In 2022, the sex ratio in South Korea was approximately **** men for every 100 women. By 2050, this ratio is projected to fall to **** and then increase to ***** by 2072. Gender equality in South Korea Despite the progress made in educational and economic equality for women over the past few decades, disparities between South Korean men and women continue to exist across all areas of society. In 2023, South Korean men earned over ** percent more than women, making the country’s gender pay gap the highest among OECD member countries. Although a gender quota for proportional representation in parliamentary elections has been implemented, many citizens believe these measures are insufficient for achieving gender equality in politics. As of 2024, women held only ** percent of the seats in the National Assembly. Opinions on gender discrimination According to a survey conducted in 2024, discrimination against women was perceived as more widespread than discrimination against men across various areas, including the workplace, home, and school. Over half of the respondents believed that discrimination against women in the workplace was a serious issue, while only ** percent felt the same way about discrimination against men. Additionally, when it comes to the future of gender equality in South Korean society, about ** percent of respondents expressed a lack of optimism.

Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births) in South Korea was reported at 1.058 in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The number of males per 100 females across South Korea has varied over time for each age group. In 2023, for over 65-year olds, this ratio was the lowest at around **** males per 100 females. When looking at the entire population, the gender ratio in South Korea is relatively balanced. Gender re-balancing The gender ratio has not always been as balanced as it is today. Traditional Korean values were responsible for the high sex ratio, as men were seen as more capable to support their families financially and to continue the family lineage. In order to combat this, a law was passed in 1988 preventing doctors from revealing the gender of a fetus to pregnant parents. Combined with progression in many other areas in life for women, including length of education and work opportunities, this led to South Korea becoming the "first Asian country to reverse the trend in rising sex ratios at birth". Equality for all? While the sex ratio in the country is now relatively balanced, many women in South Korea still face discrimination in other areas of life. The labor market is one area which is not equal for men and women. The gender pay gap in South Korea is still prominent, with men earning significantly more than women. As of 2019, many South Koreans believed not enough was being done to achieve gender equality in business , which highlights the population’s willingness to overcome inequality in the country.

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 2023, the number of male births per 100 female births in South Korea was *****. The sex ratio at birth has declined overall in South Korea over the last decades.

In 2024, the female population in Seoul, South Korea's capital, totaled about 4.83 million, surpassing the male population of about 4.51 million. Seoul's population has been steadily declining in recent years, while the share of female residents increased.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2024, around 21 percent of female and 19 percent of male respondents stated that they had consumed animation almost daily. Men tended to watch animations once or twice per week.

Gross enrolment ratio, upper secondary, gender parity index (GPI) in South Korea was reported at 0.98942 GPI in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Gross enrolment ratio, upper secondary, gender parity index - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2025, South Korea's male population is projected to reach about ***** million, while the female population is estimated at ***** million. In the long term, South Korea's population is expected to decline, reaching about ***** million in 2072.

School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) in South Korea was reported at 0.99642 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Ratio of girls to boys in primary and secondary education - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Gross enrolment ratio, primary and lower secondary, gender parity index (GPI) in North Korea was reported at 1.0027 GPI in 2015, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Gross enrolment ratio, primary and lower secondary, gender parity index - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2024, around ** percent of household members who used the available television were female, while the remaining household members were male. There was no significant difference.

School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) in North Korea was reported at 0.99923 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Ratio of female to male primary enrollment - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2024, the employment rate of four-year university graduates in South Korea stood at 64.6 percent. Male graduates had a consistently higher employment rate than female graduates.

School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) in North Korea was reported at 1.0077 % in 2015, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Ratio of girls to boys in primary and secondary education - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

In 2024, the gender gap index score in South Korea stood at 0.7 points, showing that an average gender gap of approximately 30 percent remained in the country. South Korea ranked 94th out of 146 countries surveyed by the gender gap index. Traditional gender roles in South Korea Gender roles in South Korea are vastly different between men and women. Around a third of male and female respondents answered in a survey about perceived traditional male roles that men should not show their weak side and bear the primary responsibility of providing for the family. A survey about traditional female roles showed results of a similar vein. Traditionally male-dominated jobs were considered unsuitable for women. Women were expected not to look strong and focus mainly on childcare, even when working. Such gender roles were reflected in their occupations. According to the 2020 Women in Korea report, a larger percentage of men worked in labor labor-heavy jobs or in top senior management positions such as managers. Whereas In contrast, women tended to work in jobs engaging with customers such as workers in the sales and service sector. Gender gap in the modern workplace   Considering the four key dimensions of the gender gap index, the categories of educational attainment and health and survival achieved the best results, reaching almost full marks with a score of around 0.98 points. In comparison, categories associated with positions of power showed a much larger difference. For example, political empowerment scored about 0.223 points. As of 2018, only 10 percent of respondents saw equal pay as the most important issue facing women in South Korea. Although the majority of women believed that an increase of women in leadership positions would correlate to a better world, only 43 percent of women thought that gender equality would be achieved in their lifetime.

In 2024, around **** percent of students in South Korean high schools were female. The male to female ratio in South Korea amounted to about ***** in 2020; ***** males for every 100 females.

In 2024, the employment rates in South Korea were approximately **** percent for men and **** percent for women. While the employment rate for men was significantly higher than that for women, the rate for women has steadily increased over the past decade. Gender equality in South Korea Gender equality is a crucial issue in South Korea. The country has the largest pay gap between men and women among OECD nations. Despite numerous efforts to promote women's rights, the gap remains significant across all areas of society. Although more women are taking on leadership and decision-making roles, a survey indicated that few respondents are optimistic about a near-term improvement in gender inequality. Changing perspectives on career and marriage As more women enter the workforce, fewer South Korean women choose to marry and start families. An increasing number of South Korean women are opting to delay or forgo marriage altogether, reflecting a growing sentiment that marriage is not a necessity for a fulfilling life. This trend is reflected in the country's birth rate, which has fallen to a record low of **** births per woman in 2024, making it the lowest among the OECD nations.

As of June 6, 2025, ** out of 296 seats in South Korea's National Assembly were held by women, while men held *** seats. Women only made up around ** percent of all parliamentarians. While there has been some improvement in female representation over the past decade, the percentage of women in parliament still lags behind that of many other countries.

In 2024, approximately 1.04 million male students and around 793,000 female students were enrolled in universities in South Korea. In total, there were about 1.84 million university students that year.