In 2025, the total population of South Korea is projected to be around ***** million. In thirty years, the number of people aged 15 to 64 is estimated to decrease by one-third, while the number of older adults is anticipated to more than double. Additionally, the overall population is expected to decline by around *** million people by that time. Declining birth rate Several factors are contributing to the expected demographic changes in South Korea. Firstly, the birth rate has been declining for years. As of 2024, South Korea had the lowest fertility rate in the world. This trend continues despite the efforts of successive governments to encourage young people to have children. An increasing number of South Korean women are prioritizing their careers, often choosing to focus on work rather than starting a family at a young age. While the employment rate for South Korean women is still lower than that of men, it has steadily risen over the past decade. Increase in life expectancy Secondly, life expectancy in South Korea has steadily increased due to improved living standards and healthcare. The average life expectancy at birth for South Koreans has risen from less than 75 years to almost 83 years over the past twenty years. As a result, the proportion of people aged 65 and older has grown from less than ** percent to around ** percent in the last decade.

Korea Population Projection: 81 Years data was reported at 620,266.000 Person in 2065. This records a decrease from the previous number of 675,586.000 Person for 2064. Korea Population Projection: 81 Years data is updated yearly, averaging 376,035.000 Person from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2065, with 66 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 756,298.000 Person in 2050 and a record low of 66,754.000 Person in 2000. Korea Population Projection: 81 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.G004: Population Projection: Statistics Korea.

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 Population Projection: Mid Year data was reported at 47,731,321.000 Person in 2050. This records a decrease from the previous number of 48,162,628.000 Person for 2049. Korea Population Projection: Mid Year data is updated yearly, averaging 46,840,607.000 Person from Jun 1950 (Median) to 2050, with 101 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 52,796,081.000 Person in 2029 and a record low of 20,845,771.000 Person in 1950. Korea Population Projection: Mid Year data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.US Census Bureau: Demographic Projection.

Korea Population Projection: Mid Year: Growth data was reported at -0.920 % in 2050. This records a decrease from the previous number of -0.880 % for 2049. Korea Population Projection: Mid Year: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 0.330 % from Jun 1990 (Median) to 2050, with 61 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.160 % in 1992 and a record low of -0.920 % in 2050. Korea Population Projection: Mid Year: Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.US Census Bureau: Demographic Projection.

Korea Population Projection: Female: 81 Years data was reported at 318,228.000 Person in 2065. This records a decrease from the previous number of 349,034.000 Person for 2064. Korea Population Projection: Female: 81 Years data is updated yearly, averaging 213,711.000 Person from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2065, with 66 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 410,737.000 Person in 2050 and a record low of 45,127.000 Person in 2000. Korea Population Projection: Female: 81 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.G003: Population Projection: Statistics Korea.

In 2018, urban areas were home to ***** percent of the total South Korean population. While a shift to urban life has already been observed since before that, it is predicted that the population inhabiting urban areas in South Korea will reach up to ***** percent of the total South Korean population in 2050.

In 2050, the three East Asian countries Hong Kong (SAR of China), South Korea, and Japan are forecasted to have the highest share of people aged 65 years or more. Except for Kuwait, all the countries on the list are either in Europe or East Asia. By 2050, 22 percent of the world's population is expected to be above 60 years.

KR：UCB Projection：人口：中年人口在06-01-2050达47,731,321.000人，相较于06-01-2049的48,162,628.000人有所下降。KR：UCB Projection：人口：中年人口数据按年更新，06-01-1950至06-01-2050期间平均值为46,840,607.000人，共101份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于06-01-2029，达52,796,081.000人，而历史最低值则出现于06-01-1950，为20,845,771.000人。CEIC提供的KR：UCB Projection：人口：中年人口数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于US Census Bureau，数据归类于Global Database的韩国 – 表 KR.美国人口普查局：人口统计预测。

In 2024, the share of the population in Taiwan aged 65 and older accounted for approximately 19.2 percent of the total population. While the share of old people on the island increased gradually over recent years, the percentage of the working-age population and the children have both declined. Taiwan’s aging population With one of the lowest fertility rates in the world and a steadily growing life expectancy, the average age of Taiwan’s population is increasing quickly, and the share of people aged 65 and above is expected to reach around 38.4 percent of the total population in 2050. This development is also reflected in Taiwan’s population pyramid, which shows that the size of the youngest age group is only half of the size of age groups between 40 and 60 years. The rapid aging of the populations puts a heavy burden on the social insurance system. Old-age dependency is expected to reach more than 70 percent by 2050, meaning that by then three people of working age will have to support two elders, compared to only one elder supported by four working people today. Aging societies in East Asia Today, many countries in East Asia have very low fertility rates and face the challenges of aging societies. This is especially true among those countries that experienced high economic growth in the past, which often resulted in quickly receding birth rates. Japan was one of the first East Asian countries witnessing this demographic change, as is reflected in its high median age. South Korea had the lowest fertility rate of all Asian countries in recent years, and with China, one of the largest populations on earth joined the ranks of quickly aging societies.

The global population of Buddhists is projected to slightly increase up until the year 2030, at which point it will begin a gradual decline. In terms of its share of total world population, however, Buddhism has already seen a decline from over seven percent in 2010, with this being projected to decline further to close to five percent in 2050. This decline is related to Buddhism being popular in countries whose populations are in a natural decline, such as Japan or South Korea (and Thailand in the near future), as well as demographic developments in countries that have a policy of state atheism, such as China or Vietnam.While this decline in its traditional regions of influence in East and Southeast Asia will cause an aggregate fall in the number of Buddhists, there is likely to be some growth in other regions of the globe, such as Western European and North American countries, where the popularity of the ideas of Buddhism have grown in influence in recent decades.

Christianity is the major religion in numerous African countries. As of 2024, around 96 percent of the population of Zambia was Christian, representing the highest percentage on the continent. Seychelles and Rwanda followed with roughly 95 percent and 94 percent of the population being Christian, respectively. While these countries present the highest percentages, Christianity was also prevalent in many other African nations. For instance, in South Africa, Christianity was the religion of nearly 85 percent of the people, while the share corresponded to 71 percent in Ghana. Religious variations across Africa Christianity and Islam are the most practiced religions in Africa. Christian adherents are prevalent below the Sahara, while North Africa is predominantly Muslim. In 2020, Christians accounted for around 60 percent of the Sub-Saharan African population, followed by Muslims with a share of roughly 30 percent. In absolute terms, there were approximately 650 million Christians in the region, a number forecast to increase to over one billion by 2050. In contrast, Islam is most prevalent in North Africa, being the religion of over 90 percent of the population in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya. Christianity in the world As opposed to other religions, Christianity is widely spread across continents worldwide. In fact, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe each account for around 25 percent of the global Christian population. By comparison, Asia-Pacific and North America make up 13 percent and 12 percent of Christians worldwide, respectively. In several regions, Christians also suffer persecution on religious grounds. Somalia and Libya presented the most critical situation in Africa in 2021, reporting the strongest suppression of Christians worldwide just after North Korea and Afghanistan.