Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands) in South Korea
South Korea: Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands) was 5,372 thousands in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
5,372 thousands
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
67th
of 233 countries
All-time high
13,955 thousands
in 1974
All-time low
5,372 thousands
in 2025
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 14 years or younger in South Korea, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, population aged 14 years or younger in South Korea stood at 5,372 thousands. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 14 years or younger in South Korea peaked at 13,955 thousands in 1974 and was at its lowest, 5,372 thousands, in 2025.
South Korea ranks 67th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 56 years of available data.
Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 13,673 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 13,757 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 13,864 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 13,950 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 13,955 thousands | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 13,909 thousands | -0.3% |
| 1976 | 13,735 thousands | -1.2% |
| 1977 | 13,536 thousands | -1.5% |
| 1978 | 13,350 thousands | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 13,165 thousands | -1.4% |
| 1980 | 13,048 thousands | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 12,911 thousands | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 12,886 thousands | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 12,861 thousands | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 12,760 thousands | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 12,554 thousands | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 12,294 thousands | -2.1% |
| 1987 | 12,053 thousands | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 11,830 thousands | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 11,638 thousands | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 11,467 thousands | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 11,303 thousands | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 11,102 thousands | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 10,935 thousands | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 10,794 thousands | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 10,610 thousands | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 10,383 thousands | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 10,190 thousands | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 10,026 thousands | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 9,906 thousands | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 9,825 thousands | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 9,798 thousands | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 9,733 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 9,632 thousands | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 9,497 thousands | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 9,323 thousands | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 9,095 thousands | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 8,856 thousands | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 8,596 thousands | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 8,344 thousands | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 8,105 thousands | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 7,881 thousands | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 7,636 thousands | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 7,430 thousands | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 7,252 thousands | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 7,101 thousands | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 6,934 thousands | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 6,768 thousands | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 6,635 thousands | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 6,495 thousands | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 6,354 thousands | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 6,211 thousands | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 6,026 thousands | -3.0% |
| 2023 | 5,796 thousands | -3.8% |
| 2024 | 5,559 thousands | -4.1% |
| 2025 | 5,372 thousands | -3.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 5,372 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 416.88 thousands, 12.9× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 5,372 thousands is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 470.44 thousands, 11.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13,689 thousands | 13,165 thousands | 13,955 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 12,484 thousands | 11,638 thousands | 13,048 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 10,672 thousands | 9,906 thousands | 11,467 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 9,270 thousands | 8,344 thousands | 9,825 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,224 thousands | 6,495 thousands | 8,105 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,886 thousands | 5,372 thousands | 6,354 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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)
- World population growth -1.4% (2100)
- Population density 223.86 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 599,530 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.4% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate -0.0908 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 14 years or younger in South Korea?
- Population aged 14 years or younger in South Korea was 5,372 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 14 years or younger recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 13,955 thousands in 1974.
- What is the lowest population aged 14 years or younger recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,372 thousands in 2025.
- How does South Korea rank for population aged 14 years or younger?
- South Korea ranks 67th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 14 years or younger rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release