Divorce rate in South Korea
South Korea: Divorce rate was 1.8 per 1,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
1.8 per 1,000 people
Change on year
down 10.0%
World rank
17th
of 43 countries
All-time high
3.4 per 1,000 people
in 2003
All-time low
0.3 per 1,000 people
in 1971
Years of data
53
1970–2022
Divorce rate in South Korea, 1970–2022
Source: OECD (2025) and other sources – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 1.8 per 1,000 people for divorce rate in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.0% on the previous year and down 21.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, divorce rate in South Korea peaked at 3.4 per 1,000 people in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.3 per 1,000 people, in 1971.
South Korea ranks 17th of 43 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Divorce rate in South Korea, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.4 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1971 | 0.3 per 1,000 people | -25.0% |
| 1972 | 0.4 per 1,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1973 | 0.4 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.4 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.5 per 1,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1976 | 0.5 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.6 per 1,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1978 | 0.5 per 1,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1979 | 0.5 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.6 per 1,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1981 | 0.6 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.7 per 1,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1983 | 0.7 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.9 per 1,000 people | +28.6% |
| 1985 | 0.9 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.9 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1 per 1,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1988 | 1 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 1 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 1.1 per 1,000 people | +10.0% |
| 1991 | 1.1 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 1.2 per 1,000 people | +9.1% |
| 1993 | 1.3 per 1,000 people | +8.3% |
| 1994 | 1.4 per 1,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1995 | 1.5 per 1,000 people | +7.1% |
| 1996 | 1.7 per 1,000 people | +13.3% |
| 1997 | 2 per 1,000 people | +17.6% |
| 1998 | 2.5 per 1,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1999 | 2.5 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 2.5 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 2.8 per 1,000 people | +12.0% |
| 2002 | 3 per 1,000 people | +7.1% |
| 2003 | 3.4 per 1,000 people | +13.3% |
| 2004 | 2.9 per 1,000 people | -14.7% |
| 2005 | 2.6 per 1,000 people | -10.3% |
| 2006 | 2.5 per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 2.5 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 2.4 per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 2.5 per 1,000 people | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 2.3 per 1,000 people | -8.0% |
| 2011 | 2.3 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 2.3 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2.3 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 2.3 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2.1 per 1,000 people | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 2.1 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2.1 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2.1 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2.2 per 1,000 people | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 2.1 per 1,000 people | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 2 per 1,000 people | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 1.8 per 1,000 people | -10.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.8 per 1,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.76 per 1,000 people, 1.0× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.45 per 1,000 people | 0.3 per 1,000 people | 0.6 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.83 per 1,000 people | 0.6 per 1,000 people | 1 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.63 per 1,000 people | 1.1 per 1,000 people | 2.5 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.71 per 1,000 people | 2.4 per 1,000 people | 3.4 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.21 per 1,000 people | 2.1 per 1,000 people | 2.3 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.97 per 1,000 people | 1.8 per 1,000 people | 2.1 per 1,000 people | 3 |
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 divorce rate in South Korea?
- Divorce rate in South Korea was 1.8 per 1,000 people in 2022, according to OECD (2025) and other sources – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest divorce rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.4 per 1,000 people in 2003.
- What is the lowest divorce rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3 per 1,000 people in 1971.
- How does South Korea rank for divorce rate?
- South Korea ranks 17th out of 43 countries with data for 2022.
- Is divorce rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2025) and other sources – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Divorce rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of divorces during a given year per 1,000 people.