Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) in South Korea
South Korea: Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) was 29.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Age dependency ratio, old in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of working-age population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for age dependency ratio, old in South Korea is 29.3%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.5% on the previous year and up 65.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency ratio, old in South Korea peaked at 29.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 1960.
South Korea ranks 41st of 218 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 (% of working-age population) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of working-age population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.6% | — |
| 1961 | 5.8% | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 5.9% | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 6.0% | +2.0% |
| 1964 | 6.1% | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 6.1% | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 6.1% | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 6.2% | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 6.2% | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 6.2% | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 6.2% | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 6.2% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 6.3% | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 6.3% | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 6.3% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 6.2% | -0.7% |
| 1976 | 6.2% | -0.7% |
| 1977 | 6.2% | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 6.1% | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 6.1% | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 6.2% | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 6.2% | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 6.3% | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 6.4% | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 6.4% | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 6.5% | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 6.6% | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 6.7% | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 6.8% | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 6.9% | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 7.1% | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 7.2% | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 7.4% | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 7.6% | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 7.9% | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 8.1% | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 8.3% | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 8.6% | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 9.0% | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 9.4% | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 9.9% | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 10.4% | +5.2% |
| 2002 | 10.9% | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 11.4% | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 12.0% | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 12.5% | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 13.1% | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 13.7% | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 14.2% | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 14.6% | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 15.1% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 15.6% | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 16.0% | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 16.5% | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 17.1% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 17.7% | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 18.2% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 19.0% | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 19.8% | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 20.8% | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 22.0% | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 23.3% | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 24.6% | +5.6% |
| 2023 | 25.9% | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 27.5% | +5.9% |
| 2025 | 29.3% | +6.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 29.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 27.6%, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 29.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.7%, 2.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.0% | 5.6% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.2% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.5% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.1% | 7.1% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.3% | 9.9% | 14.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.6% | 15.1% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.4% | 22.0% | 29.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 38 United Kingdom 31.1% compare
- 39 Malta 30.9% compare
- 40 Norway 29.4% compare
- 42 Slovakia 29.1% compare
- 43 Montenegro 28.7% compare
- 44 North Macedonia 28.5% compare
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency ratio, old in South Korea?
- Age dependency ratio, old in South Korea was 29.3% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest age dependency ratio, old recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 29.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest age dependency ratio, old recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for age dependency ratio, old?
- South Korea ranks 41st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is age dependency ratio, old rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Age dependency ratio, old, is the ratio of older dependents--people older than 64--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.