Korea's GNI per capita to exceed $40,000 for 1st time in 2026: BOK
Korea's gross national income (GNI) per capita is likely to surpass $40,000 this year for the first time, helped by a sharp increase in national income driven largely by the semiconductor boom and a stronger won, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said Monday. The new prediction comes as the country's national income has posted strong growth in the second quarter. Nominal GNI rose 8.8 percent in the second…
For the first time in 2026, South Korea's gross national income (GNI) per capita is projected to surpass $40,000, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). This milestone is driven by a sharp increase in national income, primarily fueled by the semiconductor boom and a stronger won.
The BOK's prediction follows a strong performance in the second quarter, with nominal GNI rising 8.8 percent from the previous quarter and 26.4 percent year-over-year. Real GNI, adjusted for inflation, grew 3.1 percent on-quarter and 15.6 percent year-over-year, marking its fastest annual increase since the fourth quarter of 1988.
Kim Hwa-yong, director of the BOK's production, expenditure, and income division, stated that per capita GNI is on track to exceed $40,000 this year, provided there are no unexpected shocks and nominal GNI growth remains steady while the exchange rate stays stable.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Korea's GNI per capita to exceed $40,000 for 1st time in 2026: BOK koreatimes.co.kr