According to a survey conducted in 2016, the average age for unmarried South Korean women aged between 27 and 29 years to lose their virginity was **** years in 2016. Around ** percent of these respondents reported having sexual intercourse in the last year.

Young and single

South Korean singles in their *** do not want to get married for various reasons, the leading one being wanting to focus more on themselves. The proportion of youth who believe it is possible to live together before marriage has increased over the past years, supporting the trend of South Koreans moving away from traditional social values and roles. Women in particular have rejected the idea of marriage, largely due to gendered family roles which places an expectation on them to do a greater share of the housework and be largely responsible for childcare.

Another aspect that is potentially preventing young South Koreans from getting married is the high cost of weddings. Many see weddings as an unnecessary financial burden. Combined with less social pressure to marry, they are happy to remain unwed. Only half of South Korea’s single population in their *** are planning on getting married in the future.

Korea Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 0-14 data was reported at 12.991 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.148 % for 2016. Korea Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 0-14 data is updated yearly, averaging 25.741 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 42.567 % in 1962 and a record low of 12.991 % in 2017. Korea Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 0-14 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 0 to 14 as a percentage of the total female population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

Korea Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 15-64 data was reported at 71.066 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 71.404 % for 2016. Korea Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 15-64 data is updated yearly, averaging 67.953 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 71.923 % in 2013 and a record low of 53.294 % in 1963. Korea Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 15-64 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 15 to 64 as a percentage of the total female population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

In a survey conducted between 2013 and 2015, the average age for South Korean teenage girls in the third grade of high school to lose their virginity was **** years (based on the South Korean age system in which a new-born baby is considered as one-year-old). According to the same survey, around **** percent of females in this age bracket had ever had sexual intercourse.

Sexuality in South Korea

Many different factors have shaped the way sexuality is considered across the country. From traditional cultural norms generally accepted by the older generation, to the recent surge of liberalism and westernization – sexual education and sexual behavior have been highly debated topics among South Koreans and continue to be to this day.

Sexual education for teenagers in South Korea has become known for being problematic - not all teenage girls participated in sexual education programs as part of their schooling, and there has been some backlash on the quality of sexual education received by all students. Only half of sexually active teens stated that they always use contraception when having sex.

In 2019, South Korea decriminalized abortion – a move that was praised as moving towards a positive direction for women’s rights and health within the country. Decriminalizing pregnancy termination is particularly important for adolescents - around ** percent of teenage girls who had been pregnant reported having an abortion.

Korea Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 15.943 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 15.448 % for 2016. Korea Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 6.306 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.943 % in 2017 and a record low of 4.048 % in 1960. Korea Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 65 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population 65 years of age or older as a percentage of the total female population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

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.

Korea School Enrollment: Secondary: Female: % Gross data was reported at 100.271 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 100.474 % for 2014. Korea School Enrollment: Secondary: Female: % Gross data is updated yearly, averaging 93.472 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2015, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 100.849 % in 1996 and a record low of 30.428 % in 1971. Korea School Enrollment: Secondary: Female: % Gross 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: Education Statistics. Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Secondary education completes the provision of basic education that began at the primary level, and aims at laying the foundations for lifelong learning and human development, by offering more subject- or skill-oriented instruction using more specialized teachers.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Korea Sex Ratio at Birth: Male Births per Female Births data was reported at 1.070 Ratio in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.070 Ratio for 2015. Korea Sex Ratio at Birth: Male Births per Female Births data is updated yearly, averaging 1.070 Ratio from Dec 1962 (Median) to 2016, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.140 Ratio in 1992 and a record low of 1.070 Ratio in 2016. Korea Sex Ratio at Birth: Male Births per Female Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Sex ratio at birth refers to male births per female births. The data are 5 year averages.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average;

In 2022, the average height of South Korean women in their thirties was ****** centimeters, with women in their twenties having a very similar average height. On average, South Korean women were ****** centimeters tall, and older women tended to be shorter. Average height increases slowly The average height of women in South Korea has seen a noticeable increase over the past decade. In 2012, women in their twenties were ****** centimeters on average. However, the average height grew by around **** centimeters in the past ten years. The change could be attributed to improvements in overall nutrition, healthcare, and living conditions in the country. The South Korean beauty standard In a survey, South Korean women were asked about their preferred height range, and their answers fell between *** to *** centimeters. Women not only have a preferred height for themselves but also for their future spouses. Single women’s ideal height for their potential husbands was at around ***** centimeters, while single men wished for their potential wives to be *** centimeters tall.

In 2022, South Korean women weighed, on average, around ***** kilograms. Women across all age categories tended to have similar weight averages, apart from women aged 80 years and older, who weighed significantly less. The average height for women aged 39 years or younger that year was around *** centimeters.

South Korean beauty standards

The perception of beauty is generally heavily influenced by the media's portrayed image thereof. South Korean media promotes a limited one, namely the "thin ideal". Due to the goal of coming closer to the slim model, most South Korean women have tried to go on a diet. Additionally, most female respondents stated that weight control was the leading reason for participating in sports. For many researchers, the idealization of a thin body has lead has led to rising numbers of eating disorder cases and distorted self-images of young women.

The growing plastic surgery market

The share of people having undergone plastic surgery procedures is rising every year. According to a 2020 survey, women aged between 20 to 39 years represented the highest share of respondents who underwent plastic surgery. South Koreans showed the highest interest in double-eyelid surgery, followed by rhinoplasty. These procedures align with the beauty ideal of having big, double-lidded eyes and a high-bridged, pointy nose. Besides conveying a wealthy image, plastic surgery is also used to improve chances of finding a job and getting married. About ** percent of South Koreans think that it is acceptable to get plastic surgery for this reason.

In 2023, the average monthly salary of a female employee in South Korea was about **** million South Korean won. Women in their forties earned the highest on average, at around **** million won. The average salary of South Korean women was far below that of men.

This statistic shows the average body mass index (BMI) of female adults between the age of 40 and 49 in South Korea from 2001 to 2017. In 2017, South Korean women aged 45 to 49 had a BMI of 23.3 kilograms per meter squared.

In 2023, the average life expectancy at birth for men and women in South Korea was estimated to stand at 81.2 years and 87.2 years, respectively. Life expectancy at birth was particular low for men at the start of the 1950s due to the Korean War (1950-1953), and lagged 10 to 15 years behind women for decades. While women still have a longer life expectancy, the gap has been increasingly getting smaller, down to a difference of around six years in the 2020s. By the year 2100, it is estimated that life expectancy at birth for Korean women will have risen to 96 years, while their male counterparts are expected to reach 90.2 years old.

This statistic shows the average body mass index (BMI) of female senior citizens in South Korea in 2017, by age group. In 2017, BMI of South Korean women aged over 80 was **** kilograms per meter squared on average.

In 2023, women in South Korea between the ages of 19 and 24 years had an average BMI of ****, while those in their late twenties had a slightly lower average BMI. Both groups experienced sudden jumps in 2020 with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2024, approximately **** percent of women in South Korea aged 15 years and older participated in the labor force, marking a slight increase from the previous year. The female labor force participation rate in South Korea has steadily risen in recent years. However, it remains significantly below the average of the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
South Korean women in the labor market An increasing number of women in South Korea are entering the labor market. However, they remain significantly underrepresented. For example, the share of female managers is still low, and despite some progress in recent years, women are underrepresented in fields such as law and politics. This inequality is also evident in the pay gap. South Korean women earn, on average, ** percent less than their male counterparts. Gender equality South Korea's gender divide has become increasingly prominent in recent years. While there has been progress in achieving equality for women over the past few decades, disparities between men and women still exist across all areas of society. According to a survey, discrimination against women was perceived to be more widespread than discrimination against men in various settings. Around half of the respondents considered discrimination against women in the workplace to be a serious issue, while only ** percent felt the same about discrimination against men.

In 2022, South Korean women aged 30 to 39 years old were ****** centimeters tall. That year, the average height of South Korean women was ****** centimeters.

In 2023, the average male middle school student in South Korea weighed **** kilograms, while the average female student weight **** kilograms. The weight of middle school students in Korea has changed dramatically in recent years. The average height also increased, but the increase in body weight was noticeably greater than in the height. Education fever and healthSouth Korea is known as a country with “education fever”. To study in a good high school, a good university, and eventually work in a good company, students are working hard to get the best possible score in their respective positions. However, most students are suffering from lack of sleep and unbalanced eating habits due to prolonged study times combined with their regular schedule at school and private education. The obesity rate of South Korean students has also increased over the years, alongside the average weight. Obesity in South KoreaThe obesity rate refers to the population rate with a body mass index (BMI) of over **. As of 2022, more than one third of the population were considered obese, showing a steady increase since 2008. The age group with the largest rate of obesity was the population in their forties, however, the obesity rate of the young population aged 19 to 29 years old has experienced rapid growth over the years.

In 2022, South Korean women aged 60 to 69 years old were ***** centimeters tall. That year, the average height of South Korean women was ****** centimeters.

This statistic shows the average body fat ratio of female adults between the age of ** and ** in South Korea from 1992 to 2017. In 2017, South Korean women aged 19 to 24 had a body fat percentage of **** percent on average.