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.

In South Korea, approximately 70.69 percent of the population was between 15 and 64 years old in 2023, while those above the age of 64 made up around 18.34 percent. The youngest generation made up an even smaller percentage than the elderly, but were the only group that did not increase in size over the last decade, partly due to a decrease in births since 2007. Reasons for fewer children While it is not always the case that family sizes shrink when there are less births per woman, the fertility rate in South Korea is undisputably decreasing overall and less children are born. The reasons people cite for having fewer children vary greatly by gender and marital status in South Korea: For example, more married people than singles - and of those more married women than men - say that the difficulty of maintaining a work life balance is the largest concern for them. Meanwhile, men express more economic concerns about child support, and notably more singles nowadays say they feel no need to have children.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Working-Age Population Total: From 25 to 54 Years for Korea (LFWA25TTKRM647S) from Jun 1999 to May 2025 about 25 to 54 years, working-age, Korea, and population.

In 2024, the largest age group in Seoul, South Korea's capital, was those aged 25 to 29, totaling approximately ******* individuals. Seoul is home to about ** percent of the total population

South Korea Population: Working Age: Age 15-74 data was reported at 42,010,872.566 Person in 2026. This records a decrease from the previous number of 42,025,890.729 Person for 2025. South Korea Population: Working Age: Age 15-74 data is updated yearly, averaging 32,663,722.033 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2026, with 67 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 42,057,808.031 Person in 2024 and a record low of 14,586,439.479 Person in 1960. South Korea Population: Working Age: Age 15-74 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.OECD.EO: Labour Force: Forecast: OECD Member: Annual. POP1574 - Working-age population, age 15-74 Population data are based on data reported to the OECD Statistics Directorate by member countries via an annual national accounts questionnaire. For the projection period, series are extended using Eurostat projections (EUROPOP2023) for European countries, and United Nations (WPP2022) for other countries. The data is further adjusted by the OECD.

Korea Population: Male: Ages 20-24: % of Male Population data was reported at 7.285 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.440 % for 2016. Korea Population: Male: Ages 20-24: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 8.780 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.269 % in 1981 and a record low of 6.561 % in 2010. Korea Population: Male: Ages 20-24: % of Male Population 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 20 to 24 as a percentage of the total male population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

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;

School age population, primary education, both sexes (number) in South Korea was reported at 2728683 Persons in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Population of the official age for primary education, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Korea Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data was reported at 37.717 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 37.150 % for 2016. Korea Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data is updated yearly, averaging 46.447 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 89.414 % in 1962 and a record low of 36.323 % in 2013. Korea Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population 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. Age dependency ratio is the ratio of dependents--people younger than 15 or older than 64--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: this indicator implies the dependency burden that the working-age population bears in relation to children and the elderly. Many times single or widowed women who are the sole caregiver of a household have a high dependency ratio.

Korea Population: Male: Ages 80 and Above: % of Male Population data was reported at 1.937 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.760 % for 2016. Korea Population: Male: Ages 80 and Above: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.361 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.937 % in 2017 and a record low of 0.213 % in 1960. Korea Population: Male: Ages 80 and Above: % of Male Population 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. Male population between the ages 80 and above as a percentage of the total male population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

Korea Population: Female: Ages 20-24: % of Female Population data was reported at 6.523 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.619 % for 2016. Korea Population: Female: Ages 20-24: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 8.210 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.828 % in 1981 and a record low of 5.809 % in 2010. Korea Population: Female: Ages 20-24: % of Female Population 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. Female population between the ages 20 to 24 as a percentage of the total female population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

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;

Korea Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data was reported at 18.555 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 18.722 % for 2016. Korea Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young data is updated yearly, averaging 39.099 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 82.834 % in 1962 and a record low of 18.555 % in 2017. Korea Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population: Young 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. Age dependency ratio, young, is the ratio of younger dependents--people younger than 15--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average;

School age population, lower secondary education, both sexes (number) in South Korea was reported at 1381393 Persons in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Population of the official age for lower secondary education, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

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.

School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes (number) in South Korea was reported at 1347585 Persons in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Population of the official age for pre-primary education, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Age Dependency Ratio: Older Dependents to Working-Age Population for the Republic of Korea (SPPOPDPNDOLKOR) from 1960 to 2024 about 64 years +, working-age, Korea, ratio, and population.

In 2023, the population aged 15 years and over in the South Korean province of Gyeonggi amounted to around 11.96 million people. The total working-age population in South Korea stood at about 45.4 million in that year.

Korea Population: Male: Ages 70-74: % of Male Population data was reported at 3.264 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.107 % for 2016. Korea Population: Male: Ages 70-74: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 1.044 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.264 % in 2017 and a record low of 0.745 % in 1974. Korea Population: Male: Ages 70-74: % of Male Population 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 70 to 74 as a percentage of the total male population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;