In 2024, the population aged 65 or older in South Korea made up approximately ** percent of the total population. The share of older people in the total population has almost tripled in the last two decades.

Author: Michael Robinson, educatorGrade/Audience: high school, ap human geography, professional developmentResource type: lessonSubject topic(s): population, human geographyRegion: asiaStandards: AP Human Geography Connection 2.9 Aging Populations - Explain the causes and consequences of an aging population. An aging population has political, social, and economic consequences, including the dependency ratio. Objectives: The student will identify the leading causes of death in South Korea. The student will describe the growing aging population in South Korea. The student will explain how South Korea is dealing with the aging population. The student will describe and explain possible ways of supporting the growing elderly population in South Korea. Summary: South Korea has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, which has led to a growing aged population. The number of persons over 65 is projected to continue to rise, and with the increase there are social issues the government must address. The lesson has students analyzing graphs and maps from The Atlas of Korea to identity, describe, and explain aging of the population of South Korea. Students will listen to a news report and read an editorial to help them determine solutions to this growing problem in South Korea.

In 2023, there were approximately 2.1 million people aged 65 years and older in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Seoul followed with about 1.7 million. The total number of people aged 65 and older was around 9.7 million that year.

Korea Population: as % of Total: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 13.914 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 13.436 % for 2016. Korea Population: as % of Total: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 5.017 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.914 % in 2017 and a record low of 3.416 % in 1960. Korea Population: as % of Total: Aged 65 and Above 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. Population ages 65 and above as a percentage of the total 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;

As of 2024, more than four million South Koreans were aged 75 or older. The total number of elderly is expected to more than double between 2020 and 2072. The demographics of South Korea are expected to change significantly in the coming years. Thirty years from now, the number of children and people aged 15 to 64 is estimated to drop by a third, while the number of older people is believed to double. Meanwhile, the total population is expected to drop by more than four million people by this time.

Korea Population: Male: Aged 15-64 data was reported at 19,097,096.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 19,085,917.000 Person for 2016. Korea Population: Male: Aged 15-64 data is updated yearly, averaging 14,525,334.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19,097,096.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 6,642,501.000 Person in 1960. Korea Population: Male: Aged 15-64 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. Male population between the ages 15 to 64. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum;

This data package includes the underlying data to replicate the charts and calculations presented in Migration or stagnation: Aging and economic growth in Korea today, the world tomorrow, PIIE Working Paper 24-18.

If you use the data, please cite as:

Clemens, Michael. 2024. Migration or stagnation: Aging and economic growth in Korea today, the world tomorrow. PIIE Working Paper 24-18. Washington: Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Graph and download economic data for Age Dependency Ratio: Older Dependents to Working-Age Population for the Republic of Korea (SPPOPDPNDOLKOR) from 1960 to 2023 about 64 years +, working-age, Korea, ratio, and population.

Graph and download economic data for Population ages 65 and above for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (SPPOP65UPTOZSPRK) from 1960 to 2024 about North Korea, 65-years +, and population.

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.

In 2024, the share of the population aged 65 years and above in Daegu, South Korea, reached around **** percent of Daegu's population, up from about **** percent in the previous year. The share of the elderly in Daegu has steadily increased throughout the surveyed period.

Korea Population: Total: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 7,161,073.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 6,885,593.000 Person for 2016. Korea Population: Total: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 2,119,549.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7,161,073.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 854,433.000 Person in 1960. Korea Population: Total: Aged 65 and Above 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. Total population 65 years of age or older. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum;

korea - Working Age Population: Aged 25-54: All for the Republic of Korea was 22302920.00000 Persons in April of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, korea - Working Age Population: Aged 25-54: All for the Republic of Korea reached a record high of 24523430.00000 in July of 2009 and a record low of 21651190.00000 in June of 1999. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for korea - Working Age Population: Aged 25-54: All for the Republic of Korea - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

In 2023, the share of the population aged 65 years and above in Seoul, South Korea reached around **** percent of Seoul's population, up from about **** percent in the previous year. The share of the elderly in Seoul has steadily increased throughout the surveyed period.

korea - Working Age Population: Aged 15-24: All for the Republic of Korea was 4609609.00000 Persons in April of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, korea - Working Age Population: Aged 15-24: All for the Republic of Korea reached a record high of 7101649.00000 in June of 1999 and a record low of 4609609.00000 in April of 2025. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for korea - Working Age Population: Aged 15-24: All for the Republic of Korea - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

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.

korea - Working Age Population: Aged 55-64: Females for the Republic of Korea was 4233559.00000 Persons in April of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, korea - Working Age Population: Aged 55-64: Females for the Republic of Korea reached a record high of 4241905.00000 in December of 2024 and a record low of 1984630.00000 in June of 1999. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for korea - Working Age Population: Aged 55-64: Females for the Republic of Korea - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

The working-age population of South Korea, comprising individuals aged 15 to 64 years, was estimated to reach approximately 35.91 million by 2025. South Korea's working-age population is expected to be more than halved by 2072.

South Korea Patient Monitoring Market size was valued at USD 1.0 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 1.70 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.90% from 2024 to 2031.

Key Market Drivers:

Demand for Healthcare Services: The rising need for healthcare services due to an aging population is expected to drive the demand for advanced patient monitoring solutions. It is anticipated that more healthcare facilities will adopt monitoring systems to ensure timely and efficient care for elderly patients. According to Statistics Korea, the elderly population (aged 65 and above) reached 17.5% of the total population in 2022 and is projected to reach 20.6% by 2025.

Prevalence of Chronic Diseases: The growing incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and respiratory disorders is likely to increase the demand for continuous monitoring solutions.

In 2024, the share of the population aged 65 and older in Jeju, South Korea, was approximately 18.9 percent, up from about 17.9 percent in the previous year. The share of elderly residents in Jeju has consistently increased throughout the surveyed period.