Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in South Korea
South Korea: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) was 10,220 thousands in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
10,220 thousands
Change on year
up 5.2%
World rank
17th
of 233 countries
All-time high
10,220 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
1,072 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 65 years or older in South Korea, 1970–2025
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 233 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1,072 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 1,114 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1972 | 1,161 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 1,202 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 1,243 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1975 | 1,279 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 1,309 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 1,342 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 1,374 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 1,406 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1980 | 1,441 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 1,479 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 1,546 thousands | +4.6% |
| 1983 | 1,609 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 1,659 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 1,709 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 1,784 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1987 | 1,863 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 1,941 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 2,029 thousands | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 2,114 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 2,193 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 2,276 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 2,361 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 2,456 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 2,564 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 2,666 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 2,782 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 2,923 thousands | +5.1% |
| 1999 | 3,059 thousands | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 3,226 thousands | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 3,407 thousands | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 3,598 thousands | +5.6% |
| 2003 | 3,796 thousands | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 3,998 thousands | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 4,207 thousands | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 4,407 thousands | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 4,638 thousands | +5.3% |
| 2008 | 4,860 thousands | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 5,052 thousands | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 5,253 thousands | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 5,468 thousands | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 5,684 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 5,926 thousands | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 6,189 thousands | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 6,472 thousands | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 6,738 thousands | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 6,972 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 7,314 thousands | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 7,615 thousands | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 7,982 thousands | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 8,429 thousands | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 8,847 thousands | +5.0% |
| 2023 | 9,261 thousands | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 9,715 thousands | +4.9% |
| 2025 | 10,220 thousands | +5.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 10,220 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 291.46 thousands, 35.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 10,220 thousands is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 105.87 thousands, 96.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
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 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 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 233 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 · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release