Age dependency ratio, young in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Age dependency ratio, young was 14.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Age dependency ratio, young in Republic of Korea, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of working-age population.
Analysis
Republic of Korea recorded 14.7% for age dependency ratio, young in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 21.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency ratio, young in Republic of Korea peaked at 81.6% in 1966 and was at its lowest, 14.7%, in 2025.
Republic of Korea ranks 217th of 217 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Age dependency ratio, young in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | % of working-age population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 74.3% | — |
| 1961 | 75.8% | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 77.5% | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 79.1% | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 80.4% | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 81.2% | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 81.6% | +0.5% |
| 1967 | 81.2% | -0.5% |
| 1968 | 80.3% | -1.1% |
| 1969 | 79.1% | -1.5% |
| 1970 | 77.3% | -2.3% |
| 1971 | 75.5% | -2.4% |
| 1972 | 73.8% | -2.3% |
| 1973 | 71.7% | -2.8% |
| 1974 | 69.3% | -3.3% |
| 1975 | 66.6% | -4.0% |
| 1976 | 63.7% | -4.4% |
| 1977 | 61.0% | -4.2% |
| 1978 | 58.6% | -4.0% |
| 1979 | 56.5% | -3.5% |
| 1980 | 54.8% | -3.1% |
| 1981 | 53.1% | -3.0% |
| 1982 | 51.7% | -2.7% |
| 1983 | 50.1% | -3.0% |
| 1984 | 48.2% | -3.8% |
| 1985 | 46.1% | -4.5% |
| 1986 | 43.9% | -4.6% |
| 1987 | 41.9% | -4.5% |
| 1988 | 40.2% | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 38.6% | -3.8% |
| 1990 | 37.3% | -3.5% |
| 1991 | 36.1% | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 35.2% | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 34.4% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 33.5% | -2.4% |
| 1995 | 32.5% | -2.9% |
| 1996 | 31.5% | -3.1% |
| 1997 | 30.6% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 30.0% | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 29.5% | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 29.2% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 28.9% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 28.5% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 28.1% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 27.5% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 26.8% | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 26.0% | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 25.1% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 24.2% | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 23.4% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 22.6% | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 21.7% | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 20.8% | -4.2% |
| 2013 | 20.0% | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 19.4% | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 18.8% | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 18.2% | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 17.8% | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 17.5% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 17.1% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 16.8% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 16.5% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 16.1% | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 15.5% | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 15.1% | -2.9% |
| 2025 | 14.7% | -2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 79.1% | 74.3% | 81.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 67.4% | 56.5% | 77.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 46.9% | 38.6% | 54.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.1% | 29.5% | 37.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.8% | 23.4% | 29.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.4% | 17.1% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.8% | 14.7% | 16.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
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)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 25 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 78 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency ratio, young in Republic of Korea?
- Age dependency ratio, young in Republic of Korea was 14.7% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest age dependency ratio, young recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 81.6% in 1966.
- What is the lowest age dependency ratio, young recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.7% in 2025.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for age dependency ratio, young?
- Republic of Korea ranks 217th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is age dependency ratio, young rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.8%. 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, young (% of working-age population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Age dependency ratio, young, is the ratio of younger dependents--people younger than 15--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.