Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in South Korea
South Korea: Number of children, working-age adults, and older people was 9.48 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
9.48 million people
Change on year
up 4.8%
World rank
17th
of 236 countries
All-time high
9.48 million people
in 2023
All-time low
539,268 people
in 1951
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in South Korea, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of children, working-age adults, and older people in South Korea is 9.48 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.8% on the previous year and up 56.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of children, working-age adults, and older people in South Korea peaked at 9.48 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 539,268 people, in 1951.
South Korea ranks 17th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in South Korea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 541,805 people | — |
| 1951 | 539,268 people | -0.5% |
| 1952 | 554,288 people | +2.8% |
| 1953 | 581,052 people | +4.8% |
| 1954 | 612,772 people | +5.5% |
| 1955 | 647,010 people | +5.6% |
| 1956 | 682,005 people | +5.4% |
| 1957 | 716,959 people | +5.1% |
| 1958 | 750,755 people | +4.7% |
| 1959 | 783,877 people | +4.4% |
| 1960 | 817,265 people | +4.3% |
| 1961 | 850,729 people | +4.1% |
| 1962 | 884,297 people | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 914,484 people | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 937,460 people | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 957,797 people | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 977,120 people | +2.0% |
| 1967 | 1.00 million people | +2.7% |
| 1968 | 1.03 million people | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 1.06 million people | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 1.09 million people | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 1.14 million people | +4.1% |
| 1972 | 1.18 million people | +3.9% |
| 1973 | 1.22 million people | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 1.26 million people | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 1.29 million people | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 1.33 million people | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 1.36 million people | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 1.39 million people | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 1.42 million people | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 1.46 million people | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 1.51 million people | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 1.58 million people | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 1.63 million people | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 1.68 million people | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 1.75 million people | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 1.82 million people | +4.4% |
| 1987 | 1.90 million people | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 1.98 million people | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 2.07 million people | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 2.15 million people | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 2.23 million people | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 2.32 million people | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 2.41 million people | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 2.51 million people | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 2.61 million people | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 2.72 million people | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 2.85 million people | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 2.99 million people | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 3.14 million people | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 3.32 million people | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 3.50 million people | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 3.70 million people | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 3.90 million people | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 4.10 million people | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 4.31 million people | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 4.52 million people | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 4.75 million people | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 4.95 million people | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 5.15 million people | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 5.36 million people | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 5.57 million people | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 5.80 million people | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 6.05 million people | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 6.33 million people | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 6.60 million people | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 6.85 million people | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 7.14 million people | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 7.46 million people | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 7.79 million people | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 8.20 million people | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 8.63 million people | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 9.05 million people | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 9.48 million people | +4.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 9.48 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 285,676 people, 33.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 9.48 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96,191 people, 98.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 640,979 people | 539,268 people | 783,877 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 943,348 people | 817,265 people | 1.06 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.27 million people | 1.09 million people | 1.42 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.74 million people | 1.46 million people | 2.07 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.59 million people | 2.15 million people | 3.14 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.22 million people | 3.32 million people | 5.15 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.50 million people | 5.36 million people | 7.79 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.84 million people | 8.20 million people | 9.48 million people | 4 |
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 number of children, working-age adults, and older people in South Korea?
- Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in South Korea was 9.48 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 9.48 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 539,268 people in 1951.
- How does South Korea rank for number of children, working-age adults, and older people?
- South Korea ranks 17th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of children, working-age adults, and older people rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of children, working-age adults, and older people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown. This only includes people aged 65+.