Economy, jobs and prices in Busan, South Korea: official figures
Gross regional domestic product (GRDP) per person in Busan was 37.09 million won in 2024 (preliminary), 2nd lowest of 17 and below the national figure of 49.48 million won.
How much is the regional income per person in Busan?
Gross regional income per person in Busan was 38.45 million won in 2024 (preliminary), 3rd 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 Busan?
Net regional income per person in Busan was 31.14 million won in 2024 (preliminary), 6th 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 Busan?
Gross disposable income of households in Busan was 26.16 million won per person in 2024 (preliminary), 8th lowest 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 Busan?
After allowing for the use of fixed capital, household disposable income in Busan was 24.81 million won per person in 2024 (preliminary), 8th lowest of 17 (national: 26.29 million won).
Source: Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS · saved copyWhat is the employment rate in Busan?
The employment rate of people aged 15 and over in Busan was 59.4% in September 2026, 2nd lowest of 17 (national: 63.5%; a year earlier in Busan: 59.0%).
Source: Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Busan?
The unemployment rate in Busan was 1.5% in September 2026, joint 4th lowest of 17 (national: 2.0%; September 2025: 2.0%). 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 Busan?
60.3% of people aged 15 and over in Busan were in the labour force (working or looking for work) in September 2026, the lowest of 17 (national: 64.8%).
Source: Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS · saved copyHow many people are employed in Busan?
1,723,000 people were in work in Busan in September 2026, against 1,714,000 in September 2025 (a change of +9,000 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 Busan?
The employment rate for people aged 15 to 64 in Busan was 69.4% in September 2026, joint 5th lowest of 17 (national: 70.6%).
Source: Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS · saved copyHow many people are unemployed in Busan?
27,000 people in Busan were unemployed in September 2026 (looking for work and available to start), compared with 35,000 in September 2025.
Source: Ministry of Data and Statistics, published on KOSIS · saved copyHow Busan compares with other metropolitan cities
GRDP per person (million won) (2024 (preliminary))
Busan ranks 16 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))
Busan ranks 10 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Household disposable income per person (million won) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Incheon | 26.87 million won |
| 8 | South Jeolla Province | 26.80 million won |
| 9 | North Chungcheong Province | 26.55 million won |
| 10 | Busan | 26.16 million won |
| 11 | Jeonbuk State | 26.13 million won |
| 12 | Daegu | 25.78 million won |
| 13 | South Chungcheong Province | 25.61 million won |
Employment rate, ages 15 and over (September 2026)
Busan ranks 16 of 17, highest first. Monthly figure, not seasonally adjusted.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 15 and over |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | South Gyeongsang Province | 63.5% |
| 12 | Gwangju | 62.8% |
| 13 | Seoul | 62.4% |
| 14 | Daejeon | 62.3% |
| 15 | Ulsan | 61.1% |
| 16 | Busan | 59.4% |
| 17 | Daegu | 59.0% |
Unemployment rate (September 2026)
Busan ranks 12 of 17, highest first. Monthly figure, not seasonally adjusted.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | South Gyeongsang Province | 1.9% |
| 10 | Ulsan | 1.8% |
| 11 | Gangwon State | 1.7% |
| 12 | Busan | 1.5% |
| 13 | North Chungcheong Province | 1.5% |
| 14 | Jeonbuk State | 1.5% |
| 15 | Sejong | 0.8% |
More on Busan: 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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