Demographic development in South Korea in the final decades of the 21st century saw rapid change across its society. In South Korea, the average age of the population rose from below 20 years in the late-70s to around 45 years today, and it is projected to rise to over 62 years in 2074. With one of the lowest fertility rates in the world, population aging is one of the largest challenges facing South Korea today. If these projections come true, then South Korea is on course to soon have a smaller working-age population than its combined child and elderly populations. Recent years have shown population aging to be a compounding issue that exacerbates itself - young people often become responsible for providing care for elderly relatives, straining time and financial resources and dissuading many from having their own children. The state must also invest much more money into elderly care and healthcare, often redistributing resources that were previously invested in childcare and education. Although the state (and even some private companies) are now offering financial incentives for couples to have children, it remains to be seen whether these measures will be enough to reverse years of rapid population aging and declining fertility rates.

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.

In 2024, the average age at which South Korean women married for the first time was 31.55 years, while for men, it was 33.86 years. The average age of both men and women marrying for the first time in South Korea has steadily increased in recent years. Shifting attitudes towards marriage The number of marriages in South Korea has been consistently declining. While the overall decrease in population may play a role, the most significant factor is the societal shift in the perception of marriage. According to a survey, nearly half of South Koreans consider marriage an option rather than a necessity. Some of the main reasons South Koreans choose to remain unmarried include concerns about raising children, high wedding expenses, and worries about their careers. Demographic implications As more South Koreans choose to marry later in life or not at all, this trend significantly impacts the country's demographic landscape. The declining birth rate and increasing life expectancy present challenges for the country's future, particularly regarding economic productivity and growth.

This dataset is about countries per year in Korea. It has 64 rows. It features 3 columns: country, and median age.

This scatter chart displays population (people) against median age (year) in Korea. The data is about countries per year.

In 2024, the average age of employees in South Korea was **** years. The average age of South Korean employees has increased over the past decades.

This horizontal bar chart displays median age (year) by country full name using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Korea. The data is about countries per year.

This bar chart displays median age (year) by country full name using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Korea. The data is about countries per year.

This bar chart displays median age (year) by continent using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Korea. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

South Korea Trend Population: Working Age: Age 15-74 data was reported at 42,027,666.381 Person in 2026. This records a decrease from the previous number of 42,039,678.668 Person for 2025. South Korea Trend Population: Working Age: Age 15-74 data is updated yearly, averaging 37,625,561.845 Person from Dec 1985 (Median) to 2026, with 42 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 42,039,678.668 Person in 2025 and a record low of 27,787,271.503 Person in 1985. South Korea Trend 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. POPS1574 - Trend working-age population, age 15-74

South Korea HS: UW: 3 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data was reported at 45.130 Year in 2017. South Korea HS: UW: 3 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data is updated yearly, averaging 45.130 Year from Dec 2017 (Median) to 2017, with 1 observations. South Korea HS: UW: 3 Quintile: Average Age of Household Head data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H063: Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HS): by Income Quintile: Urban Salary and Wage Earner.

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.

This scatter chart displays unemployment (% of total labor force) against median age (year) in Korea. The data is about countries per year.

Korea Population: Female: Ages 45-49: % of Female Population data was reported at 8.406 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.456 % for 2016. Korea Population: Female: Ages 45-49: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 4.988 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.507 % in 2014 and a record low of 3.788 % in 1964. Korea Population: Female: Ages 45-49: % 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 45 to 49 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 Average: AH: 50~59: Financial Assets data was reported at 116,850.000 KRW th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 113,510.000 KRW th for 2016. Korea Average: AH: 50~59: Financial Assets data is updated yearly, averaging 111,190.000 KRW th from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 116,850.000 KRW th in 2017 and a record low of 67,480.000 KRW th in 2010. Korea Average: AH: 50~59: Financial Assets data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.H078: SHFLC: Household Assets, Liabilities & Income By Age Groups of Households Head (10Age).

UIS: Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years, female in South Korea was reported at 11.41 Years in 2015, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Mean years of schooling of the population age 25+. Female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Korea HS: AH: Average Age of Household Head data was reported at 52.970 Year in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 52.770 Year for Jun 2018. Korea HS: AH: Average Age of Household Head data is updated quarterly, averaging 48.420 Year from Mar 2003 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 63 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 52.970 Year in Sep 2018 and a record low of 44.780 Year in Mar 2003. Korea HS: AH: Average Age of Household Head data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H036: Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HS): All Household: Nominal.

This dataset is about countries per year in Korea. It has 1 row and is filtered where the date is 2021. It features 4 columns: country, currency, and median age.

This horizontal bar chart displays median age (year) by currency using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Korea. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

In 2023, the average age of mothers giving birth to their first child in South Korea was ***** years. The average age at childbirth in South Korea has risen steadily over the last decades.