Age dependency ratio of working age population in South Korea
South Korea: Age dependency ratio of working age population was 41.43 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
41.43
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
214th
of 236 countries
All-time high
87.71
in 1966
All-time low
36.45
in 2016
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Age dependency ratio of working age population in South Korea, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, age dependency ratio of working age population in South Korea stood at 41.43.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency ratio of working age population in South Korea peaked at 87.71 in 1966 and was at its lowest, 36.45, in 2016.
South Korea ranks 214th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Age dependency ratio of working age population in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 83.8 | — |
| 1951 | 83.48 | -0.4% |
| 1952 | 82.27 | -1.4% |
| 1953 | 80.53 | -2.1% |
| 1954 | 79.03 | -1.9% |
| 1955 | 78 | -1.3% |
| 1956 | 77.36 | -0.8% |
| 1957 | 77.1 | -0.3% |
| 1958 | 77.5 | +0.5% |
| 1959 | 78.61 | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 79.98 | +1.7% |
| 1961 | 81.56 | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 83.38 | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 85.13 | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 86.49 | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 87.33 | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 87.71 | +0.4% |
| 1967 | 87.35 | -0.4% |
| 1968 | 86.49 | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 85.29 | -1.4% |
| 1970 | 83.5 | -2.1% |
| 1971 | 81.72 | -2.1% |
| 1972 | 80.06 | -2.0% |
| 1973 | 78.02 | -2.5% |
| 1974 | 75.61 | -3.1% |
| 1975 | 72.82 | -3.7% |
| 1976 | 69.85 | -4.1% |
| 1977 | 67.14 | -3.9% |
| 1978 | 64.71 | -3.6% |
| 1979 | 62.68 | -3.1% |
| 1980 | 60.92 | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 59.36 | -2.6% |
| 1982 | 58.03 | -2.2% |
| 1983 | 56.52 | -2.6% |
| 1984 | 54.62 | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 52.53 | -3.8% |
| 1986 | 50.49 | -3.9% |
| 1987 | 48.61 | -3.7% |
| 1988 | 46.97 | -3.4% |
| 1989 | 45.56 | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 44.32 | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 43.34 | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 42.59 | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 41.98 | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 41.39 | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 40.65 | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 39.87 | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 39.3 | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 38.94 | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 38.84 | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 39.02 | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 39.28 | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 39.44 | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 39.52 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 39.52 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 39.36 | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 39.11 | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 38.82 | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 38.43 | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 38.03 | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 37.7 | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 37.25 | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 36.77 | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 36.52 | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 36.46 | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 36.45 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 36.45 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 36.77 | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 37.28 | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 37.87 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 38.75 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 39.76 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 40.62 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 41.43 | +2.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 41.43 is below the median for high income countries, which is 52.7, 79% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 41.43 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 54, 77% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 79.77 | 77.1 | 83.8 | 10 |
| 1960s | 85.07 | 79.98 | 87.71 | 10 |
| 1970s | 73.61 | 62.68 | 83.5 | 10 |
| 1980s | 53.36 | 45.56 | 60.92 | 10 |
| 1990s | 41.12 | 38.84 | 44.32 | 10 |
| 2000s | 39.05 | 38.03 | 39.52 | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.95 | 36.45 | 37.87 | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.14 | 38.75 | 41.43 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 211 Antigua and Barbuda 41.75 compare
- 212 Palau 41.68 compare
- 213 Anguilla 41.49 compare
- 215 Saint Kitts and Nevis 40.92 compare
- 216 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 40.89 compare
- 217 Seychelles 39.8 compare
More population data for South Korea
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.17 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.17 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3601 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1.45 (2100)
- Population density 223.86 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 599,530 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -1.45 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.007 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency ratio of working age population in South Korea?
- Age dependency ratio of working age population in South Korea was 41.43 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest age dependency ratio of working age population recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 87.71 in 1966.
- What is the lowest age dependency ratio of working age population recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.45 in 2016.
- How does South Korea rank for age dependency ratio of working age population?
- South Korea ranks 214th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is age dependency ratio of working age population rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Age dependency ratio of working age population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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