Economy, jobs and prices in Gwangju, South Korea: official figures
Gross regional domestic product (GRDP) per person in Gwangju was 37.67 million won in 2024 (preliminary), 3rd lowest of 17 and below the national figure of 49.48 million won.
How much is the regional income per person in Gwangju?
Gross regional income per person in Gwangju was 40.41 million won in 2024 (preliminary), 6th lowest of 17 (national: 50.20 million won). This counts income that residents earn, including income earned outside the region, whereas GRDP counts output produced inside it.
Source: Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS · saved copyWhat is the net regional income per person in Gwangju?
Net regional income per person in Gwangju was 32.43 million won in 2024 (preliminary), 8th lowest of 17 (national: 39.19 million won).
Source: Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS · saved copyWhat is the household disposable income per person in Gwangju?
Gross disposable income of households in Gwangju was 27.78 million won per person in 2024 (preliminary), 6th highest of 17 (national: 27.82 million won).
Source: Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS · saved copyWhat is the net household disposable income per person in Gwangju?
After allowing for the use of fixed capital, household disposable income in Gwangju was 26.55 million won per person in 2024 (preliminary), 5th highest of 17 (national: 26.29 million won).
Source: Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS · saved copyWhat is the employment rate in Gwangju?
The employment rate of people aged 15 and over in Gwangju was 62.8% in September 2026, 6th lowest of 17 (national: 63.5%; a year earlier in Gwangju: 61.7%).
Source: Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Gwangju?
The unemployment rate in Gwangju was 2.2% in September 2026, 4th highest of 17 (national: 2.0%; September 2025: 2.7%). These are monthly figures that are not seasonally adjusted.
Source: Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Gwangju?
64.2% of people aged 15 and over in Gwangju were in the labour force (working or looking for work) in September 2026, 6th lowest of 17 (national: 64.8%).
Source: Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS · saved copyHow many people are employed in Gwangju?
795,000 people were in work in Gwangju in September 2026, against 787,000 in September 2025 (a change of +8,000 people; figures are rounded to the nearest thousand in the survey).
Source: Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS · saved copyWhat is the employment rate for working-age people in Gwangju?
The employment rate for people aged 15 to 64 in Gwangju was 68.7% in September 2026, 4th lowest of 17 (national: 70.6%).
Source: Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS · saved copyHow many people are unemployed in Gwangju?
18,000 people in Gwangju were unemployed in September 2026 (looking for work and available to start), compared with 22,000 in September 2025.
Source: Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS · saved copyHow Gwangju compares with other metropolitan cities
GRDP per person (million won) (2024 (preliminary))
Gwangju ranks 15 of 17, highest first. Gross regional domestic product per person at current prices, in millions of won.
| Rank | Region | GRDP per person (million won) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Incheon | 41.19 million won |
| 12 | Jeju Special Self-Governing Province | 39.91 million won |
| 13 | Daejeon | 38.22 million won |
| 14 | Jeonbuk State | 37.98 million won |
| 15 | Gwangju | 37.67 million won |
| 16 | Busan | 37.09 million won |
| 17 | Daegu | 31.37 million won |
Household disposable income per person (million won) (2024 (preliminary))
Gwangju ranks 6 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Household disposable income per person (million won) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Daejeon | 28.75 million won |
| 4 | Sejong | 28.38 million won |
| 5 | Gyeonggi Province | 27.91 million won |
| 6 | Gwangju | 27.78 million won |
| 7 | Incheon | 26.87 million won |
| 8 | South Jeolla Province | 26.80 million won |
| 9 | North Chungcheong Province | 26.55 million won |
Employment rate, ages 15 and over (September 2026)
Gwangju ranks 12 of 17, highest first. Monthly figure, not seasonally adjusted.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15 and over |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Jeonbuk State | 63.9% |
| 10 | Incheon | 63.6% |
| 11 | South Gyeongsang Province | 63.5% |
| 12 | Gwangju | 62.8% |
| 13 | Seoul | 62.4% |
| 14 | Daejeon | 62.3% |
| 15 | Ulsan | 61.1% |
Unemployment rate (September 2026)
Gwangju ranks 4 of 17, highest first. Monthly figure, not seasonally adjusted.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seoul | 2.5% |
| 2 | Daegu | 2.5% |
| 3 | Incheon | 2.4% |
| 4 | Gwangju | 2.2% |
| 5 | Gyeonggi Province | 2.1% |
| 6 | Daejeon | 2.0% |
| 7 | South Jeolla Province | 1.9% |
More on Gwangju: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · South Korea
Sources
- Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS: Regional Income: per-person GRDP, regional gross income and household disposable income by province, 2024 preliminary (table DT_1C96), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d25f08e5a82…)
- Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS: Economically Active Population Survey: economically active population by province, monthly, September 2025 to September 2026 (table DT_1DA7004S), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c3f248d42b19…)
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