Average effective age of retirement for women in South Korea
South Korea: Average effective age of retirement for women was 72.3 years in 2018. ▲ Rising
Latest (2018)
72.3 years
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
1st
of 49 countries
All-time high
73.1 years
in 2017
All-time low
62.5 years
in 1984
Years of data
49
1970–2018
Average effective age of retirement for women in South Korea, 1970–2018
Source: OECD (2018) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average effective age of retirement for women in South Korea is 72.3 years, measured in 2018.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and up 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average effective age of retirement for women in South Korea peaked at 73.1 years in 2017 and was at its lowest, 62.5 years, in 1984.
South Korea ranks 1st of 49 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 49 years of available data.
Average effective age of retirement for women in South Korea, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 63.1 years | — |
| 1971 | 63.8 years | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 63.8 years | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 65.1 years | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 65.6 years | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 65.5 years | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 66.2 years | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 65.1 years | -1.7% |
| 1978 | 64.2 years | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 64.2 years | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 64.4 years | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 63 years | -2.2% |
| 1982 | 65.5 years | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 64.8 years | -1.1% |
| 1984 | 62.5 years | -3.5% |
| 1985 | 63.6 years | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 63.3 years | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 62.9 years | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 62.7 years | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 69.5 years | +10.8% |
| 1990 | 69.6 years | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 68.9 years | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 67.9 years | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 66 years | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 66.6 years | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 66.8 years | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 67.3 years | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 68.2 years | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 66.8 years | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 66.3 years | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 65.8 years | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 66.7 years | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 66.3 years | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 65.6 years | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 67.1 years | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 67.8 years | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 67.5 years | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 67.6 years | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 69.5 years | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 69.2 years | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 69.4 years | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 69.7 years | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 69.9 years | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 69.8 years | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 71 years | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 71.9 years | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 72.2 years | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 73.1 years | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 72.3 years | -1.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 72.3 years is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 67.75 years, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 72.3 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 63 years, 1.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 64.66 years | 63.1 years | 66.2 years | 10 |
| 1980s | 64.22 years | 62.5 years | 69.5 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 67.44 years | 66 years | 69.6 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.31 years | 65.6 years | 69.5 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.03 years | 69.4 years | 73.1 years | 9 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More gender data for South Korea
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,318 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -3.79 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 46,871 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 46,871 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.0957 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 119,025 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 125,732 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 116,471 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 122,813 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 119,098 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average effective age of retirement for women in South Korea?
- Average effective age of retirement for women in South Korea was 72.3 years in 2018, according to OECD (2018) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average effective age of retirement for women recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 73.1 years in 2017.
- What is the lowest average effective age of retirement for women recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 62.5 years in 1984.
- How does South Korea rank for average effective age of retirement for women?
- South Korea ranks 1st out of 49 countries with data for 2018.
- Is average effective age of retirement for women rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2018) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Average effective age of retirement for women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimates are based on a weighted average of changes in labour force participation rates by age, for workers 40+