Number of deaths in South Korea
South Korea: Number of deaths was 317,727 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Number of deaths in South Korea, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of deaths in South Korea is 317,727 deaths, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 23.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of deaths in South Korea peaked at 317,727 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 243,820 deaths, in 2001.
That places South Korea 34th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Number of deaths in South Korea, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 249,119 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 243,820 deaths | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 247,318 deaths | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 246,248 deaths | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 246,006 deaths | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 245,901 deaths | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 244,179 deaths | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 246,431 deaths | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 246,151 deaths | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 246,958 deaths | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 255,321 deaths | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 257,407 deaths | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 267,161 deaths | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 266,265 deaths | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 267,719 deaths | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 275,940 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 280,825 deaths | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 285,541 deaths | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 298,787 deaths | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 295,086 deaths | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 305,049 deaths | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 317,727 deaths | +4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 246,213 deaths | 243,820 deaths | 249,119 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 275,005 deaths | 255,321 deaths | 298,787 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 311,388 deaths | 305,049 deaths | 317,727 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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)
- 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 number of deaths in South Korea?
- Number of deaths in South Korea was 317,727 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of deaths recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 317,727 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of deaths recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 243,820 deaths in 2001.
- How does South Korea rank for number of deaths?
- South Korea ranks 34th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of deaths rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from all causes in both sexes.