Death rate in South Korea
South Korea: Death rate was 6.68 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Death rate in South Korea, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for death rate in South Korea is 6.68 deaths per 1,000 people, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.5% on the previous year and up 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, death rate in South Korea peaked at 47.12 deaths per 1,000 people in 1950 and was at its lowest, 4.99 deaths per 1,000 people, in 2001.
That places South Korea 148th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22.43 deaths per 1,000 people | 13.5 deaths per 1,000 people | 47.12 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 10.98 deaths per 1,000 people | 8.31 deaths per 1,000 people | 12.97 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.27 deaths per 1,000 people | 6.62 deaths per 1,000 people | 8.01 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.25 deaths per 1,000 people | 5.7 deaths per 1,000 people | 7.31 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.5 deaths per 1,000 people | 5.22 deaths per 1,000 people | 5.73 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.08 deaths per 1,000 people | 4.99 deaths per 1,000 people | 5.12 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.49 deaths per 1,000 people | 5.21 deaths per 1,000 people | 5.95 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.67 deaths per 1,000 people | 6.12 deaths per 1,000 people | 7.54 deaths per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- 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)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 343,093 (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 314,477 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 328,684 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 299,106 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 295,765 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 267,725 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is death rate in South Korea?
- Death rate in South Korea was 6.68 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest death rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 47.12 deaths per 1,000 people in 1950.
- What is the lowest death rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.99 deaths per 1,000 people in 2001.
- How does South Korea rank for death rate?
- South Korea ranks 148th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is death rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Death rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The number of deaths in a year per 1,000 people in the population.