In 2024, the population aged 65 or older in South Korea made up approximately ** percent of the total population. The share of older people in the total population has almost tripled in the last two decades.

Author: Michael Robinson, educatorGrade/Audience: high school, ap human geography, professional developmentResource type: lessonSubject topic(s): population, human geographyRegion: asiaStandards: AP Human Geography Connection 2.9 Aging Populations - Explain the causes and consequences of an aging population. An aging population has political, social, and economic consequences, including the dependency ratio. Objectives: The student will identify the leading causes of death in South Korea. The student will describe the growing aging population in South Korea. The student will explain how South Korea is dealing with the aging population. The student will describe and explain possible ways of supporting the growing elderly population in South Korea. Summary: South Korea has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, which has led to a growing aged population. The number of persons over 65 is projected to continue to rise, and with the increase there are social issues the government must address. The lesson has students analyzing graphs and maps from The Atlas of Korea to identity, describe, and explain aging of the population of South Korea. Students will listen to a news report and read an editorial to help them determine solutions to this growing problem in South Korea.

As of 2024, more than ************ South Koreans were aged 75 or older. The total number of elderly is expected to more than double between 2020 and 2072. The demographics of South Korea are expected to change significantly in the coming years. Thirty years from now, the number of children and people aged 15 to 64 is estimated to drop by *******, while the number of older people is believed to double. Meanwhile, the total population is expected to drop by more than ************ people by this time.

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;

In 2023, there were approximately *** million people aged 65 years and older in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Seoul followed with about *** million. The total number of people aged 65 and older was around *** million that year.

Korea Population: Total: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 7,161,073.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 6,885,593.000 Person for 2016. Korea Population: Total: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 2,119,549.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7,161,073.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 854,433.000 Person in 1960. Korea Population: 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. Total population 65 years of age or older. 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;

This data package includes the underlying data to replicate the charts and calculations presented in Migration or stagnation: Aging and economic growth in Korea today, the world tomorrow, PIIE Working Paper 24-18.

If you use the data, please cite as:

Clemens, Michael. 2024. Migration or stagnation: Aging and economic growth in Korea today, the world tomorrow. PIIE Working Paper 24-18. Washington: Peterson Institute for International Economics.

In 2024, the share of the population aged 65 years and above in Busan, South Korea reached around ** percent of Busan's population, up from about **** percent in the previous year. The share of the elderly in Busan has steadily increased throughout the surveyed period.

Graph and download economic data for Population ages 65 and above for the Republic of Korea (SPPOP65UPTOZSKOR) from 1960 to 2024 about 65-years +, Korea, and population.

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;

Replication Data for: Social Insurance in an Aging Population: Impacts of a Government Transfer Program in South Korea by Kanghyock Koh and Hyunjoo Yang

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.

In 2025, the total population of South Korea is projected to be around 51.68 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 six 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 11 percent to around 20 percent in the last decade.

Korea Population: Male: Aged 0-14 data was reported at 3,593,873.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3,629,413.000 Person for 2016. Korea Population: Male: Aged 0-14 data is updated yearly, averaging 5,725,560.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6,985,286.000 Person in 1972 and a record low of 3,593,873.000 Person in 2017. Korea Population: Male: Aged 0-14 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 0 to 14. 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;

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 2024, the share of the population aged 65 years and above in Daegu, South Korea, reached around **** percent of Daegu's population, up from about **** percent in the previous year. The share of the elderly in Daegu has steadily increased throughout the surveyed period.

ObjectiveInterest in sleep disorders among the elderly, especially those in Korea, has increased. We aimed to describe the overall sleep status of the elderly population in Korea using survey data and to determine the risk factors concerning different aspects of sleep status.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey on 271 respondents aged 65–86 years old. We performed multistage clustered random sampling according to the population and socioeconomic distribution of all Korean territories. The survey questionnaire was used to perform a structural assessment of sociodemographic characteristics; medical comorbidities; psychiatric comorbidities; and sleep status, including sleep duration, sleep quality, presence of insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome.ResultsApproximately 12.5, 22.%, and 51.3% of the elderly population had poor sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, and insomnia, respectively. Hypertension, dyslipidemia, insomnia, anxiety, and depression predicted poor sleep quality. Female sex, insomnia, and sleep apnea predicted excessive daytime sleepiness. Poor sleep quality and depression predicted insomnia.ConclusionA substantial proportion of the elderly Korean population have sleep problems, including poor sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, and insomnia. Sleep status is influenced by various factors, including age, sex, and metabolic and psychiatric comorbidities.

Korea Population: as % of Total: Aged 0-14 data was reported at 13.473 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.650 % for 2016. Korea Population: as % of Total: Aged 0-14 data is updated yearly, averaging 26.696 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 43.732 % in 1962 and a record low of 13.473 % in 2017. Korea Population: as % of Total: Aged 0-14 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 between the ages 0 to 14 as a percentage of the total 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;

korea - Working Age Population: Aged 15-24: All for the Republic of Korea was 4609609.00000 Persons in April of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, korea - Working Age Population: Aged 15-24: All for the Republic of Korea reached a record high of 7101649.00000 in June of 1999 and a record low of 4609609.00000 in April of 2025. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for korea - Working Age Population: Aged 15-24: All for the Republic of Korea - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

North Korea KP: Population: Total: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 2,419,324.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2,447,429.000 Person for 2016. North Korea KP: Population: Total: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 833,964.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,447,889.000 Person in 2015 and a record low of 366,540.000 Person in 1960. North Korea KP: Population: 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 North Korea – Table KP.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Total population 65 years of age or older. 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;