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.

North Korea KP: Mortality Rate: Infant: Male: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 15.700 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 17.400 Ratio for 2015. North Korea KP: Mortality Rate: Infant: Male: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 25.000 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 48.000 Ratio in 2000 and a record low of 15.700 Ratio in 2017. North Korea KP: Mortality Rate: Infant: Male: per 1000 Live Births 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. Infant mortality rate, male is the number of male infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 male live births in a given year.; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

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.

In 2023, the average life expectancy at birth for men and women in South Korea was estimated to stand at 81.2 years and 87.2 years, respectively. Life expectancy at birth was particular low for men at the start of the 1950s due to the Korean War (1950-1953), and lagged 10 to 15 years behind women for decades. While women still have a longer life expectancy, the gap has been increasingly getting smaller, down to a difference of around six years in the 2020s. By the year 2100, it is estimated that life expectancy at birth for Korean women will have risen to 96 years, while their male counterparts are expected to reach 90.2 years old.

In 2023, the average life expectancy of women at birth in South Korea was **** years. The life expectancy of women in South Korea has steadily increased over the past decades. Rising life expectancy In South Korea, women had a significantly higher life expectancy at birth than men, with a difference of around six years. Over the past few decades, the overall life expectancy for both genders has increased, reaching nearly 83 years. This places South Korea's life expectancy significantly higher in international comparisons. Aging population South Korea's population is experiencing significant demographic changes. Life expectancy is increasing due to improved healthcare and living standards, while the fertility rate has dropped to a historically low level. This demographic shift is expected to persist in the coming years. In December 2024, South Korea became a "super-aged society," with over ** percent of the population being 65 years or older. If this trend persists, the country's total population is estimated to decrease to around ********** of the current population. Despite efforts to address the declining birth rate, South Korea has not been successful in reversing this trend.

In 1890, the average person born in the area of present-day North Korea could expect to live to 26 years old, a rate which would see only marginal change until the annexation of the Korean peninsula by the Empire of Japan in 1910. As Japanese large scale industrialization and modernization reforms would begin in the peninsula (building on the Gwangmu reforms of the previous administration), life expectancy would begin to increase rapidly as standards of living rose across the region. As a result, life expectancy would rise by twenty years between 1920 and 1940, however this growth would slow during the 1940s, as Korea lost approximately half a million people (or 2% of its population) during the Second World War. Following the war, the peninsula was split into two separate states, with the north and south each administered by the Soviet Union and the U.S. respectively (although both militaries had largely left the peninsula within a few years). In 1950, as tensions grew between the two governments regarding the legitimate rulers of the peninsula, North Korea invaded the South and set in motion the Korean War. The war would last for three years, and result in the deaths of approximately three million Koreans (with the North suffering heavier losses than the South); this caused the life expectancy in North Korea to plummet from over 49 years to less than 38 years in the first half of the 1950s.

Life expectancy in North Korea would quickly recover in the post-war years, as the Soviet Union would provide significant economic aid to the country. As a result, life expectancy would return to pre-war levels by the end of the decade and resume its steady rise until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. After peaking at 70 years in the early 1990s, it is estimated that life expectancy fell by nearly seven years in the early 1990s as the country would face extreme medical and food shortages following the end of Soviet aid. U.S. estimates put the death toll of these famines at more than half a million people in the 1990s. In the past two decades, life expectancy has slowly increased once more in North Korea, returning to pre-famine levels once more in 2015, and it is now estimated that the life expectancy from birth in North Korea in 2020 is approximately 72 years old.

In 2022, the average age at the time of death among women with disabilities in South Korea stood at **** years. The difference in life expectancy between men and women was similar among the general population.

In 2024, the share of the population in Taiwan aged 65 and older accounted for approximately 19.2 percent of the total population. While the share of old people on the island increased gradually over recent years, the percentage of the working-age population and the children have both declined. Taiwan’s aging population With one of the lowest fertility rates in the world and a steadily growing life expectancy, the average age of Taiwan’s population is increasing quickly, and the share of people aged 65 and above is expected to reach around 38.4 percent of the total population in 2050. This development is also reflected in Taiwan’s population pyramid, which shows that the size of the youngest age group is only half of the size of age groups between 40 and 60 years. The rapid aging of the populations puts a heavy burden on the social insurance system. Old-age dependency is expected to reach more than 70 percent by 2050, meaning that by then three people of working age will have to support two elders, compared to only one elder supported by four working people today. Aging societies in East Asia Today, many countries in East Asia have very low fertility rates and face the challenges of aging societies. This is especially true among those countries that experienced high economic growth in the past, which often resulted in quickly receding birth rates. Japan was one of the first East Asian countries witnessing this demographic change, as is reflected in its high median age. South Korea had the lowest fertility rate of all Asian countries in recent years, and with China, one of the largest populations on earth joined the ranks of quickly aging societies.

Key YouTube Statistics (Editor’s Choice) YouTube recorded 70 billion monthly active users in March 2023, which includes 55.10% of worldwide active social media users. There have been more than 14 million daily active users currently on YouTube, in the United States of America this platform is accessed by 62% of users. YouTube is touted as the second largest search engine and the second most visited website after Google. Revenue earned by YouTube in the first two quarters of 2023 is around $14.358 billion. In 2023, YouTube Premium and YouTube Music have recorded 80 million subscribers collectively worldwide. YouTube consumers view more than a billion hours of video per day. YouTube has more than 38 million active channels. In the fourth quarter of 2021, YouTube ad revenue has been $8.6 billion. Around 3 million paid subscribers to access YouTube TV. YouTube Premium has around 1 billion paid users. In 2023, YouTube was banned in countries such as China excluding Macau and Hong Kong, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Turkmenistan, and South Sudan. With 166 million downloads, the YouTube app has become the second most downloaded entertainment application across the world after Netflix. With 91 million downloads, YouTube Kids has become the sixth most downloaded entertainment app in the world. Nearly 90% of digital consumers access YouTube in the US, making it the most popular social network for watching video content. Over 70% of YouTube viewership takes place on its mobile application. More than 70% of YouTube video content watched by people is suggested by its algorithm. The average duration of a video on YouTube is 12 minutes. An average YouTube user spends 20 minutes and 23 seconds on the platform daily. Around 28% of YouTube videos that are published by popular channels are in the English language. 77% of YouTube users watch comedy content on the platform. With 247 million subscribers, T-Series has become the most subscribed channel on YouTube. Around 50 million users log on to YouTube every day. YouTube's biggest concurrent views record has been at 2.3 billion from when SpaceX has gone live on the platform to unveil Falcon Heavy Rocket. The majority of YouTube users are in the age group of 15 to 35 years in the US. The male-female ratio of YouTube users is 11:9. Apple INC. has been touted as the biggest advertiser on YouTube in 2020 spending $237.15 million. YouTube produced total revenue of $19.7 billion in 2020. As of 2021, the majority of YouTube users (467 million) are from India. It is the most popular platform in the United States with 74 percent of adult users. YouTube contributes to nearly 25% of mobile traffic worldwide. Daily live streaming on YouTube has increased by 45% in total in 2020. In India, around 225 million people are active on the platform each hour as per the 2021 statistics. YouTube Usage and Viewership Statistics #1. YouTube accounts for more than 2 billion monthly active users Around 2.7 billion users log on to YouTube each month. The number of monthly active users of YouTube is expected to grow even further. #2. Around 14.3 billion people visit the platform every month The number of YouTube visitors is far higher compared to Facebook, Amazon, and Instagram. #3. YouTube is accessible across 100 countries in 80 languages. The platform is widely available across different communities and nations. #4. 53.9% of YouTube users are men and 46.1% of women use the platform As of 2023 statistics, 53.9% of men use the platform and 46.1% of women over 18 years are on YouTube. The share in the number of males and females is 1.38 billion and 1.18 billion respectively. Age Group Male Female 18 to 24 8.5% 6% 25 to 34 11.6% 8.6% 35 to 44 9% 7.5% 45 to 54 6.2% 5.7% 55 to 64 4.4% 4.5% Above 65 4.3% 5.4% #5. 99% of YouTube users are active on other social media networks as well. Fewer than 1% of YouTube users are solely dependent on the platform. #6. Users spend around 20 minutes and 23 seconds per day on YouTube on average It is quite a generous amount of time spent on any social network platform. #7. YouTube is the second most visited site worldwide With more than 14 billion visits per month, YouTube has become the second most visited site in the world. However, its parent company Google is the most visited site across the globe. As per the statistics, YouTube is the third most popular searched word on Google. #8. 694000 hours of video content are streamed on YouTube per minute YouTube has outweighed Netflix as well in terms of streaming video content. #9. Over 81% of total internet users have accessed YouTube #10. Nearly 450 million hours of video content are uploaded on YouTube each hour More than 5 billion videos are watched on YouTube per day. #11. India has the maximum numb

North Korea KP: Literacy Rate: Youth: % of People Age 15-24 data was reported at 100.000 % in 2008. North Korea KP: Literacy Rate: Youth: % of People Age 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 100.000 % from Dec 2008 (Median) to 2008, with 1 observations. North Korea KP: Literacy Rate: Youth: % of People Age 15-24 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: Education Statistics. Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

According to a survey conducted in 2016, the average age for unmarried South Korean women aged between 27 and 29 years to lose their virginity was **** years in 2016. Around ** percent of these respondents reported having sexual intercourse in the last year.

Young and single

South Korean singles in their *** do not want to get married for various reasons, the leading one being wanting to focus more on themselves. The proportion of youth who believe it is possible to live together before marriage has increased over the past years, supporting the trend of South Koreans moving away from traditional social values and roles. Women in particular have rejected the idea of marriage, largely due to gendered family roles which places an expectation on them to do a greater share of the housework and be largely responsible for childcare.

Another aspect that is potentially preventing young South Koreans from getting married is the high cost of weddings. Many see weddings as an unnecessary financial burden. Combined with less social pressure to marry, they are happy to remain unwed. Only half of South Korea’s single population in their *** are planning on getting married in the future.

This statistic shows the top ten countries worldwide with longest average female life expectancy at birth in 2010 and 2030. South Korea had the longest average life expectancy for females in 2030 at ***** years.

As of February 2025, 5.56 billion individuals worldwide were internet users, which amounted to 67.9 percent of the global population. Of this total, 5.24 billion, or 63.9 percent of the world's population, were social media users. Global internet usage Connecting billions of people worldwide, the internet is a core pillar of the modern information society. Northern Europe ranked first among worldwide regions by the share of the population using the internet in 20254. In The Netherlands, Norway and Saudi Arabia, 99 percent of the population used the internet as of February 2025. North Korea was at the opposite end of the spectrum, with virtually no internet usage penetration among the general population, ranking last worldwide. Eastern Asia was home to the largest number of online users worldwide – over 1.34 billion at the latest count. Southern Asia ranked second, with around 1.2 billion internet users. China, India, and the United States rank ahead of other countries worldwide by the number of internet users. Worldwide internet user demographics As of 2024, the share of female internet users worldwide was 65 percent, five percent less than that of men. Gender disparity in internet usage was bigger in African countries, with around a ten percent difference. Worldwide regions, like the Commonwealth of Independent States and Europe, showed a smaller usage gap between these two genders. As of 2024, global internet usage was higher among individuals between 15 and 24 years old across all regions, with young people in Europe representing the most significant usage penetration, 98 percent. In comparison, the worldwide average for the age group 15–24 years was 79 percent. The income level of the countries was also an essential factor for internet access, as 93 percent of the population of the countries with high income reportedly used the internet, as opposed to only 27 percent of the low-income markets.

In 2023, the average height of South Korean women in their thirties was ****** centimeters, with women in their twenties having a similar average height. On average, South Korean women were ****** centimeters tall, and older women tended to be shorter. Average height increases slowly The average height of women in South Korea has seen a noticeable increase over the past decade. In 2013, women in their twenties were 161.61 centimeters on average. The average height grew by around **** centimeters in the past ten years. The change could be attributed to improvements in overall nutrition, healthcare, and living conditions in the country. The South Korean beauty standard In a survey, South Korean women were asked about their preferred height range, and their answers fell between *** to *** centimeters. Women not only have a preferred height for themselves but also for their future spouses. Single women’s ideal height for their potential husbands was at around ***** centimeters, while single men wished for their potential wives to be *** centimeters tall.

In 1900, the fertility rate in the region of present-day South Korea was six children per woman, meaning that the average woman born in South Korea in that year could expect to have six children over the course of their reproductive years. This number began to fluctuate in the 1930s, when the Japanese administration (the Korean peninsula had been annexed by Japan in 1910) promoted fertility as part of the war effort, before fertility dropped below 5.2 births per woman in the aftermath of the war. It then increased above 6.3 in the 1950s due to the devastation and mass-displacement caused by the Korean War. As stability returned to the region, South Korea's fertility rate would fall sharply throughout the remainder of the century, as modernization, urbanization, and the implementation of family planning programs would see fertility fall to just over 1.5 children per woman by 1990.

Sex-selective abortion and gender ratios Abortion was illegal in South Korea between 1953 and 2020, although it was permitted in some cases from 1973 onward. Despite this, these laws were rarely enforced, and sex-selective abortion became widespread following advancements in ultrasound technology. In many Asian societies, it was often preferred to have male children as they were viewed as being better long-term providers for their parents and they would carry on the family name. In South Korea in the early 1990s, the practice of sex-selective abortion became so widespread that the gender ratio at birth was 114 males for every 100 females (reportedly as high as 125 in some cities), compared to the historical and natural average of approximately 105 males per 100 females. The government then prohibited doctors from revealing the gender of unborn babies to the parents in 1987, and introduced more severe penalties in 1994, in an attempt to revert this trend. The gender imbalance then reduced in the following decades, and has been at 106 males per 100 females since the 2010s (roughly the natural average). Abortion rights in South Korea were expanded in 2021.

Lowest in the world? Despite government initiatives aimed at increasing fertility, including financial incentives, South Korea's fertility rate has continued to fall in recent years, and today is at around half of replacement level. In 2020, it is estimated that the average woman born in South Korea will have just over one child over the course of their reproductive years. Some critics cite economic factors, such as high education and housing costs, for the reason that young couples are postponing marriage and having families; today, South Korea has the lowest adolescent fertility rate, and the lowest overall fertility rate in the Asia Pacific region. Due to the current trajectory of South Korea's fertility rate, in January 2021, it was announced that the South Korean population experienced a natural decline for the first time in it's history.

Korea Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data was reported at 1.172 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.239 Ratio for 2015. Korea Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data is updated yearly, averaging 1.656 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.095 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 1.076 Ratio in 2005. Korea Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman 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. Total fertility rate represents the number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with age-specific fertility rates of the specified year.; ; (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; Relevance to gender indicator: it can indicate the status of women within households and a woman’s decision about the number and spacing of children.

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.

In 2023, the average age at the time of death among people with disabilities in South Korea stood at **** years. This was several years below the life expectancy at birth.

In Asia, the highest levels of life expectancy were found in East Asia, reaching 76 years for men and 82 years for women. The lowest levels were found in South Asia.

What is life expectancy

Life expectancy is, in the statistical sense, the number of years to be lived. It is the most common measure to describe population health. The life expectancy is an average and a person may die several years before or several years after their expected survival.

Economic circumstances also affect life expectancy. Life expectancy in the wealthiest countries is higher than in the poorest areas. With a life expectancy of 84 years, Japan, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and South Korea lead the ranking of the 20 countries with the highest life expectancy as of 2021. The countries with the lowest life expectancy in 2021 were Chad, Nigeria, and Lesotho.

Gender and life expectancy

The gender differences in life expectancy are significant. Women tend to live several years longer than men. The average life expectancy worldwide of those born in 2023 shows that women had an average life expectancy of 75 years at birth, while men were expected to live 70 years.

In 2023, the average life expectancy of men at birth in South Korea was about **** years. Women were expected to live **** years. The overall life expectancy at birth of South Koreans stood at **** years.