Age dependency ratio old in South Korea
South Korea: Age dependency ratio old was 25.91 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
25.91
Change on year
up 5.5%
World rank
59th
of 236 countries
All-time high
25.91
in 2023
All-time low
4.98
in 1951
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Age dependency ratio old in South Korea, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, age dependency ratio old in South Korea stood at 25.91. 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 ratio old in South Korea peaked at 25.91 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4.98, in 1951.
South Korea ranks 59th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Age dependency ratio old in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5.04 | — |
| 1951 | 4.98 | -1.2% |
| 1952 | 4.99 | +0.3% |
| 1953 | 5.05 | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 5.12 | +1.5% |
| 1955 | 5.21 | +1.6% |
| 1956 | 5.29 | +1.6% |
| 1957 | 5.37 | +1.5% |
| 1958 | 5.44 | +1.5% |
| 1959 | 5.53 | +1.6% |
| 1960 | 5.63 | +1.8% |
| 1961 | 5.75 | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 5.89 | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 6.02 | +2.0% |
| 1964 | 6.08 | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 6.13 | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 6.15 | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 6.16 | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 6.18 | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 6.16 | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 6.16 | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 6.22 | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 6.27 | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 6.28 | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 6.28 | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 6.23 | -0.7% |
| 1976 | 6.19 | -0.7% |
| 1977 | 6.16 | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 6.14 | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 6.14 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 6.16 | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 6.23 | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 6.33 | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 6.39 | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 6.41 | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 6.47 | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 6.58 | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 6.68 | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 6.8 | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 6.93 | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 7.05 | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 7.21 | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 7.4 | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 7.62 | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 7.86 | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 8.11 | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 8.35 | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 8.65 | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 8.99 | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 9.38 | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 9.86 | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 10.37 | +5.2% |
| 2002 | 10.9 | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 11.44 | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 12 | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 12.54 | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 13.1 | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 13.68 | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 14.18 | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 14.64 | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 15.13 | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 15.57 | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 16 | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 16.51 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 17.08 | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 17.67 | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 18.22 | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 18.96 | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 19.83 | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 20.75 | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 21.94 | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 23.27 | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 24.57 | +5.6% |
| 2023 | 25.91 | +5.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 25.91 is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.91, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 25.91 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 | 4.98 | 5.53 | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.01 | 5.63 | 6.18 | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.21 | 6.14 | 6.28 | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.5 | 6.16 | 6.93 | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.06 | 7.05 | 9.38 | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.27 | 9.86 | 14.64 | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.57 | 15.13 | 20.75 | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.92 | 21.94 | 25.91 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More reference data data for South Korea
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Burning - Crop 31.73 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 880.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 12,007 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (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 (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Enteric 6,875 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure Management 2,038 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency ratio old in South Korea?
- Age dependency ratio old in South Korea was 25.91 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest age dependency ratio old recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 25.91 in 2023.
- What is the lowest age dependency ratio old recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.98 in 1951.
- How does South Korea rank for age dependency ratio old?
- South Korea ranks 59th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is age dependency ratio old 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Age dependency ratio old. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).