Age dependency ratio, old in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Age dependency ratio, old was 29.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Age dependency ratio, old in Republic of 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 Republic of 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 Republic of Korea peaked at 29.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 1960.
Republic of Korea ranks 40th of 217 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 in Republic of 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% |
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 Republic of Korea
- 37 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 31.1% compare
- 38 Malta 30.9% compare
- 39 Norway 29.4% compare
- 41 Slovakia 29.1% compare
- 42 Montenegro 28.7% compare
- 43 North Macedonia 28.5% compare
More health data for Republic of 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)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -3.49 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.0497 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -3.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.0523 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency ratio, old in Republic of Korea?
- Age dependency ratio, old in Republic of 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 Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 29.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest age dependency ratio, old recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 1960.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for age dependency ratio, old?
- Republic of Korea ranks 40th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is age dependency ratio, old rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Republic of 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.