Population ages 65 and above in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Population ages 65 and above was 20.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population ages 65 and above in Republic of Korea, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, population ages 65 and above in Republic of Korea stood at 20.3%. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.5% on the previous year and up 56.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above in Republic of Korea peaked at 20.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 1960.
Republic of Korea ranks 36th of 218 countries on this measure, 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 in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.1% | — |
| 1961 | 3.2% | +1.2% |
| 1962 | 3.2% | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 3.2% | +1.1% |
| 1964 | 3.3% | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 3.3% | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 3.3% | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 3.3% | +0.5% |
| 1968 | 3.3% | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 3.3% | +0.3% |
| 1970 | 3.4% | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 3.4% | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 3.5% | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 3.5% | +1.4% |
| 1974 | 3.6% | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 3.6% | +0.9% |
| 1976 | 3.6% | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 3.7% | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 3.7% | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 3.8% | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 3.8% | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 3.9% | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 4.0% | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 4.1% | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 4.1% | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 4.2% | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 4.4% | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 4.5% | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 4.6% | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 4.8% | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 4.9% | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 5.0% | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 5.2% | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 5.4% | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 5.6% | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 5.8% | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 6.0% | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 6.2% | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 6.5% | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 6.8% | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 7.1% | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 7.4% | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 7.8% | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 8.2% | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 8.6% | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 9.0% | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 9.4% | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 9.9% | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 10.2% | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 10.6% | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 11.0% | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 11.4% | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 11.7% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 12.1% | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 12.5% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 13.0% | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 13.4% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 13.9% | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 14.5% | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 15.1% | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 15.8% | +5.0% |
| 2021 | 16.7% | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 17.5% | +5.0% |
| 2023 | 18.3% | +4.9% |
| 2024 | 19.3% | +5.1% |
| 2025 | 20.3% | +5.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.2% | 3.8% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.7% | 4.9% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.8% | 7.1% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.8% | 11.0% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.0% | 15.8% | 20.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
- 33 Malta 20.5% compare
- 34 Switzerland 20.4% compare
- 35 Channel Islands 20.4% compare
- 37 Canada 20.3% compare
- 38 Romania 20.1% compare
- 39 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 19.7% compare
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)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0424 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0417 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above in Republic of Korea?
- Population ages 65 and above in Republic of Korea was 20.3% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 20.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 1960.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for population ages 65 and above?
- Republic of Korea ranks 36th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.9%. 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 Population ages 65 and above (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population ages 65 and above as a percentage of the total population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.