Share of population aged 65 and over — all countries

Share of population aged 65 and over — South Korea

Share of population aged 65 and over in South Korea in 2025 — 20.3%. Ranked 36 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 17.2 pp.

2025 20.3% +1.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 36of 217
Period maximum 20.3%2025
Period minimum 3.1%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Share of population aged 65 and over — South Korea, 1960–2025010203019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 3.1%1962: 3.2%1964: 3.3%1966: 3.3%1968: 3.3%1970: 3.4%1972: 3.5%1974: 3.6%1976: 3.6%1978: 3.7%1980: 3.8%1982: 4%1984: 4.1%1986: 4.4%1988: 4.6%1990: 4.9%1992: 5.2%1994: 5.6%1996: 6%1998: 6.5%2000: 7.1%2002: 7.8%2004: 8.6%2006: 9.4%2008: 10.2%2010: 11%2012: 11.7%2014: 12.5%2016: 13.4%2018: 14.5%2020: 15.8%2022: 17.5%2024: 19.3%2025: 20.3%
Change over the period: +17.2 pp Annual average: 0.26 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Korea

South Korea 20.3%
World 10.4%
Eastern Asia computed 16.2%
High-income countries computed 20%
Share of population aged 65 and over — South Korea, by year South Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 20.3 +1.1 pp
2024 19.3 +0.9 pp
2023 18.3 +0.9 pp
2022 17.5 +0.8 pp
2021 16.7 +0.8 pp
2020 15.8 +0.8 pp
2019 15.1 +0.6 pp
2018 14.5 +0.6 pp
2017 13.9 +0.5 pp
2016 13.4 +0.4 pp
2015 13 +0.4 pp
2014 12.5 +0.4 pp
2013 12.1 +0.4 pp
2012 11.7 +0.4 pp
2011 11.4 +0.4 pp
2010 11 +0.4 pp
2009 10.6 +0.4 pp
2008 10.2 +0.4 pp
2007 9.9 +0.4 pp
2006 9.4 +0.4 pp
2005 9 +0.4 pp
2004 8.6 +0.4 pp
2003 8.2 +0.4 pp
2002 7.8 +0.4 pp
2001 7.4 +0.4 pp
2000 7.1 +0.3 pp
1999 6.8 +0.3 pp
1998 6.5 +0.3 pp
1997 6.2 +0.2 pp
1996 6 +0.2 pp
1995 5.8 +0.2 pp
1994 5.6 +0.2 pp
1993 5.4 +0.2 pp
1992 5.2 +0.2 pp
1991 5 +0.1 pp
1990 4.9 +0.1 pp
1989 4.8 +0.1 pp
1988 4.6 +0.1 pp
1987 4.5 +0.1 pp
1986 4.4 +0.1 pp
1985 4.2 +0.1 pp
1984 4.1 +0.1 pp
1983 4.1 +0.1 pp
1982 4 +0.1 pp
1981 3.9 +0.1 pp
1980 3.8 +0.1 pp
1979 3.8 +0 pp
1978 3.7 +0 pp
1977 3.7 +0 pp
1976 3.6 +0 pp
1975 3.6 +0 pp
1974 3.6 +0 pp
1973 3.5 +0 pp
1972 3.5 +0.1 pp
1971 3.4 +0.1 pp
1970 3.4 +0 pp
1969 3.3 +0 pp
1968 3.3 +0 pp
1967 3.3 +0 pp
1966 3.3 +0 pp
1965 3.3 +0 pp
1964 3.3 +0 pp
1963 3.2 +0 pp
1962 3.2 +0 pp
1961 3.2 +0 pp
1960 3.1

Eastern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of population aged 65 and over. The international threshold for an old population is 7%, for a very old one 14%. The indicator directly determines the load on the pension system and health care, which is why demographic projections use it more often than median age.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.