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 1890, the average person born in the area of present-day North Korea could expect to live to 26 years old, a rate which would see only marginal change until the annexation of the Korean peninsula by the Empire of Japan in 1910. As Japanese large scale industrialization and modernization reforms would begin in the peninsula (building on the Gwangmu reforms of the previous administration), life expectancy would begin to increase rapidly as standards of living rose across the region. As a result, life expectancy would rise by twenty years between 1920 and 1940, however this growth would slow during the 1940s, as Korea lost approximately half a million people (or 2% of its population) during the Second World War. Following the war, the peninsula was split into two separate states, with the north and south each administered by the Soviet Union and the U.S. respectively (although both militaries had largely left the peninsula within a few years). In 1950, as tensions grew between the two governments regarding the legitimate rulers of the peninsula, North Korea invaded the South and set in motion the Korean War. The war would last for three years, and result in the deaths of approximately three million Koreans (with the North suffering heavier losses than the South); this caused the life expectancy in North Korea to plummet from over 49 years to less than 38 years in the first half of the 1950s.

Life expectancy in North Korea would quickly recover in the post-war years, as the Soviet Union would provide significant economic aid to the country. As a result, life expectancy would return to pre-war levels by the end of the decade and resume its steady rise until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. After peaking at 70 years in the early 1990s, it is estimated that life expectancy fell by nearly seven years in the early 1990s as the country would face extreme medical and food shortages following the end of Soviet aid. U.S. estimates put the death toll of these famines at more than half a million people in the 1990s. In the past two decades, life expectancy has slowly increased once more in North Korea, returning to pre-famine levels once more in 2015, and it is now estimated that the life expectancy from birth in North Korea in 2020 is approximately 72 years old.

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 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.

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.

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.

In 2024, average retirement age in South Korea was **** years old. Since 2007, the average age has remained around 49 years old. The highest retirement age in the last 20 years was **** years old in 2006.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2024, respondents in their thirties spent the most money on PC in-game purchases, with an average of around 24,300 South Korean won per month. The overall average stood at abou 18,400 won monthly.

North Korea KP: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: % of Children Under 5, Modeled Estimate data was reported at 16.600 % in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 17.000 % for 2023. North Korea KP: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: % of Children Under 5, Modeled Estimate data is updated yearly, averaging 25.800 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2024, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 52.500 % in 2000 and a record low of 16.600 % in 2024. North Korea KP: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: % of Children Under 5, Modeled Estimate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Prevalence of stunting is the percentage of children under age 5 whose height for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. For children up to two years old height is measured by recumbent length. For older children height is measured by stature while standing. The data are based on the WHO's 2006 Child Growth Standards.;UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME).;Weighted average;Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments such as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Frequent illness saps the nutritional status of those who survive, locking them into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth (UNICEF). Being even mildly underweight increases the risk of death and inhibits cognitive development in children. And it perpetuates the problem across generations, as malnourished women are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies. Stunting, or being below median height for age, is often used as a proxy for multifaceted deprivation and as an indicator of long-term changes in malnutrition. Estimates are modeled estimates produced by the JME. Primary data sources of the anthropometric measurements are national surveys. These surveys are administered sporadically, resulting in sparse data for many countries. Furthermore, the trend of the indicators over time is usually not a straight line and varies by country. Tracking the current level and progress of indicators helps determine if countries are on track to meet certain thresholds, such as those indicated in the SDGs. Thus the JME developed statistical models and produced the modeled estimates.

In 2024, the average age of divorce for South Korean women was **** years, while for South Korean men it was **** years. The average age at divorce of both female and male South Koreans remained similar compared to the last year.

HIES: OU: 5 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data was reported at 54.795 Year in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 55.229 Year for 2023. HIES: OU: 5 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data is updated yearly, averaging 54.021 Year from Dec 2019 (Median) to 2024, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 55.229 Year in 2023 and a record low of 53.313 Year in 2019. HIES: OU: 5 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.H074: 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey: 1 or more Members: Other Urban Households: Nominal: by Quintile.

In 2024, the average wedding cost in South Korea amounted to around ***** million South Korean won. Housing prices accounted for the vast majority of wedding costs. It was followed by household goods and venue costs. Wedding trends in South Korea Couples who are contemplating saying “yes” to their wedding vows also have to take into consideration the preparations for a wedding. The overall costs for a wedding would include the honeymoon, the wedding package, and the wedding venue. A wedding package would consist of the pre-wedding studio photography, as well as the dress and makeup for the occasion. However, statistics show that the number of marriages have declined. For men, the main reason for not getting married is that they could not afford the wedding costs, while women saw no need to get married anymore. Divorces in South Korea As beautiful as weddings can be, if conflicts arise during a marriage, divorce can always be an option. In South Korea, the number of divorces decreased in recent years. The reason for that might be the equally decreasing number of marriages. The marriage duration before a divorce was frequently among married couples either up to four years after the wedding or after 30 years of being together. Even though it has become more socially acceptable not to marry or leave a marriage in South Korea, a significant percentage of the older generation still think that people their age should not divorce, even though there might be a valid reason to do so.

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 HIES: UH: 3 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data was reported at 49.616 Year in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 49.049 Year for 2023. South Korea HIES: UH: 3 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data is updated yearly, averaging 48.998 Year from Dec 2019 (Median) to 2024, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49.616 Year in 2024 and a record low of 48.082 Year in 2019. South Korea HIES: UH: 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.H066: 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey: 1 or more Members: Urban Households: Nominal: by Quintile.

South Korea HIES: AS: 1 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data was reported at 54.463 Year in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 52.569 Year for 2023. South Korea HIES: AS: 1 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data is updated yearly, averaging 51.307 Year from Dec 2019 (Median) to 2024, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 54.463 Year in 2024 and a record low of 50.684 Year in 2022. South Korea HIES: AS: 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 South Korea – Table KR.H058: 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey: 1 or more Members: Salary and Wage Earner Households: Nominal: by Quintile.

In 2024, the average age of retirement of men in South Korea remained at 60 years, where it has been since 2017. Prior to this, the average age of retirement of men was stable at 55 years.

South Korea HIES: OU: 4 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data was reported at 56.084 Year in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 55.380 Year for 2023. South Korea HIES: OU: 4 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data is updated yearly, averaging 54.948 Year from Dec 2019 (Median) to 2024, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 56.084 Year in 2024 and a record low of 53.290 Year in 2019. South Korea HIES: OU: 4 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.H074: 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey: 1 or more Members: Other Urban Households: Nominal: by Quintile.

South Korea HIES: AH: 4 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data was reported at 49.595 Year in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 49.687 Year for 2023. South Korea HIES: AH: 4 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data is updated yearly, averaging 49.240 Year from Dec 2019 (Median) to 2024, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49.687 Year in 2023 and a record low of 48.564 Year in 2019. South Korea HIES: AH: 4 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.H054: 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey: 1 or more Members: All Households: Nominal: by Quintile.

South Korea HIES: AS: 2 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data was reported at 46.651 Year in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 46.157 Year for 2023. South Korea HIES: AS: 2 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data is updated yearly, averaging 46.176 Year from Dec 2019 (Median) to 2024, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 46.651 Year in 2024 and a record low of 45.566 Year in 2020. South Korea HIES: AS: 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.H058: 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey: 1 or more Members: Salary and Wage Earner Households: Nominal: by Quintile.

In 2024, the average age of retirement of women in South Korea remained at 60 years, where it has been since 2017. Prior to this, the average age of retirement of women was stable at 55 years.