Demographic development in South Korea in the final decades of the 21st century saw rapid change across its society. In South Korea, the average age of the population rose from below 20 years in the late-70s to around 45 years today, and it is projected to rise to over 62 years in 2074. With one of the lowest fertility rates in the world, population aging is one of the largest challenges facing South Korea today. If these projections come true, then South Korea is on course to soon have a smaller working-age population than its combined child and elderly populations. Recent years have shown population aging to be a compounding issue that exacerbates itself - young people often become responsible for providing care for elderly relatives, straining time and financial resources and dissuading many from having their own children. The state must also invest much more money into elderly care and healthcare, often redistributing resources that were previously invested in childcare and education. Although the state (and even some private companies) are now offering financial incentives for couples to have children, it remains to be seen whether these measures will be enough to reverse years of rapid population aging and declining fertility rates.

In 2024, the average age of employees in South Korea was **** years. The average age of South Korean employees has increased over the past decades.

In 2023, the average age of mothers giving birth to their first child in South Korea was ***** years. The average age at childbirth in South Korea has risen steadily over the last decades.

In 2024, the average age at which South Korean women married for the first time was 31.55 years, while for men, it was 33.86 years. The average age of both men and women marrying for the first time in South Korea has steadily increased in recent years. Shifting attitudes towards marriage The number of marriages in South Korea has been consistently declining. While the overall decrease in population may play a role, the most significant factor is the societal shift in the perception of marriage. According to a survey, nearly half of South Koreans consider marriage an option rather than a necessity. Some of the main reasons South Koreans choose to remain unmarried include concerns about raising children, high wedding expenses, and worries about their careers. Demographic implications As more South Koreans choose to marry later in life or not at all, this trend significantly impacts the country's demographic landscape. The declining birth rate and increasing life expectancy present challenges for the country's future, particularly regarding economic productivity and growth.

South Korea HS: UW: 3 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data was reported at 45.130 Year in 2017. South Korea HS: UW: 3 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data is updated yearly, averaging 45.130 Year from Dec 2017 (Median) to 2017, with 1 observations. South Korea HS: UW: 3 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H063: Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HS): by Income Quintile: Urban Salary and Wage Earner.

Korea HS: AH: 2 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data was reported at 52.960 Year in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 52.800 Year for Jun 2018. Korea HS: AH: 2 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data is updated quarterly, averaging 47.490 Year from Mar 2003 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 63 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 52.960 Year in Sep 2018 and a record low of 43.410 Year in Mar 2003. Korea HS: AH: 2 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H060: Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HS): by Income Quintile: All Household.

Retirement Age Men in South Korea remained unchanged at 60 Years in 2025 from 60 Years in 2024. This dataset provides - South Korea Retirement Age Men - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Korea HS: AH: 1 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data was reported at 62.500 Year in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 63.390 Year for Mar 2018. Korea HS: AH: 1 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data is updated quarterly, averaging 56.555 Year from Mar 2003 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 62 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 63.390 Year in Mar 2018 and a record low of 50.960 Year in Sep 2003. Korea HS: AH: 1 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.H060: Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HS): by Income Quintile: All Household.

This dataset is about countries per year in Korea. It has 64 rows. It features 3 columns: country, and median age.

In 2024, the average age at which South Korean women got remarried was **** years, while that of men was **** years. That year, about ** percent of married couples were ones in which one or both partners remarried.

This statistic shows the leading countries with the highest projected median age in 2050. By 2050, the Republic of Korea is projected to have the population with the highest median age, at 56.5 years.

Korea Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data was reported at 37.717 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 37.150 % for 2016. Korea Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data is updated yearly, averaging 46.447 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 89.414 % in 1962 and a record low of 36.323 % in 2013. Korea Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Age dependency ratio is the ratio of dependents--people younger than 15 or older than 64--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: this indicator implies the dependency burden that the working-age population bears in relation to children and the elderly. Many times single or widowed women who are the sole caregiver of a household have a high dependency ratio.

This bar chart displays median age (year) by country full name using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Korea. The data is about countries per year.

UIS: Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years, female in South Korea was reported at 11.41 Years in 2015, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Mean years of schooling of the population age 25+. Female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Korea HS: OU: 2 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data was reported at 61.490 Year in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 62.680 Year for Jun 2018. Korea HS: OU: 2 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data is updated quarterly, averaging 48.450 Year from Mar 1990 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 115 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 62.680 Year in Jun 2018 and a record low of 39.860 Year in Sep 1991. Korea HS: OU: 2 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H065: Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HS): by Income Quintile: Other Urban Household.

In South Korea, approximately 70.69 percent of the population was between 15 and 64 years old in 2023, while those above the age of 64 made up around 18.34 percent. The youngest generation made up an even smaller percentage than the elderly, but were the only group that did not increase in size over the last decade, partly due to a decrease in births since 2007. Reasons for fewer children While it is not always the case that family sizes shrink when there are less births per woman, the fertility rate in South Korea is undisputably decreasing overall and less children are born. The reasons people cite for having fewer children vary greatly by gender and marital status in South Korea: For example, more married people than singles - and of those more married women than men - say that the difficulty of maintaining a work life balance is the largest concern for them. Meanwhile, men express more economic concerns about child support, and notably more singles nowadays say they feel no need to have children.

Korea HS: OU: Average Age of Household Head data was reported at 58.240 Year in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 58.300 Year for Jun 2018. Korea HS: OU: Average Age of Household Head data is updated quarterly, averaging 49.080 Year from Mar 1990 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 115 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 58.460 Year in Mar 2018 and a record low of 41.650 Year in Jun 1990. Korea HS: OU: Average Age of Household Head data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H056: Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HS): Other Urban Household: Nominal.

South Korea: Deaths of children five to fourteen years of age per 1000 live births: The latest value from 2022 is 0 deaths per 1000 births, unchanged from 0 deaths per 1000 births in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 3 deaths per 1000 births, based on data from 187 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1990 to 2022 is 1 deaths per 1000 births. The minimum value, 0 deaths per 1000 births, was reached in 2015 while the maximum of 3 deaths per 1000 births was recorded in 1990.

This scatter chart displays unemployment (% of total labor force) against median age (year) in Korea. The data is about countries per year.

Korea HS: OH: 3 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data was reported at 55.440 Year in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 56.380 Year for Mar 2018. Korea HS: OH: 3 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data is updated quarterly, averaging 50.900 Year from Mar 2003 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 62 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 56.380 Year in Mar 2018 and a record low of 45.160 Year in Mar 2003. Korea HS: OH: 3 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.H064: Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HS): by Income Quintile: Other Household.