Population ages 65 and above (% of total population) in South Korea
South Korea: Population ages 65 and above (% of total population) was 20.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population ages 65 and above in South 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 South 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 South Korea peaked at 20.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 1960.
South 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 (% of total population) in South 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% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 20.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 17.8%, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 20.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7.5%, 2.7× the median. (37 countries reporting)
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 South 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 19.7% compare
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 65 and above in South Korea?
- Population ages 65 and above in South 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 20.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for population ages 65 and above?
- South Korea ranks 36th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.9%. 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 (% 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.