Population ages 15-64, total in South Korea
South Korea: Population ages 15-64, total was 35.90 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
35.90 million
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
28th
of 218 countries
All-time high
37.57 million
in 2018
All-time low
13.90 million
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population ages 15-64, total in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 35.90 million for population ages 15-64, total in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 15-64, total in South Korea peaked at 37.57 million in 2018 and was at its lowest, 13.90 million, in 1960.
South Korea ranks 28th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population ages 15-64, total in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 13.90 million | — |
| 1961 | 14.19 million | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 14.46 million | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 14.73 million | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 15.01 million | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 15.32 million | +2.1% |
| 1966 | 15.68 million | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 16.08 million | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 16.54 million | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 17.02 million | +3.0% |
| 1970 | 17.57 million | +3.2% |
| 1971 | 18.09 million | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 18.61 million | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 19.16 million | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 19.76 million | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 20.42 million | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 21.11 million | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 21.79 million | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 22.45 million | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 23.07 million | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 23.69 million | +2.7% |
| 1981 | 24.30 million | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 24.89 million | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 25.50 million | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 26.13 million | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 26.75 million | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 27.39 million | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 28.01 million | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 28.60 million | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 29.16 million | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 29.70 million | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 30.20 million | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 30.68 million | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 31.13 million | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 31.57 million | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 32.06 million | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 32.55 million | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 32.99 million | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 33.31 million | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 33.58 million | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 33.81 million | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 34.01 million | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 34.17 million | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 34.32 million | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 34.46 million | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 34.57 million | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 34.82 million | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 35.07 million | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 35.44 million | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 35.72 million | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 35.99 million | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 36.38 million | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 36.70 million | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 36.94 million | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 37.18 million | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 37.38 million | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 37.53 million | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 37.55 million | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 37.57 million | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 37.54 million | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 37.35 million | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 37.04 million | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 36.74 million | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 36.56 million | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 36.31 million | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 35.90 million | -1.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 35.90 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.02 million, 17.8× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 35.90 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 874,596, 41.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.29 million | 13.90 million | 17.02 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 20.20 million | 17.57 million | 23.07 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.44 million | 23.69 million | 29.16 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.78 million | 29.70 million | 33.58 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 34.64 million | 33.81 million | 35.72 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.08 million | 35.99 million | 37.57 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.65 million | 35.90 million | 37.35 million | 6 |
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)
- 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 population ages 15-64, total in South Korea?
- Population ages 15-64, total in South Korea was 35.90 million in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 15-64, total recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 37.57 million in 2018.
- What is the lowest population ages 15-64, total recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.90 million in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for population ages 15-64, total?
- South Korea ranks 28th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 15-64, total rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Population ages 15-64, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Total population between the ages 15 to 64. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.