Population aged 65 years or older in South Korea
South Korea: Population aged 65 years or older was 10,220 thousands in 2025. β Volatile
Population aged 65 years or older in South Korea, 1970β2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, population aged 65 years or older in South Korea stood at 10,220 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.2% on the previous year and up 57.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older in South Korea peaked at 10,220 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1,072 thousands, in 1970.
South Korea ranks 17th of 230 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,250 thousands | 1,072 thousands | 1,406 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,706 thousands | 1,441 thousands | 2,029 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,540 thousands | 2,114 thousands | 3,059 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,119 thousands | 3,226 thousands | 5,052 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,363 thousands | 5,253 thousands | 7,615 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,076 thousands | 7,982 thousands | 10,220 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More population data for South Korea
- Population growth rate by level of development -1.45 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 599,530 (2100)
- Population density 223.86 (2100)
- Population growth rate -1.45 (2100)
- Fertility and wanted fertility 0.748 (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 4,241 (2024)
- Fertility vs unmet contraception 0.748 (2024)
- Fertility vs contraception 0.748 (2024)
- Natural population growth -0.2109 (2023)
- Fertility rate with projections 0.72 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 65 years or older in South Korea?
- Population aged 65 years or older in South Korea was 10,220 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 10,220 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,072 thousands in 1970.
- How does South Korea rank for population aged 65 years or older?
- South Korea ranks 17th out of 230 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release