNA ensures there is perfect consistency between the three measures of GDP, this is a conceptual consistency that in general does not emerge naturally from data compilations. This is because of the wide disparity of data sources that must be called on and the fact that any error in any source will lead to a difference between at least two of the GDP measures. In practice it is inevitable that many such data errors will exist and will become apparent in exercises such as the balancing of supply and use tables. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.

All 66 values

Discrepancy in expenditure estimate of GDP (current LCU) in nearby economies

• Australia — -1.45 billion (2025)
• Brunei Darussalam — 42.23 million (2025)
• Cambodia — 6.93 trillion (2025)
• China — -121.41 billion (2024)
• Fiji — -100,000 (2024)
• French Polynesia — 1.45 billion (2024)
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 0 (2025)
• Indonesia — 1,028.42 trillion (2025)
• Japan — 0 (2024)

More economic policy & debt data for Korea, Rep.

• Total reserves, including gold (current US$) — US$436.57 billion (2025)
• Total reserves, excluding gold (current US$) — US$421.91 billion (2025)
• General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) — US$330.43 billion (2025)
• General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) — 470.02 trillion (2025)
• General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) — US$332.28 billion (2025)
• General government final consumption expenditure (constant LCU) — 411.92 trillion (2025)
• General government final consumption expenditure (% of GDP) — 17.65% (2025)
• Households and NPISHs final consumption expenditure (current US$)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Korea, Rep.'s discrepancy in expenditure estimate of GDP (current LCU)?

926.1 billion in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is up 103,000% from -900 million in 1960. The highest value was 986.9 billion in 2000 and the lowest -479 billion in 2024.

How does Korea, Rep. rank?

6th highest of 130 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in discrepancy in expenditure estimate of GDP (current LCU) unusual for Korea, Rep.?

In 2025, Korea, Rep.'s discrepancy in expenditure estimate of GDP (current LCU) rose 1.41 trillion on 2024 (from -479 billion to 926.1 billion). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −18.93 billion and a typical year strayed about 320.21 billion from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 4.4 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator NY.GDP.DISC.CN, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks; National Accounts data files, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Staff estimates, World Bank (WB) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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