Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate in South Korea
South Korea: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate was 5.2 % change on previous year in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate in South Korea, 1971–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 5.2 % change on previous year for population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate in 2025.
The figure is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate in South Korea peaked at 5.62 % change on previous year in 2002 and was at its lowest, 2.31 % change on previous year, in 1979.
That places South Korea 34th out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 3.86 % change on previous year | — |
| 1972 | 4.27 % change on previous year | +10.8% |
| 1973 | 3.49 % change on previous year | -18.4% |
| 1974 | 3.41 % change on previous year | -2.2% |
| 1975 | 2.92 % change on previous year | -14.4% |
| 1976 | 2.35 % change on previous year | -19.6% |
| 1977 | 2.47 % change on previous year | +5.2% |
| 1978 | 2.41 % change on previous year | -2.3% |
| 1979 | 2.31 % change on previous year | -4.1% |
| 1980 | 2.49 % change on previous year | +7.5% |
| 1981 | 2.64 % change on previous year | +6.3% |
| 1982 | 4.58 % change on previous year | +73.2% |
| 1983 | 4.06 % change on previous year | -11.3% |
| 1984 | 3.1 % change on previous year | -23.7% |
| 1985 | 3.04 % change on previous year | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 4.37 % change on previous year | +43.9% |
| 1987 | 4.43 % change on previous year | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 4.2 % change on previous year | -5.1% |
| 1989 | 4.49 % change on previous year | +7.0% |
| 1990 | 4.23 % change on previous year | -5.9% |
| 1991 | 3.71 % change on previous year | -12.3% |
| 1992 | 3.81 % change on previous year | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 3.72 % change on previous year | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 4.03 % change on previous year | +8.1% |
| 1995 | 4.39 % change on previous year | +9.1% |
| 1996 | 3.99 % change on previous year | -9.2% |
| 1997 | 4.35 % change on previous year | +9.1% |
| 1998 | 5.07 % change on previous year | +16.5% |
| 1999 | 4.65 % change on previous year | -8.2% |
| 2000 | 5.44 % change on previous year | +16.8% |
| 2001 | 5.61 % change on previous year | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 5.62 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 5.5 % change on previous year | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 5.32 % change on previous year | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 5.24 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 4.74 % change on previous year | -9.4% |
| 2007 | 5.26 % change on previous year | +10.9% |
| 2008 | 4.77 % change on previous year | -9.3% |
| 2009 | 3.95 % change on previous year | -17.1% |
| 2010 | 3.98 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 4.1 % change on previous year | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 3.95 % change on previous year | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 4.25 % change on previous year | +7.5% |
| 2014 | 4.44 % change on previous year | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 4.57 % change on previous year | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 4.12 % change on previous year | -9.9% |
| 2017 | 3.47 % change on previous year | -15.6% |
| 2018 | 4.91 % change on previous year | +41.3% |
| 2019 | 4.11 % change on previous year | -16.3% |
| 2020 | 4.82 % change on previous year | +17.3% |
| 2021 | 5.6 % change on previous year | +16.3% |
| 2022 | 4.96 % change on previous year | -11.5% |
| 2023 | 4.68 % change on previous year | -5.5% |
| 2024 | 4.9 % change on previous year | +4.6% |
| 2025 | 5.2 % change on previous year | +6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.05 % change on previous year | 2.31 % change on previous year | 4.27 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1980s | 3.74 % change on previous year | 2.49 % change on previous year | 4.58 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.2 % change on previous year | 3.71 % change on previous year | 5.07 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.14 % change on previous year | 3.95 % change on previous year | 5.62 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.19 % change on previous year | 3.47 % change on previous year | 4.91 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.03 % change on previous year | 4.68 % change on previous year | 5.6 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 31 Antigua and Barbuda 5.27 % change on previous year compare
- 32 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 5.23 % change on previous year compare
- 33 Jordan 5.2 % change on previous year compare
- 35 Philippines 5.19 % change on previous year compare
- 36 Western Sahara 5.18 % change on previous year compare
- 37 Iran 5.16 % change on previous year 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)
- Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), per unit of GDP 0 thousands per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate in South Korea?
- Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate in South Korea was 5.2 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.62 % change on previous year in 2002.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.31 % change on previous year in 1979.
- How does South Korea rank for population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate?
- South Korea ranks 34th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Population aged 65 years or older UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.