In 2023, the number of deaths in South Korea stood at 352,700, down from 372,939 in the previous year. The number of deaths in South Korea has increased in the last few decades.

According to estimates, the mortality rate in South Korea was expected to decrease to 6.9 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023, from 7.3 deaths per 1,000 people in the previous year. The mortality rate in 2022 was the highest recorded in the last 40 years.

In 2023, the number of deaths caused by malignant neoplasms in South Korea amounted to around 166.7 per 100 thousand inhabitants. The number of deaths caused by malignant neoplasms, heart disease, and Pneumonia accounted for around 41.9 percent of total deaths.

Forecast: Number of Maternal Deaths in South Korea 2023 - 2027 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

In 2023, the most common cause of death in South Korea was neoplasms, resulting in 87,112 deaths. This was followed by diseases of the circulatory system with about 67,554 deaths.

South Korea recorded 34610 Coronavirus Deaths since the epidemic began, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, South Korea reported 31415280 Coronavirus Cases. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for South Korea Coronavirus Deaths.

Forecast: Total Maternal Mortality Ratio in South Korea 2023 - 2027 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

As of August 28, 2023, around 59.8 percent of the patients who died from novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in South Korea were aged 80 years or older. This was despite older people making up only a small percentage of all COVID-19 cases in South Korea. A fourth wave fueled by the delta and omicron variants led to a record rate of new daily cases in 2022, which once again began to decline in 2023.

For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.

In 2023, about 35 thousand women in South Korea died from diseases of the circulatory system that year, while around 33.9 thousand South Korean women died from neoplasms. The number of deaths for most diseases decreased from the previous year. Overall, that year around 163.6 thousand deaths of women were recorded in South Korea, markedly down from around 176.5 thousand in the previous year.

Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births. The data are estimated with a regression model using information on the proportion of maternal deaths among non-AIDS deaths in women ages 15-49, fertility, birth attendants, and GDP.

Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions (% of total) in North Korea was reported at 12.79 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

WHO: COVID-2019: Number of Patients: Death: New: South Korea data was reported at 0.000 Person in 24 Dec 2023. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 Person for 23 Dec 2023. WHO: COVID-2019: Number of Patients: Death: New: South Korea data is updated daily, averaging 5.000 Person from Jan 2020 (Median) to 24 Dec 2023, with 1436 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,026.000 Person in 01 Feb 2023 and a record low of -7.000 Person in 04 Apr 2023. WHO: COVID-2019: Number of Patients: Death: New: South Korea data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Health Organization. The data is categorized under High Frequency Database’s Disease Outbreaks – Table WHO.D002: World Health Organization: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-2019): by Country and Region (Discontinued). Prior to 03 Feb 2020, data were generated.

In 2023, there were 64 fatalities in accidents caused by bikers. November recorded the highest number of deaths, accounting for approximately 12.5 percent of the total, with 8 cases. Overall, the lethality rate was around 1.2percent.

UNICEF's country profile for Republic of Korea, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

As of July 3, 2023, South Korea has confirmed a total of 32,256,154 cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) within the country, including 35,071 deaths. South Korea's handling of the coronavirus (COVID-19) was initially widely praised, though the government's handling of vaccine distribution has been criticized. After the first wave lasted till April, Seoul and the metropolitan areas were hit hard by a few group infections during the second wave in August 2020. This was followed by a fourth wave, driven by the delta variant and low vaccination rates, leading to rising figures. Though the country has since achieved high vaccination rates, the omicron variant led to record new daily cases in 2022.

For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.

Suicide mortality rate is the number of suicide deaths in a year per 100,000 population. Crude suicide rate (not age-adjusted).

Intentional homicides are estimates of unlawful homicides purposely inflicted as a result of domestic disputes, interpersonal violence, violent conflicts over land resources, intergang violence over turf or control, and predatory violence and killing by armed groups. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded.

In 2023, the province in South Korea with the most male suicide death cases was South Chungcheong province with a number of around 50 deaths per 100,000 population. The highest number of female suicide deaths were also recorded in South Chungcheong with 22.2 deaths, respectively. In general, male suicide death rates by province were about or at least twice as high as female suicide death rates.

As of August 31, 2023, Gyeonggi (Gyeonggi Province) registered 8,643 confirmed cases of deaths caused by coronavirus (COVID-19), making it the region with the most such deaths in South Korea. This was followed by the capital city Seoul and the port city Busan. Sejong had the least registered deaths, and was the only region with less than 100 deaths.

For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.

South Korea Non Life Insurance: Direct Premium Written: Casualty: Korea Re data was reported at 0.000 KRW mn in Mar 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3,099.000 KRW mn for Dec 2022. South Korea Non Life Insurance: Direct Premium Written: Casualty: Korea Re data is updated quarterly, averaging 1,563.000 KRW mn from Mar 2017 (Median) to Mar 2023, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,226.000 KRW mn in Dec 2019 and a record low of 0.000 KRW mn in Mar 2023. South Korea Non Life Insurance: Direct Premium Written: Casualty: Korea Re data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Insurance Association of Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.RG036: Non Life Insurance: Direct Premium Written: Casualty.