Total dependency ratio in South Korea
South Korea: Total dependency ratio was 41.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Total dependency ratio in South Korea, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total dependency ratio in South Korea is 41.4%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in South Korea peaked at 87.7% in 1966 and was at its lowest, 36.4%, in 2016.
South Korea ranks 214th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 79.8% | 77.1% | 83.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 85.1% | 80.0% | 87.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 73.6% | 62.7% | 83.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 53.4% | 45.6% | 60.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 41.1% | 38.8% | 44.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 39.1% | 38.0% | 39.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.0% | 36.4% | 37.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.1% | 38.7% | 41.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 211 Antigua and Barbuda 41.7% compare
- 212 Palau 41.7% compare
- 213 Anguilla 41.5% compare
- 215 Saint Kitts and Nevis 40.9% compare
- 216 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 40.9% compare
- 217 Seychelles 39.8% compare
More reference data data for South Korea
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.1 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7164 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.8996 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 2.24 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.9115 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 135 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in South Korea?
- Total dependency ratio in South Korea was 41.4% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 87.7% in 1966.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.4% in 2016.
- How does South Korea rank for total dependency ratio?
- South Korea ranks 214th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Total dependency ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The number of children (under 15) and people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).