Employment-to-population ratio — all countries

Employment-to-population ratio — South Korea

Employment-to-population ratio in South Korea in 2025 — 62.62%. Ranked 53 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 3.96 pp.

2025 62.62% −0.05 pp vs 2024
World rank 53of 182
Period maximum 62.67%2024
Period minimum 56.02%1998

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Employment-to-population ratio — South Korea, 1991–2025565860626419911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 58.66%1992: 58.88%1993: 58.67%1994: 59.62%1995: 60.19%1996: 60.41%1997: 60.4%1998: 56.02%1999: 56.36%2000: 58.29%2001: 58.85%2002: 59.74%2003: 59.07%2004: 59.7%2005: 59.41%2006: 59.46%2007: 59.47%2008: 59.01%2009: 58.2%2010: 58.33%2011: 58.82%2012: 59.22%2013: 59.52%2014: 60.36%2015: 60.36%2016: 60.34%2017: 60.61%2018: 60.36%2019: 60.64%2020: 59.83%2021: 60.27%2022: 61.97%2023: 62.55%2024: 62.67%2025: 62.62%
Change over the period: +3.96 pp Annual average: 0.12 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

South Korea 62.62%
World 58.06%
Eastern Asia computed 61.88%
High-income countries computed 58.43%
Employment-to-population ratio — South Korea, by year South Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 62.62 −0.05 pp
2024 62.67 +0.12 pp
2023 62.55 +0.58 pp
2022 61.97 +1.7 pp
2021 60.27 +0.45 pp
2020 59.83 −0.81 pp
2019 60.64 +0.28 pp
2018 60.36 −0.26 pp
2017 60.61 +0.27 pp
2016 60.34 −0.02 pp
2015 60.36 +0 pp
2014 60.36 +0.84 pp
2013 59.52 +0.3 pp
2012 59.22 +0.39 pp
2011 58.82 +0.49 pp
2010 58.33 +0.13 pp
2009 58.2 −0.81 pp
2008 59.01 −0.46 pp
2007 59.47 +0.01 pp
2006 59.46 +0.05 pp
2005 59.41 −0.29 pp
2004 59.7 +0.63 pp
2003 59.07 −0.67 pp
2002 59.74 +0.89 pp
2001 58.85 +0.56 pp
2000 58.29 +1.92 pp
1999 56.36 +0.34 pp
1998 56.02 −4.38 pp
1997 60.4 −0 pp
1996 60.41 +0.21 pp
1995 60.19 +0.58 pp
1994 59.62 +0.94 pp
1993 58.67 −0.2 pp
1992 58.88 +0.22 pp
1991 58.66

Eastern Asia, 2025

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

About the indicator

The ratio of the employed to the population aged 15 and over. Unlike the unemployment rate it does not depend on whether a person is looking for work, so it captures the actual involvement of the population in the economy better. Employment and unemployment together give the full picture: low unemployment alongside low employment means mass withdrawal from the labor force.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.