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: 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: 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.

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.

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.

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: 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.

The age dependency ratio in South Korea increased by 0.8 percentage points (+1.97 percent) in 2023. While the growth is slowing down, with 41.45 percent, the ratio is at its peak in the observed period. The age dependency ratio is defined as the proportion of dependents to the working age population. Dependents refer to individuals below and age of 15 or above age 64.Find more statistics on other topics about South Korea with key insights such as total life expectancy at birth, crude birth rate, and infant mortality rate.

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.

Korea Number of Births data was reported at 335,551.000 Person in 2050. This records a decrease from the previous number of 335,694.000 Person for 2049. Korea Number of Births data is updated yearly, averaging 426,528.000 Person from Jun 1990 (Median) to 2050, with 61 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 739,094.000 Person in 1992 and a record low of 335,551.000 Person in 2050. Korea Number of Births 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 Mortality Rate: Under 5 per 1000 Births data was reported at 3.300 NA in 2050. This stayed constant from the previous number of 3.300 NA for 2049. Korea Mortality Rate: Under 5 per 1000 Births data is updated yearly, averaging 3.600 NA from Jun 1990 (Median) to 2050, with 61 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.500 NA in 1990 and a record low of 3.300 NA in 2050. Korea Mortality Rate: Under 5 per 1000 Births 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 Life Expectancy at Birth data was reported at 83.700 Year in 2050. This records an increase from the previous number of 83.600 Year for 2049. Korea Life Expectancy at Birth data is updated yearly, averaging 82.600 Year from Jun 1990 (Median) to 2050, with 61 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 83.700 Year in 2050 and a record low of 71.500 Year in 1991. Korea Life Expectancy at Birth 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 Number of Deaths data was reported at 769,429.000 Person in 2050. This records an increase from the previous number of 761,451.000 Person for 2049. Korea Number of Deaths data is updated yearly, averaging 351,960.000 Person from Jun 1990 (Median) to 2050, with 61 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 769,429.000 Person in 2050 and a record low of 238,780.000 Person in 1990. Korea Number of Deaths 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.

In 2020, South Korea had approximately **** million households with a head of household aged 65 years or older, making up about ** percent of all households. This number is expected to steadily increase, reaching almost ** million by 2050, constituting around half of all households in South Korea.

Korea Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Persons data was reported at 7.000 NA in 2050. This stayed constant from the previous number of 7.000 NA for 2049. Korea Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Persons data is updated yearly, averaging 8.200 NA from Jun 1990 (Median) to 2050, with 61 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.900 NA in 1992 and a record low of 6.800 NA in 2045. Korea Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Persons 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.

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.

Korea Fertility Rate: per Woman data was reported at 1.590 NA in 2050. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.580 NA for 2049. Korea Fertility Rate: per Woman data is updated yearly, averaging 1.400 NA from Jun 1990 (Median) to 2050, with 61 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.780 NA in 1992 and a record low of 1.120 NA in 2005. Korea Fertility Rate: per Woman 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.

This statistic provides a projection of the energy mix in 2050 for South Korea if the country transitioned to 100 percent renewable energy for all purposes, including electricity, transportation, heating/cooling, and industry. According to this forecast, offshore wind energy and solar plants would each account for around 37 percent of the country's energy mix by 2050.

Korea Number of Migrants: Net data was reported at -3,341.000 Person in 2050. This records a decrease from the previous number of 482.000 Person for 2049. Korea Number of Migrants: Net data is updated yearly, averaging 45,080.000 Person from Jun 1990 (Median) to 2050, with 61 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 141,470.000 Person in 2014 and a record low of -102,758.000 Person in 1996. Korea Number of Migrants: Net 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 Migration Rate: per 1000 Inhabitants: Net data was reported at -0.100 NA in 2050. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.000 NA for 2049. Korea Migration Rate: per 1000 Inhabitants: Net data is updated yearly, averaging 0.900 NA from Jun 1990 (Median) to 2050, with 61 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.800 NA in 2014 and a record low of -2.300 NA in 1996. Korea Migration Rate: per 1000 Inhabitants: Net 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.