Age dependency breakdown in South Korea
South Korea: Age dependency breakdown was 25.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
25.9%
Change on year
up 5.5%
World rank
59th
of 236 countries
All-time high
25.9%
in 2023
All-time low
5.0%
in 1951
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Age dependency breakdown in South Korea, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 25.9% for age dependency breakdown in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.5% on the previous year and up 57.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency breakdown in South Korea peaked at 25.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 1951.
That places South Korea 59th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Age dependency breakdown in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5.0% | — |
| 1951 | 5.0% | -1.2% |
| 1952 | 5.0% | +0.3% |
| 1953 | 5.0% | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 5.1% | +1.5% |
| 1955 | 5.2% | +1.6% |
| 1956 | 5.3% | +1.6% |
| 1957 | 5.4% | +1.5% |
| 1958 | 5.4% | +1.5% |
| 1959 | 5.5% | +1.6% |
| 1960 | 5.6% | +1.8% |
| 1961 | 5.8% | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 5.9% | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 6.0% | +2.0% |
| 1964 | 6.1% | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 6.1% | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 6.1% | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 6.2% | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 6.2% | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 6.2% | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 6.2% | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 6.2% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 6.3% | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 6.3% | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 6.3% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 6.2% | -0.7% |
| 1976 | 6.2% | -0.7% |
| 1977 | 6.2% | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 6.1% | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 6.1% | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 6.2% | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 6.2% | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 6.3% | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 6.4% | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 6.4% | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 6.5% | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 6.6% | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 6.7% | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 6.8% | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 6.9% | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 7.0% | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 7.2% | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 7.4% | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 7.6% | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 7.9% | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 8.1% | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 8.3% | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 8.6% | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 9.0% | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 9.4% | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 9.9% | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 10.4% | +5.2% |
| 2002 | 10.9% | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 11.4% | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 12.0% | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 12.5% | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 13.1% | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 13.7% | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 14.2% | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 14.6% | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 15.1% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 15.6% | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 16.0% | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 16.5% | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 17.1% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 17.7% | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 18.2% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 19.0% | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 19.8% | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 20.8% | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 21.9% | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 23.3% | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 24.6% | +5.6% |
| 2023 | 25.9% | +5.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 25.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 25.9% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 10.6%, 2.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5.2% | 5.0% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.0% | 5.6% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.2% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.5% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.1% | 7.0% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.3% | 9.9% | 14.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.6% | 15.1% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.9% | 21.9% | 25.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More reference data data for South Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency breakdown in South Korea?
- Age dependency breakdown in South Korea was 25.9% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest age dependency breakdown recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 25.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest age dependency breakdown recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 1951.
- How does South Korea rank for age dependency breakdown?
- South Korea ranks 59th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is age dependency breakdown rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.0%. 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 Age dependency breakdown. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).