Population ages 65 and above, male (% of male population) in South Korea
South Korea: Population ages 65 and above, male (% of male population) was 17.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population ages 65 and above, male in South Korea, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of male population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population ages 65 and above, male in South Korea is 17.9%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 6.0% on the previous year and up 65.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above, male in South Korea peaked at 17.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 1960.
That places South Korea 34th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population ages 65 and above, male (% of male population) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of male population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.5% | — |
| 1961 | 2.5% | +1.1% |
| 1962 | 2.5% | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 2.6% | +1.1% |
| 1964 | 2.6% | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 2.6% | -0.1% |
| 1966 | 2.5% | -0.6% |
| 1967 | 2.5% | -0.4% |
| 1968 | 2.5% | -0.1% |
| 1969 | 2.5% | -0.4% |
| 1970 | 2.5% | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 2.6% | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 2.6% | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 2.7% | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 2.7% | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 2.7% | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 2.8% | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 2.8% | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 2.8% | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 2.8% | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 2.9% | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 2.9% | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 3.0% | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 3.0% | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 3.1% | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 3.2% | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 3.3% | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 3.4% | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 3.5% | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 3.6% | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 3.7% | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 3.8% | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 3.9% | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 4.0% | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 4.1% | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 4.3% | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 4.6% | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 4.8% | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 5.1% | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 5.4% | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 5.7% | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 6.1% | +6.0% |
| 2003 | 6.4% | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 6.8% | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 7.2% | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 8.0% | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 8.3% | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 8.6% | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 9.0% | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 9.3% | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 9.6% | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 10.0% | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 10.4% | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 10.8% | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 11.2% | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 11.7% | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 12.3% | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 12.9% | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 13.6% | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 14.4% | +6.0% |
| 2022 | 15.2% | +5.5% |
| 2023 | 16.0% | +5.3% |
| 2024 | 16.9% | +5.6% |
| 2025 | 17.9% | +6.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 17.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 15.9%, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 17.9% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.5%, 2.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.7% | 2.5% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.2% | 2.9% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.3% | 3.7% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.0% | 5.4% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.7% | 9.0% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.7% | 13.6% | 17.9% | 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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above, male in South Korea?
- Population ages 65 and above, male in South Korea was 17.9% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above, male recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 17.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, male recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for population ages 65 and above, male?
- South Korea ranks 34th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above, male rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 65 and above, male (% of male population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Male population 65 years of age or older as a percentage of the total male population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.