In 1880, the average person born in the area of modern-day South Korea could expect to live to just under the age of 26, a figure which would remain below thirty until the 1920s. Life expectancy would fall to its lowest level of just 24 years in 1920, however, as the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic would spread through the country, resulting in an estimated 200,000 deaths across the Korean peninsula. Life expectancy would begin to rise in the 1920s, however, as development programs by the Japanese colonial administration would see economic growth and access to healthcare improve greatly in the region. The 1940s and 1950s would see a slowing, then a reversal to this growth though, as the final years of the Second World War, and later the 1950 Korean War, would see significant destruction and fatalities in the country.

Following the end of the Korean War with the 1953 armistice, life expectancy would begin to climb again in the newly-established South Korea, as the country would begin to rapidly modernize and improve access to healthcare and nutrition, raising standards of living and cutting child mortality rates throughout the country. As a result, life expectancy would rise from just under 47 years in 1950, to over 75 years by the turn of the century. This rise in life expectancy has continued steadily into the 21st century, and as a result, in 2020, it is estimated that the average person born in South Korea will live to just under the age of 83 years, one of the highest life expectancies in the world.

The total life expectancy at birth in South Korea was 83.43 years in 2023. Between 1960 and 2023, the life expectancy at birth rose by 29.63 years, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Graph and download economic data for Life Expectancy at Birth, Total for the Republic of Korea (SPDYNLE00INKOR) from 1960 to 2023 about life expectancy, life, birth, and Korea.

Korea Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data was reported at 82.024 Year in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 82.024 Year for 2015. Korea Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 70.549 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 82.024 Year in 2016 and a record low of 53.002 Year in 1960. Korea Life Expectancy at Birth: Total 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: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, or derived from male and female life expectancy at birth from sources such as: (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

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 Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data was reported at 85.200 Year in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 85.200 Year for 2015. Korea Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 74.800 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 85.200 Year in 2016 and a record low of 55.509 Year in 1960. Korea Life Expectancy at Birth: Female 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: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data was reported at 71.685 Year in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 71.457 Year for 2015. North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 66.571 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 71.685 Year in 2016 and a record low of 51.297 Year in 1960. North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, or derived from male and female life expectancy at birth from sources such as: (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

Korea Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data was reported at 79.000 Year in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 79.000 Year for 2015. Korea Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 66.500 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 79.000 Year in 2016 and a record low of 50.614 Year in 1960. Korea Life Expectancy at Birth: Male 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: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

North Korea: Life expectancy, in years, female: The latest value from 2022 is 76.15 years, an increase from 75.74 years in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 74.94 years, based on data from 192 countries. Historically, the average for North Korea from 1960 to 2022 is 68.7 years. The minimum value, 55.67 years, was reached in 1960 while the maximum of 76.3 years was recorded in 1993.

Life expectancy at birth, male (years) in North Korea was reported at 71.46 years in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Life expectancy at birth, male (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data was reported at 75.071 Year in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 74.819 Year for 2015. North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 69.692 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 75.071 Year in 2016 and a record low of 53.863 Year in 1960. North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data was reported at 68.055 Year in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 67.829 Year for 2015. North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 62.993 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 68.055 Year in 2016 and a record low of 48.424 Year in 1960. North Korea KP: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

In 2023, the infant mortality rate in South Korea decreased by 0.1 deaths per 1,000 live births (-4.17 percent) compared to 2022. In 2023, the infant mortality rate thereby reached its lowest value in recent years. The infant mortality rate is the number of newborns who do not survive past the first 12 months of life. This is generally expressed as a value per 1,000 live births, and also includes neonatal mortality (deaths within the first 28 days of life).Find more statistics on other topics about South Korea with key insights such as total life expectancy at birth, total fertility rate, and age dependency ratio.

大韓民国の最新の平均寿命である「83.43歳」を含む統計データと大韓民国の総人口データを1960～2023年までの推移データとして公開しています。元データのソースはworldbank.orgで、当サイト(GraphToChart)が独自に計算・算出し、大韓民国の平均寿命の増減等を推移データや比較データとして公開しています。全て無料で利用可能ですので、研究や分析レポートにお役立て頂ければ幸いです。