South Korea vs United States: Inflation Comparison
Compare cumulative inflation, annual rates and purchasing power between South Korea and United States from 2000 to 2026, based on World Bank CPI data.
Cumulative inflation in South Korea was 80.8% between 2000 and 2026, according to World Bank CPI data (FP.CPI.TOTL).
Over the same period, cumulative inflation in United States was 312.9%.
South Korea
KRWUnited States
USDCPI Comparison Chart
Year-by-Year Comparison
| Year | South Korea CPI | South Korea (Change) | United States CPI | United States (Change) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 73.11 | - | 78.97 | - |
| 2001 | 76.09 | +4.1% | 81.20 | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 78.19 | +2.8% | 82.49 | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 80.94 | +3.5% | 84.36 | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 83.84 | +3.6% | 86.62 | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 86.15 | +2.8% | 89.56 | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 88.08 | +2.2% | 92.45 | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 90.32 | +2.5% | 95.09 | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 94.54 | +4.7% | 98.74 | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 97.14 | +2.8% | 98.39 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 100.00 | +2.9% | 100.00 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 104.03 | +4.0% | 103.16 | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 106.30 | +2.2% | 105.29 | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 107.68 | +1.3% | 106.83 | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 109.06 | +1.3% | 108.57 | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 109.83 | +0.7% | 108.70 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 110.89 | +1.0% | 110.07 | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 113.05 | +1.9% | 112.41 | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 114.72 | +1.5% | 115.16 | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 115.16 | +0.4% | 117.24 | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 105.77 | -8.2% | 262.05 | +123.5% |
| 2021 | 109.68 | +3.7% | 280.81 | +7.2% |
| 2022 | 115.20 | +5.0% | 298.81 | +6.4% |
| 2023 | 118.85 | +3.2% | 308.74 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 132.20 | +11.2% | 317.60 | +2.9% |
| 2025 | - | - | 326.03 | +2.7% |
Inflation by Decade: South Korea vs United States
| Year | South Korea (Total Inflation) | South Korea (Avg Annual Rate) | United States (Total Inflation) | United States (Avg Annual Rate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | +214.4% | 13.57% | +24.0% | 2.42% |
| 1970s | +250.4% | 14.95% | +86.9% | 7.20% |
| 1980s | +69.1% | 6.01% | +50.4% | 4.64% |
| 1990s | +60.5% | 5.40% | +27.5% | 2.74% |
| 2000s | +32.9% | 3.21% | +24.6% | 2.47% |
| 2010s | +15.2% | 1.58% | +17.2% | 1.78% |
| 2020s | +25.0% | 5.73% | +24.4% | 4.47% |
The inflation gap between South Korea and United States widened to 232.0 percentage points from 2000 to 2026.
₩100 in South Korea in 2000 lost roughly the same relative value as $228.33 in United States.
South Korea's highest annual inflation was 11.2% in 2024; United States's was 123.5% in 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which had higher inflation, South Korea or United States?
Between 2000 and 2026, United States had higher cumulative inflation (312.85%) than South Korea (80.81%), according to World Bank CPI data.
What was cumulative inflation in South Korea from 2000 to 2026?
Prices in South Korea rose 80.81% cumulatively, an average of 2.5% per year.
What was cumulative inflation in United States from 2000 to 2026?
Prices in United States rose 312.85% cumulatively, an average of 5.84% per year.
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Calculate Individually
Between 2000 and 2026, South Korea had lower cumulative inflation (80.8%) than United States (312.9%).