Excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64 in South Korea

South Korea: Excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64 was 0.3% in 2017. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2017)
0.3%
Change on year
up 5.8%
World rank
17th
of 81 countries
All-time high
0.5%
in 2001
All-time low
0.0%
in 2008
Years of data
16
2001–2017

Excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64 in South Korea, 2001–2017

00.20.40.62001200920172001: 0.515 % of employed population with low education in working age2002: 0.454 % of employed population with low education in working age2003: 0.481 % of employed population with low education in working age2004: 0.487 % of employed population with low education in working age2005: 0.474 % of employed population with low education in working age2007: 0.472 % of employed population with low education in working age2008: 0 % of employed population with low education in working age2009: 0 % of employed population with low education in working age2010: 0 % of employed population with low education in working age2011: 0 % of employed population with low education in working age2012: 0.392 % of employed population with low education in working age2013: 0.371 % of employed population with low education in working age2014: 0.373 % of employed population with low education in working age2015: 0.318 % of employed population with low education in working age2016: 0.315 % of employed population with low education in working age2017: 0.334 % of employed population with low education in working age

Source: World Bank. Measured in % of employed population with low education in working age.

Analysis

The most recent figure for excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64 in South Korea is 0.3%, measured in 2017.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.8% on the previous year and down 29.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64 in South Korea peaked at 0.5% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2008.

South Korea ranks 17th of 81 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64 in South Korea, year by year

Annual values for Excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary education and below (% of employed population with low education in working age) in South Korea, 2001 to 2017.
Year % of employed population with low education in working age Change
2001 0.5% —
2002 0.5% -11.7%
2003 0.5% +5.8%
2004 0.5% +1.2%
2005 0.5% -2.7%
2007 0.5% -0.4%
2008 0.0% -100.0%
2009 0.0% —
2010 0.0% —
2011 0.0% —
2012 0.4% —
2013 0.4% -5.4%
2014 0.4% +0.7%
2015 0.3% -14.8%
2016 0.3% -0.8%
2017 0.3% +5.8%

South Korea compared with similar countries

  • South Korea's 0.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1%, 3.6× the median. (36 countries reporting)
  • South Korea's 0.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.3%, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.4% 0.0% 0.5% 8
2010s 0.3% 0.0% 0.4% 8

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 14 Turkey 0.4% compare
  2. 15 Nepal 0.4% compare
  3. 16 Costa Rica 0.3% compare
  4. 18 Paraguay 0.3% compare
  5. 19 El Salvador 0.3% compare
  6. 20 Mexico 0.3% compare

See the full ranking of 81 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64 in South Korea?
Excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64 in South Korea was 0.3% in 2017, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64 recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 0.5% in 2001.
What is the lowest excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64 recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2008.
How does South Korea rank for excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64?
South Korea ranks 17th out of 81 countries with data for 2017.
Is excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64 rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 29.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary education and below (% of employed population with low education in working age). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64 in South Korea. Statizoid. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/excessive-working-hours-more-than-48-hours-per-week-aged-15-64-primary-education-and/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Excessive working hours, more than 48 hours per week, aged 15-64, primary education and below (% of employed population with low education in working age)
Unit
% of employed population with low education in working age
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
81 places, 1,116 data points, 1970–2021
Last refreshed