Korea’s health demand is rising as population growth stayed at 0.81% in 2022 and people aged 65 and over are projected to reach 19.0% by 2050. Health expenditure per capita grew an average 3.6% annually from 2017 to 2022, even as public health spending reached $1.9 billion in 2022. Digital access is already visible, with 47.3% of outpatient visits using online reservations in 2021.
Key Takeaways
- 3.6% average annual growth of Korea health expenditure per capita 2017–2022 (OECD health expenditure projections/figures)
- 72.0% of beds are in acute-care hospitals in Korea (hospital beds distribution metric)
- Korea’s cancer screening participation for breast cancer was 63.2% in 2021 (screening uptake)
- $1.9 billion spent on public health in Korea in 2022 (OECD SHA public health expenditure)
- $18.5 billion Korea pharmaceutical reimbursement expenditure in 2023 (HIRA reimbursement spending metric)
- 35% out-of-pocket share of current health expenditure in Korea in 2022 (OECD health financing metric)
- 47.3% of Korean patients used online reservations for outpatient visits in 2021 (Korea digital health usage metric)
- 73% of Korean consumers are willing to use AI-enabled health services (survey-based AI health willingness metric)
- $13.4 billion Korea pharmaceutical exports in 2023 (Korea pharmaceutical exports, Korea Pharmaceutical & Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association)
- 19.0% projected share of population age 65+ in 2050 (World Bank projection for Korea)
- 0.81% population growth rate in 2022 (World Bank annual population growth for Korea)
- 2,000+ hospitals and clinics were connected to Korea’s HIRA-based claims/administrative network by 2020 (number of medical institutions connected)
- Korea’s ICU beds increased to 16,442 beds in 2021 (number of ICU beds)
- Korea’s 30-day in-hospital acute myocardial infarction mortality was 8.8% in 2019 (AMl mortality quality indicator)
Korea’s health spending is rising fast, alongside growing use of digital and AI health services.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Trends6 stats
01
3.6% average annual growth of Korea health expenditure per capita 2017–2022 (OECD health expenditure projections/figures)
02
72.0% of beds are in acute-care hospitals in Korea (hospital beds distribution metric)
03
Korea’s cancer screening participation for breast cancer was 63.2% in 2021 (screening uptake)
04
Korea’s influenza vaccination coverage was 65.0% among older adults (seasonal coverage metric)
05
Korea’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage reached 86.0% of the total population by late 2022 (at least one dose coverage)
06
Korea approved 55 new medicines in 2023 (number of new drug approvals)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
With Korea’s health expenditure per capita growing 3.6% annually from 2017 to 2022 and COVID-19 vaccination reaching 86.0% by late 2022, the industry trend points to rising investment and faster adoption of key preventive measures alongside a pipeline of 55 new medicines approved in 2023.
02 · Category
Cost Analysis6 stats
01
$1.9 billion spent on public health in Korea in 2022 (OECD SHA public health expenditure)
02
$18.5 billion Korea pharmaceutical reimbursement expenditure in 2023 (HIRA reimbursement spending metric)
03
35% out-of-pocket share of current health expenditure in Korea in 2022 (OECD health financing metric)
04
Korea’s average drug cost per prescription was KRW 17,300 in 2021 (average pharmaceutical cost per prescription)
05
Korea’s generic drug penetration reached 48.0% by value in 2023 (share of generic medicines by value in total drug market)
06
Korea’s avoidable hospital admissions rate was 1,020 per 100,000 population in 2021 (avoidable admissions indicator)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
From a cost perspective, Korea spent about $18.5 billion on pharmaceutical reimbursements in 2023 while patients still paid 35% out of pocket in 2022, and with generic penetration only reaching 48.0% by value in 2023, the data suggest drug and financing costs remain a major and partially undampened driver of overall health spending.
03 · Category
User Adoption2 stats
01
47.3% of Korean patients used online reservations for outpatient visits in 2021 (Korea digital health usage metric)
02
73% of Korean consumers are willing to use AI-enabled health services (survey-based AI health willingness metric)
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
In Korea’s user adoption landscape, 47.3% of patients used online outpatient reservations in 2021 and 73% of consumers say they are willing to use AI enabled health services, showing strong momentum toward embracing digital healthcare.
04 · Category
Exports & Trade1 stats
01
$13.4 billion Korea pharmaceutical exports in 2023 (Korea pharmaceutical exports, Korea Pharmaceutical & Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association)
Interpretation
Exports & Trade Interpretation
In 2023, Korea recorded $13.4 billion in pharmaceutical exports, underscoring how strongly the country’s health industry is contributing to exports and trade.
More related reading
05 · Category
Population & Demand2 stats
01
19.0% projected share of population age 65+ in 2050 (World Bank projection for Korea)
02
0.81% population growth rate in 2022 (World Bank annual population growth for Korea)
Interpretation
Population & Demand Interpretation
With Korea’s population aged 65+ projected to reach 19.0% by 2050 and population growth at just 0.81% in 2022, demand is likely to shift sharply toward senior-focused healthcare as overall population expansion remains modest.
06 · Category
Provider Capacity1 stats
01
2,000+ hospitals and clinics were connected to Korea’s HIRA-based claims/administrative network by 2020 (number of medical institutions connected)
Interpretation
Provider Capacity Interpretation
By 2020, more than 2,000 hospitals and clinics had been connected to Korea’s HIRA-based claims and administrative network, showing strong growth in Provider Capacity through expanded digital integration of healthcare facilities.
07 · Category
Outcomes & Quality2 stats
01
Korea’s ICU beds increased to 16,442 beds in 2021 (number of ICU beds)
02
Korea’s 30-day in-hospital acute myocardial infarction mortality was 8.8% in 2019 (AMl mortality quality indicator)
Interpretation
Outcomes & Quality Interpretation
Under Outcomes and Quality, Korea expanded its ICU capacity to 16,442 beds in 2021 while still reporting a 30-day in-hospital acute myocardial infarction mortality rate of 8.8% in 2019, showing progress in critical care infrastructure alongside measurable performance in serious cardiac outcomes.
report visual · Breakdown
Vaccination & prevention reach in Korea
High coverage across major vaccinations—COVID-19 is near universal while seasonal influenza vaccination remains lower for older adults.
65%
Korea’s influenza vaccination coverage was 65.0% among older adults (seasonal coverage metric)
35%
35% out-of-pocket share of current health expenditure in Korea in 2022 (OECD health financing metric)
source-verifiedoecd.org · stats.oecd.org2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Nathan Caldwell. (2026, February 13). Korea Health Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korea-health-industry-statistics
MLA
Nathan Caldwell. "Korea Health Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/korea-health-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Nathan Caldwell. 2026. "Korea Health Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korea-health-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
20 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+10 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)