China vs South Korea: Inflation
Inflation in 2025: 0.1% a year in China and 2.1% a year in South Korea, by IMF estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in South Korea, by 2.1 percentage points, or 42 times that in China.
ChinaSouth Korea
Watch it change on the map% a year · IMF
Latest figures
% a year · IMF
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2025 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 0.1 2025 | 1.5 | 168 of 179 | 2 2031 |
| South Korea | 2.1 2025 | 0.7 | 113 of 179 | 2 2031 |
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher since 2021, when it overtook China.
- In 2025, China ranked 168 and South Korea ranked 113 of 179 countries, counting from the highest.
- The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts China at 2% a year and South Korea at 2% a year in 2031.
Every year
% a year · IMF
| Year | China | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.1 | 2.1 |
| 2024 | 0.2 | 2.3 |
| 2023 | 0.2 | 3.6 |
| 2022 | 2 | 5.1 |
| 2021 | 0.9 | 2.5 |
| 2020 | 2.5 | 0.5 |
| 2019 | 2.9 | 0.4 |
| 2018 | 2.1 | 1.5 |
| 2017 | 1.6 | 1.9 |
| 2016 | 2 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1.5 | 0.7 |
| 2014 | 2 | 1.3 |
| 2013 | 2.6 | 1.3 |
| 2012 | 2.6 | 2.2 |
| 2011 | 5.4 | 4 |
| 2010 | 3.3 | 2.9 |
| 2009 | -0.7 | 2.8 |
| 2008 | 5.8 | 4.7 |
| 2007 | 4.8 | 2.5 |
| 2006 | 1.5 | 2.2 |
| 2005 | 1.8 | 2.8 |
| 2004 | 3.9 | 3.6 |
| 2003 | 1.2 | 3.5 |
| 2002 | -0.7 | 2.8 |
| 2001 | 0.7 | 4.1 |
| 2000 | 0.3 | 2.3 |
| 1999 | -1.4 | 0.8 |
| 1998 | -0.8 | 7.5 |
| 1997 | 2.8 | 4.4 |
| 1996 | 8.3 | 4.9 |
| 1995 | 16.8 | 4.5 |
| 1994 | 24.2 | 6.3 |
| 1993 | 14.7 | 4.8 |
| 1992 | 6.4 | 6.2 |
| 1991 | 3.5 | 9.3 |
| 1990 | 3.3 | 8.6 |
| 1989 | 18 | 5.7 |
| 1988 | 18.8 | 7.1 |
| 1987 | 7.3 | 3 |
| 1986 | 6.5 | 2.8 |
| 1985 | 9.3 | 2.5 |
| 1984 | 2.7 | 2.3 |
| 1983 | 2 | 3.4 |
| 1982 | 2 | 7.2 |
| 1981 | 2.5 | 21.4 |
| 1980 | – | 28.7 |
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) · 2026–2031
| Year | China | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 2.7 |
| 2027 | 1.4 | 2.3 |
| 2028 | 1.6 | 2 |
| 2029 | 1.9 | 2 |
| 2030 | 2 | 2 |
| 2031 | 2 | 2 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How much consumer prices rose in a year, on average.
- Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2026.
- The dashed line is the IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026), a scenario rather than a forecast.
- Ranks count the 179 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time