Digital Payment Adoption Statistics in South Korea (2026)
As of the 2021 data, 97.9% of adults in South Korea made or received a digital payment, per World Bank Global Findex. Up from 92.4% in 2017 to 97.9% in 2021 (+5.6 percentage points). South Korea ranks #2 of 16 economies in East Asia & Pacific on this measure, and #16 of 142 globally.
Key Statistics
- Latest value (2021)
- 97.9% (2021)
- Digital Payment Adoption in South Korea as of 2021, the most recent observation in World Bank Global Findex data.
- Change since 2017
- +5.6 pp (2021)
- Up from 92.4% in 2017 to 97.9% in 2021 (+5.6 percentage points).
- Earliest value in this dataset (2014)
- 88.1% (2014)
- Earliest observation in this dataset, which covers 1990 onward (the source series may begin earlier). Up from 88.1% in 2014 to 97.9% in 2021.
- Record high (2021)
- 97.9% (2021)
- The 2021 value is the highest in the available World Bank Global Findex series for South Korea.
- Rank in East Asia & Pacific
- #2 of 16 (2021)
- South Korea ranks 2 of 16 countries in East Asia & Pacific with data, based on each country's latest value.
- Global rank
- #16 of 142 (2021)
- South Korea ranks 16 of 142 countries with data globally.
- East Asia & Pacific average
- 72.9% (2021)
- South Korea (97.9%) is above the average of 72.9% across the 16 countries in East Asia & Pacific with data.
- Among women (2021)
- 97.7% (2021)
- Value for women in South Korea, same 2021 World Bank Global Findex data.
- Among men (2021)
- 98.1% (2021)
- Value for men in South Korea, same 2021 World Bank Global Findex data.
- Gender gap (women minus men)
- −0.4 pp (2021)
- In 2021, the figure was 97.7% for women and 98.1% for men — 0.4 percentage points lower among women.
- Among the poorest 40% (2021)
- 95.1% (2021)
- Value for adults in the poorest 40% of households in South Korea in 2021.
- Poorest-40% gap vs national
- −2.8 pp (2021)
- The poorest 40% (95.1%) are 2.8 percentage points below the national figure (97.9%).
- Made a digital payment (% age 15+) (2021)
- 96.2% (2021)
- Related indicator from World Bank Global Findex.
- Received digital payments (% age 15+) (2021)
- 85.9% (2021)
- Related indicator from World Bank Global Findex.
- Internet use in South Korea (2024)
- 97.9% (2024)
- 97.9% of the population in South Korea used the internet in 2024 (World Bank); shown for context only.
- Population (2024)
- 51.8 million (2024)
- South Korea had a population of 51.8 million in 2024 (World Bank); shown for scale only.
Trend, 2014–2021
| Year | % of adults (age 15+) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 97.9% | +5.6 pp |
| 2017 | 92.4% | +4.3 pp |
| 2014 | 88.1% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What share of adults in South Korea made or received a digital payment?
97.9% of adults in South Korea made or received a digital payment in 2021, according to World Bank Global Findex data.
How recent is the digital payment adoption data for South Korea?
The most recent observation is from 2021. World Bank Global Findex data is reported with a lag, so 2021 is the latest available year for South Korea.
Where does the digital payment adoption data for South Korea come from?
The data comes from the World Bank Global Findex (indicator g20.any). The latest observation for South Korea is from 2021; the snapshot was retrieved on 2026-06-10.
How has digital payment adoption in South Korea changed over time?
World Bank Global Findex data show a rise from 88.1% in 2014 to 97.9% in 2021.
How does South Korea compare with other countries in East Asia & Pacific?
South Korea ranks 2 of 16 countries in East Asia & Pacific with data, with 97.9% versus a regional average of 72.9% (latest values per country).
Source & methodology
Source: World Bank Global Findex, indicator
g20.any, retrieved .
Figures are shown exactly as published in the source dataset; only the change column of the trend table is computed from adjacent published values.Read more on the methodology page. All figures are estimates and projections; this is not financial advice.
Last updated .