Total dependency ratio in South Korea
South Korea: Total dependency ratio was 41.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
41.4%
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
214th
of 236 countries
All-time high
87.7%
in 1966
All-time low
36.4%
in 2016
Years of data
74
1950–2023
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.
Total dependency ratio in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 83.8% | — |
| 1951 | 83.5% | -0.4% |
| 1952 | 82.3% | -1.4% |
| 1953 | 80.5% | -2.1% |
| 1954 | 79.0% | -1.9% |
| 1955 | 78.0% | -1.3% |
| 1956 | 77.4% | -0.8% |
| 1957 | 77.1% | -0.3% |
| 1958 | 77.5% | +0.5% |
| 1959 | 78.6% | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 80.0% | +1.7% |
| 1961 | 81.6% | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 83.4% | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 85.1% | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 86.5% | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 87.3% | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 87.7% | +0.4% |
| 1967 | 87.4% | -0.4% |
| 1968 | 86.5% | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 85.3% | -1.4% |
| 1970 | 83.5% | -2.1% |
| 1971 | 81.7% | -2.1% |
| 1972 | 80.1% | -2.0% |
| 1973 | 78.0% | -2.5% |
| 1974 | 75.6% | -3.1% |
| 1975 | 72.8% | -3.7% |
| 1976 | 69.8% | -4.1% |
| 1977 | 67.1% | -3.9% |
| 1978 | 64.7% | -3.6% |
| 1979 | 62.7% | -3.1% |
| 1980 | 60.9% | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 59.4% | -2.6% |
| 1982 | 58.0% | -2.2% |
| 1983 | 56.5% | -2.6% |
| 1984 | 54.6% | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 52.5% | -3.8% |
| 1986 | 50.5% | -3.9% |
| 1987 | 48.6% | -3.7% |
| 1988 | 47.0% | -3.4% |
| 1989 | 45.6% | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 44.3% | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 43.3% | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 42.6% | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 42.0% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 41.4% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 40.6% | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 39.9% | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 39.3% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 38.9% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 38.8% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 39.0% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 39.3% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 39.4% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 39.5% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 39.5% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 39.4% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 39.1% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 38.8% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 38.4% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 38.0% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 37.7% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 37.2% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 36.8% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 36.5% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 36.5% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 36.4% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 36.4% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 36.8% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 37.3% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 37.9% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 38.7% | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 39.8% | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 40.6% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 41.4% | +2.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 41.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 79% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 41.4% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 54.0%, 77% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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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About this data
Number of children (under 15) and people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).