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.

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.

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.

Korea Population: Male: Ages 15-19: % of Male Population data was reported at 5.961 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.264 % for 2016. Korea Population: Male: Ages 15-19: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 9.890 % from Dec 1960 to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.383 % in 1976 and a record low of 5.961 % in 2017. Korea Population: Male: Ages 15-19: % 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 15 to 19 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.; ;

Actual value and historical data chart for South Korea Population Ages 65 And Above Percent Of Total

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Working-Age Population Total: From 15 to 64 Years for Korea (LFWA64TTKRM647N) from Jun 1999 to Sep 2025 about working-age, 15 to 64 years, Korea, and 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.

Population ages 25-29, male (% of male population) in South Korea was reported at 7.2499 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Population ages 25-29, male (% of male population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

South Korea: Population ages 65 and above, percent of total: The latest value from 2024 is 19.27 percent, an increase from 18.34 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 10.43 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1960 to 2024 is 7.26 percent. The minimum value, 3.13 percent, was reached in 1960 while the maximum of 19.27 percent was recorded in 2024.

Actual value and historical data chart for South Korea Population Ages 45 49 Male Percent Of Male 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

Graph and download economic data for Population Ages 0 to 14 for the Republic of Korea (SPPOP0014TOZSKOR) from 1960 to 2024 about 0 to 14 years, Korea, and population.

Korea Population: Female: Ages 40-44: % of Female Population data was reported at 7.823 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.062 % for 2016. Korea Population: Female: Ages 40-44: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 5.542 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.738 % in 2002 and a record low of 4.499 % in 1960. Korea Population: Female: Ages 40-44: % 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 40 to 44 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.; ;

Graph and download economic data for Population Ages 15 to 64 for the Republic of Korea (SPPOP1564TOZSKOR) from 1960 to 2024 about 15 to 64 years, Korea, and population.

Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) in South Korea was reported at 27.47 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

South Korea: Dependent people as percent of the working age population: The latest value from 2024 is 42.53 percent, an increase from 41.45 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 58.13 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1960 to 2024 is 53.77 percent. The minimum value, 36.46 percent, was reached in 2015 while the maximum of 87.71 percent was recorded in 1966.

South Korea: Population ages 0-14, percent of total: The latest value from 2024 is 10.57 percent, a decline from 10.97 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 25.79 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 1960 to 2024 is 26.83 percent. The minimum value, 10.57 percent, was reached in 2024 while the maximum of 43.45 percent was recorded in 1966.

Population ages 15-19, female (% of female population) in South Korea was reported at 4.3031 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Population ages 15-19, female (% of female population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

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 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.